Don't think we should be messing around with the halves.
Both Williams and Widdop had a decent game and with them being a new combination, they need to have as much game time together as possible.
It's a pity for Gale as he's had a good season with Cas but, we shouldn't change things for the sake of it.

Square pegs in round holes there. Hardaker's weakest point is probably his awareness of others and passing. he will be wasted in the centres. You either choose an attacking flair fullback (Tompkins) or a defensively sound full back (Hardaker). Personally I would choose Hardaker due to Tomkins not playing for an eternity.

Should remember that for Williams, Widdop and Hardaker they're still very new to one another. Unrealistic to expect a 1,6 & 7 to be hitting off straight away in attack especially when two of them are playing in their first meaningful England game. I'd stick with that trio and judge them at the end of the series where hopefully you see them starting to gel more as a unit.

Tomkins is out for the series. I agree that McGillveray would be a good change. I'd also take Bateman out of the centres. Arguably he should go in the pack but he clearly suffered yesterday on a few occasions in attack when his lack of experience saw him take the wrong option. I still think Shenton should be in there but as he's not in the squad then Cudjoe should go in.

I was wondering why Shenton was not picked.
Given the line up I would not mess with the halves or with FB.

Was surprised to see Bateman in the Centres, but don't recall him doing anything particularly bad.
I think you have to stick with it unless of injury, it's not a world cup were you can try a few things in the early rounds, we need to nail it next week. Then you can see if there are better options.

Changes I would make are:

Jermain Mc for Burgess (Burgess had very little go forward and didn't go looking for work)
Currie for Farrell (Farrell is too small for me at International level, made a lot of tackles, but that is due to NZ targeting him as a smaller guy who cannot dominate the tackle, allowing a quick PTB)
Cudjoe for Bateman (Bateman doesn't have the core skills needed to be an International Centre. Cudjoe would give Whare more to think about)
Bateman then moves to replaced SOL (SOL gives too many penalties away. The one on Taupau on our line was just stupid)

Pretty sure that unless injuries occured, we'll keep the same team, and same gameplan, then when it doesn't work, we'll say that the halfbacks are no good and scratch heads for a "Plan B" for the final game.

If by 'core skills' you mean footwork, ball-handling etc, then I'd argue Bateman is just as skilful as Cudjoe, if not more so, the fact that he's nominally a forward

notwithstanding.

Last season:
Bateman: 88 tackle busts, 14 clean breaks.
Cudjoe: 59 tackle busts, 11 clean breaks

I think it will only be injuries that will force McNamara to change the team.

McGilvary for Burgess would be mad! The Kiwis would bomb McGilvary all game knowing SKD is around 6'4" and will outjump the Hudds man every time. Burgess is 6'5" and faster.
Cudjoe and Currie and no where near International standard.
The one ommision I was surprised at was no Shenton and the fact that he's playing Bateman at centre instead of a man who's had a very good season and is an International calibre player.

Never mind change the team, imagine how good England could be if they had a top quality coach.

The Kiwis targeted Farrell. They ran at him all game, making fairly good metres on him despite him not missing too many tackles. Would playing Whitehead on his side and Ferres on the other work? Saying that he didn't have a bad game and actually didn't give that many penalties away like he usually does.

That can't be right.

go back and watch the first half again, you'll notice most of the ground that the kiwis made seemed to involve whitehead either missing tackles, or not bothering to attempt a tackle. Going forward the lads good, defensively he's not much cop.

I remember Bradford fans pointing that part of his game out when he left for the Dragons. He does seem to have lapses in concentration in his defensive game.

Don't expect to see any changes, we were superb second half after a shaky start and shouldn't disrupt that momentum. Would like to see McGillvary involved but at the same time Burgess was hardly at fault for a quiet game, he hardly got any ball.

well if he is going by the same listing that has John Bateman at 6'2" then probably correct

more realistically 6'3" imo.