Fair comment. I actually think that O’loughlin is a more creative player than Farrell was, I think his distribution was a little laboured and a kicking game than wasn’t international class – in fact, Farrell was a much better running second row (later prop) than a loose forward

Agree with you about Sculthorpe though – he was all class and played superbly at stand off against the Aussies considering he was a career loose forward

On Sunday, I am sure we will see England playing a tight game through the middle with Robinson trying to boss the forwards and Roby & Lunt taking advantage of any go forward the forwards create. The backline certainly has some youth and pace about them but their main job will be defensive I think. It might work, it might not, we will wait and see

Awful decision.

We should scrap England and just send eligable Huddersfield Giants players.

Same. If Bradford want to pay for his rehabilitation and play him for a few games at the end of the season when he'll only be able to run in a straight line, we'll gladly take him back for 2012 when he's fully fit again. We demand a transfer fee though.

At least we can make a full team of them.

When s'ol came through at wigan, he took over the 13 shirt and covered 6 when needed, allowing Farrell to move forward and play what seemed to be the best rugby of his career.

I know Phil Clarke says it a lot so it gets laughed at because its coming from him but Lockers is one of (if not the best) passers in the league.

Lockers played at 6 against Hull KR in the play offs and everyone on the Wigan board was doubting him. They all came back after the game and said how wrong they were because frankly, he had a stormer.

His link up play is up there with the best in SL and Steve Mac will be thinking (IMO) if we get him the ball with the aussies on the back foot then Lockers linking with Sam in midfield will rip them to shreds.

I am a massive SOL fan but I do worry about his kicking game as it can be excellent to shocking in the space of minutes.

That would have to be the most positive quote I have seen in a long time regarding Englands ability.

rollocks...forgot campese was injured.........you get where i'm coming from though don't you?....we want marque,big name players....NOT BLOODY MARC HERBERT

Stopped reading when you said Martyn!

Yeah, but not many actually consider Campo a marqee, big name player. I think he's fantastic, of course.

Herby goes ok.

Michael Dobson was hardly a marquee player when he came over, and look how that turned out. Give the guy a chance over here first at least.

Why,Tommy was one of the most underrated stand offs in the game.
For me it was a travesty when he was continually overlooked for the stand off role when he was probably the most natural stand off we had when he was at his peak.

Am I imagining things, but didn't he make his name originally at stand-off, playing there internationally for young GB among others? ie maybe his natural position is SO, and comparisons with LFs turned SO are wide of the mark. Rather is he a SO turned LF who is now reverting to his natural position?