England centre Ryan Atkins has pulled out of this autumn's Four Nations tournament.

[urlhttp://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/09/09/21/RUGBYL_Atkins.html[/url

As i scrolled thru all the pages of posts & selection options it really became obvious of the lack of quality backs.
Just no depth, wish there was!

A point I made on the Wigan board five minutes ago.

I was hoping someone would come up wqith a couple of names that i hadn't thought of, but unfortunately not. It looks pretty dire TBH.

Theres not much depth in many positions. Like ive said many times, we struggle to put to together a quality 17 whereas the Aussies struggle to get down to 17. Its scary how much more quality they have then England does...

National sport vs minority sport. It's no real surprise they have a bigger pool to choose from.
Before someone says it, New Zealand benefit greatly from a having a team in the best league in the world and numerous players playing first team rugby in both the NRL and Super League.
More Europeans in the NRL please.

Thats the key to improving national teams in Europe

Dya think Jarryd Hayne will sign my arm?

what about europe-english side-team based in australia . play in the NRL

Yea we can take over the West Tigers, they have got 2 poms now, lets get more

Brown joins up with Kiwis.

[urlhttp://www.rugbyleague.com/rugby-league-news/282[/url

Castleford's Michael Shenton has been added to England's train-on squad for the end-of-season internationals.
Westerman and Jock McBrough have been left out.

[urlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/8260970.stm[/url

Pryce to full back isn't a bad idea.

putting him in the is a better one..

true. Our backs are very poor.

1. Shaun Briscoe
2. Peter Fox
3. Martin Gleeson
4. Keith Senior
5. Ryan Hall
6. Leon Pryce
7. Richie Myler
8. James Graham
9. Scott Moore
10. Jamie Peacock
11. Gareth Ellis
12. Ben Westwood
13. Sean O'Loughlin

14. James Roby
15. Adrian Morley
16. Sam Burgess
17. Jon Wilkin

thats a good team imo... id go with that however swap pryce for either mcguire or tomkins. the rest leave..

The Aussies must be having a good laugh at our potential line-up. If that is the team and the best we can do, then we might aswell not even bother turning up. Cant believe the Aussie's will have a choice between Slater and Hayne for fullback, and we have Briscoe. Were screwed.....

yeah cos games are won and lost on the choice of 1 player...


australia having the greatest backline the game has ever seen did'nt do them much good last november did it.....

1) Briscoe
2) Fox
3) Gleeson
4) Shenton
5) Hall
6) Tomkins
7) Myler


Morley
9) Moore
10) Peacock
11) Burgess
12) Ellis
13) O'Loughlin
14) Roby
15) Graham
16) Crabtree
17) Wilkin

I really do have problems with people "thinking" Enland, in any guise can beat the Aussies at Rugby League.

We won't and will not until certain people and clubs take their head out of their collective backsides and realise what the REAL problem is!!

But they can't and if they did it is doubtful they would change because their narrow minded my club sod anyone else attitude would preclude it!

I never said they were, i was merely emphasising the vast difference in quality and skill that Aus have to choose from and what we have to choose from in one position.

As for the WC final, the Aussies went into the game too cocky and complacent, and NZ had the game of their lives. The previous games before that and the one this year shows they are miles ahead of NZ and Aus, its just unlucky for them the game they lost was the final. Of course NZ and Eng can beat them on any given day, its just that day doesnt come round too often.

Myler ahead of Burrow?

I wouldn't want to go into an internatonal with an untested half-back pairing.

As much as I am against sticking with the status quo, I reckon England should start as the same team that came out last time, with possibly 3-5 changes at most. Over the tourney you could then try some more new faces, but you can't swap half the squad about and expect them to play as a team.

we have a pretty good build up with games again wales & france (no disrespect) before it starts getting abit harder so we can try out the untested pairings then...plus we don't have to beat australia in the group game to make the final,just france & NZ....

Just the World Champions and France....the 10th best team in the world to englands high 8th ranking.