Why?

He can cover any position in the backs aswell as loose forward at a push. He could come on in games with Burrow moving to 9.

He doesn't warrent a starting spot ahead of McGuire after his awful world cup.

Smith / Briscoe
Ainscough
Gleeson
Shenton
Fox
Pryce
McGuire
Graham
Roby
Peacock
Ellis
Burgess
Westerman

Burrow
LMS
Hock (he needs a big year for club & country this year)
Lynch/L Burgess

That back row looks quality and is only going to get better

i think we have a winner here! impact of the bench, mix of youth and experience! even them backs look dangerous! only possible change i would make is lee smith on the wing instead of fox and briscoe at full back

Depends what the Test is intended to be - an opportunity to expose some young players to the next step up ahead of the Four Nations, or for the first choice players to spend some time together and develop some patterns of play.

I'd be surprised if Ellis was released by Wests or if the England management asked for his release to be honest. He'll get more out of staying down there than coming up to face a most likely mediocre French side.

Smith, Gardner, Gleeson, Shenton, Fox, McGuire, Burrow, Peacock, Roby, Graham, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, S Burgess, Westerman

Bench : Lynch, Hock, R.Horne, O'Loughlin.

I dont think we can ignore Richard Horne at the moment for one of the half back positions....he's worth a game in a match of this significance (or lack of it) Him and Burrow appeal to me as a half back pairing.

atm im unsure weather to go with tomkins and myler halfbacks. is it worth a go against France or not? unsure! but this is what i'd go with

Briscoe
Smith
Shenton
Atkins
Fox
Horne/Tomkins
Burrow/Myler
Graham
Roby
S.Burgess
LMS
Ellis
Westerman

any of them halfbacks
Peacock
Hock
Lynch

as i say, its my opinion! and any of them halfback pairings will do me fine

Against France bearing in mind it's a good time to give a few different players a go I'd go with

1.Smith
2.Fox
3.Yeaman
4.Shenton
5.Ainscough
6.Pryce
7.Myler
8.Graham
9.Roby
10.Peacock
11.Hock
12.JJB
13.Westerman
14.Burrow
15.Burgess
16.Ferres
17.McCarthy-Scarsbrook

Does nobody think Purdhams in the mix? He can kick goals as well.

rob purdham is a good solid pro and,if needed,can come in a do a job..



i would'nt go with shaun briscoe though @ fullback....we may as well stick with wellens imo

1. Briscoe
2. Owen
3. Shenton
4. Gleeson
5. Fox
6. Horne
7. Burrow
8. Graham
9. Diskin
10 Huby (just check his stats for this season so far )
11. Ellis (Ferguson against France because Wests probably wont release Elllis)
12. JJB
13. Westerman

14. Burgess
15. Roby
16. Lynch
17. Crabtree

Defintley get Fox in there Briscoe should get a turn or at least in the mid season test and defitley in the 4 nations squad if he keeps this form up all seasoon.

Who to replace Senior?

Shenton seems the front runner at the moment.