I think that the players that are available are good enough to cause Oz and NZ problems but they do not appear to have self belief. You have got to think you can win otherwise you just open the door to defeat before you've started.

There is something about the England setup that is, well, too laid back.

They need confidence, respect but not fear, and a bit of good old passion.

I really, really hope we can raise the intensity, get in the aussies faces, and put them under pressure. NZ have already sowed the seeds of doubt in their minds.

If we just sit back and let them run we will play right into their hands.

I say we go into the game with 14 mobile backrowers, 2 halves (whose main strengths are defence, and obviously one has to be able to kick the ball) and a full-back. We could just tackle for 80 minutes and hope for the best. Who knows, we may be able to keep Australia down to about 50 points

Smith will feel under pressure to get a result in this match so my guess is that he'll do something random like...

Smith
Briscoe (T)
Bridge
Ellis
Hall
Sinfield
Myler

Morley
Roby
Graham
Peacock
Burgess
Wilkin

Eastmond
Westwood
Carvell
Crabtree

In the side i picked for Saturdays game and to be fair I should have added 'At international level' in that because tbh i don't at this moment in time.

He's caused Wigan plenty of problems in superleague and is comfortable at that level.

This is obviously a huge step up though but i'd love him to prove me wrong.

Id personally either Swap him for Bridge or stick Bridge in and Smith to the wing.
Shenton hasn't produced the goods yet, give him one more game then someone else has his place

we have shenton

they have inglis


MOTHER OF GOD

Am I the only one who thinks Myler won't actually play after getting knocked out on Friday?

Interesting point.

Does that leave the door open for Tompkins I wonder?

I read on teletext that Myler had trained fully yesterday and would just need to pass a head test to play.

It'll take more then a knock out blow to stop his Uncle Tony picking him

In fairness he deserves to keep his place after last Friday. He wasn't amazing by any stretch but he outplayed his halfback partner who could be the one to come under pressure.

I would play the following:

1. K Eastmond ( never going to win with the safe option so we may as well take a punt - would personally have had Pryce in the squad to play fb)
2. T Briscoe (showed enough in his games so far to prove he is going to be top class and is already very good)
3. L Smith (will have it tough against Inglis but is as good an option as we have in the squad and has played there alongside Briscoe in the previous two games)
4. M Shenton (looked a lot better against France than against Wales and showed good footwork)
5. R Hall (Our one outside back who would push for a place in Australia's team)
6. D Mcguire (Struggled in the last game and Tompkins must be close but his performances in the world cup and this year mean he is our number 1 so)
7. R Myler (wouldnt have picked him in the previous 2 games but its clear he's Smith's preferred sh and definately showed an improvement last week)
8. A Morley (reputation speaks for itself and is a class act)
9. S Moore (providing he is fit gives a different dynamic and means Roby is more effective when coming on)
10. J Peacock (bound to bring a bit of biff to the Australians and lead from the front)
11. G Ellis (another player the Aussie will genuinely respect, along with Morley & Peacock, he had an excellent first half against France but was a bit starved of ball 2nd half - automatic pick)
12. S Burgess (seems well suited to the second row position and certainly looks dangerous with ball in hand - just needs to cut out the handling errors)
13. K Sinfield (grew in confidence last week after a nervy start and hopefully will build on that and be strong enough to impose his natural game on the team - was the stand out player in superleague over the last 3 months)

subs
14. J Roby (at his best coming off the bench but needs to scoot more ala when he first came onto the scene)
15. J Graham (a bit unlucky to not start but Morley and Peacock are simply better players - gives a good variation with his ability to play before the line but perhaps should give it less often)
16. G Carvell (should have played last week and will offer excellent go forward and a no nonsence approach)
17. E Crabtree (to be used as a bcak row interchange - will offer a better offload game than Westwood and will give impact off the bench - also seems to lift crowds and the crowd will play a part hopefully)

All in all we need a game with few errors and our forwards to be aggressive and look to dominate. Obviously the backs are a concern and the Aussies are stronger but I genuinely believe we have the edge in the forwards. I think it will be alot closer than people believe.

we have myler they have lockyer mother of god!

But if we keep allowing them to win the game before a ball is kicked we will never win.


believe.

Im sure inglis would be saying "mother of god" if he was facing Senior right?. Inglis is world class, who will be remembered years after he's retired. He even made Jamie Lyon look ordinary in last years state of origin!.

The national side will always struggle for three quarters while s.l clubs shop for them down under.

New centre at leeds=Aussie
New centre at saints=kiwi

If that is the case then we have NO HOPE at all.

Sorry but this guy IS DEFINITELY NOT international standard.

Has Ryan Hoffman got information we've not. Are they spying on the England training sessions?

They just interviewed him on Sky Sports News and he said, "England have got a great balance. With Peacock and Morley in the forwards and the danger of Tomkins and McGuire in the backs".

Eastmond to lose his place to Tomkins or Myler? Or throw Eastmond in somewhere else and drop someone else perhaps?