Tony Smith was an abject failure too, even more so than McNamara can ever be IMO.

Tony Smith is a coaching god..... just saying like

I'm usually one who defends coaches and especially the England/GB coach from calls to go but, Jesus, he's not helped himself with that squad.
I could almost understand it if he'd kept the same squad as last year or at least only players named in the elite squad earlier this year in an attempt to get some continuity. But he hasnt. So if you're going to bring players in from outside the squad then there is no excuse to play players who are severely out of form and no excuse to not bring in players in form.

Sinfield has not been playing well enough to warrant a place in the game day squad. Ablett is not a centre, does well there for Leeds as a backup and I'd have no problem with him in the larger squad as backup for SR and centre but not first choice centre.
Peacock hasn't played well enough to warrant a starting place, possibly a bench spot.
I don't mind the selection of Hall, Burrow & JJB. Hall is a top class winger and is still playing well in a poor Leeds team. Burrow adds speed and evasion around the ruck off the bench. JJB adds some speed in the backrow and a high work rate.
Why no Brough, Westwood, Goulding or even Bridge?

The team should have been something like:

1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Goulding/Bridge/Pryce/Cudjoe
4. Atkins
5. Hall
6. Chase/Pryce
7. Brough
8. Mossop
9. Roby
10. Crabtree
11. Westwood/Tickle
12. Hock
13. O'Loughlin

14. Burrow
15. Carvell
16. Peacock
17. Tickle/JJB

westwood pulled out didnt he?

Really? He had a disapointing world cup in 2008, but he coached his team to 3-0 series whitewash the year before. If you look at the squad Smith has available in 2008, it had the likes of Paul Sykes, Lee Smith, Ade Gardner and Mark Calderwood with Gleeson playing stand off. With the team we had available its a wonder we got out of the group stage. I'm convinced that he would've managed to get more out of last years TN squad than McNamara did. Given the choice between Smith and McNamara, its a no-brainer really, Smith everytime.

I won't critisise McNamara too much, he's clearly passionate about the job and given that he took the job when nobody else wanted it, and as far as I know nobody else is willing to do it then I think he deserves a fair chance.

how sinfield is in before brough is beyond me, didnt this brainless coach watch last years tri nations final, where our kicking game was non existant, looks like we are going for the same game plan again, we will never beat the aussies without one, thats why the best english kicker in the game brough should have played, doesnt really matter if we beat the exiles or not when it comes to the world cup if he persists with sinfield as our kicker weve no chance. as for the others how peacock and ablett are in is laughable, what message does that send out to the aussies and kiwis other than a joke.

I don't think McNamara did watch last years Tri Nations final. He was probably at the Four Nations final instead.

I don't really disagree. However, look at the game before the final against NZ, our kicking game Sinfield's inparticular was excellent, and in comparison NZ and Benji Marshall's was poor. Thats because our forwards laid a platform and we were kicking the ball from good field position. Where as in the final our forwards were dominated and we were kicking he ball from poor field position. I agree our kicking game has been poor over the years but its not as simple as just picking players with good kicking games, Sinfield and Brough both have very good kicking games and have proven that time and time again for their clubs playing behind a good set of forwards who lay a platform and provide good field position. England's problem is despite the myth of having the worlds best pack the pack have failed to get the better of the opposition time and again. Yes their stats are comparable to the Aussies but their all round play such as off ball running, speed, and technique is nowhere near that of the Aussie forwards.

Agree with Charlie Sheen, whoever played in the halves for England against the Aussies in the last 4 Nations Final would of struggled as the forwards got well beaten and the Aussies put excellent pressure on whoever got the ball on the last tackle, Brough wouldn't of faired any better, hell you could of put Lockyer and Thurston in and they too would of struggled. Its also a carbon copy of what is happening to Sinfield most weeks at Leeds, the last time the pack played really well and dominated things, Catalans at Home, Sinfield was great with the boot, and we scored 3 tries that came from his kicking. Put him behind a good performing pack and Sinfield will play well.

Has the RFL got some kind of deal with Kevin Sinfield where he HAS to play every international, and in an important position regardless of form or who else could play that position ??

Awful selection ....its almost embarrasing that some of those names keep getting a shirt !