Agree with that. I also think we've got a bit of depth in the backs and at hooker now but like you say the backrow isn't up to the top Aussies. It's partly why it's such a shame to see Burgess leaving. I know he plays at prop a lot but he's a top quality player in the backrow too.

I also think, beyond Graham & Hill, our props are a step below the Aussies too.

George and Tom B are going well again, and I'd use them as interchange for each other. Mossop before his injury looked as lightweight as he did in the world cup. Cooper looks pretty good though as a rotation prop.

I'm surprised no one had mentioned Mike Cooper until now. We keep getting told how hard the NRL is, and he's more than holding his own in his debut season.

did you forget about George Burgess or deliberately leave him out. He is every bit as good as the Aussie/Kiwi front-rowers and Tom seems to be picking up too now, although he will need another year I think.

I'd put GB and JG in the top 5 front rowers in the NRL easily and if you count Sam as a prop he would probably be in there too, along with Matt Scott and Aaron Woods.

I don't think the Aussie front rowers are to be feared by our pack at all - its the halves that are just so much better in big games than ours.

I didn't forget about him. I think George is still a step below the top Aussie props. Not a big step but still a step. There's no point counting Sam Burgess though is there as he's not available to us. It'd be like counting Kyle Eastmond among our halves.
I also didn't say we had to be fearful of the Aussie front rowers, just that they're slightly better and have more depth.
I also don't think their halves are that much better, or that halfback has been a problem v the Aussies. As usual, we'll do ok v the Aussies if our pack stands up. Unfortunatel, too often, they don't.

How can you say half back isn't a problem? We had about 3 different combinations during the WC and a completely new one during the semi.

The biggest problem we have is the coach. Until that numpty goes we won't even make a final.

1. Tomkins
2. Makinson
3. Watkins
4. Shenton
5. Hall
6. Widdop
7. Smith
8. Amor
9. Roby
10. Graham (c)
11. Farrell
12. Whitehead
13. O'Loughlin

14. Clark
15. Hill
16. G. Burgess
17. Westwood

18. Hardaker
19. Ratchford
20. Ferres
21. Walmsley
22. Burrow
23. Huby
24. Westerman

Back row is a worry. We lack a wrecking ball, ball handling back rower now Surgess has gone. Plenty of solid options but no game breakers. We're OK at prop I think, although, below the top 3 the rest are unproven, Amor, Walmsley, Huby etc. But, I'd argue that current crop of Aussie props are amongst the most ordinary I've seen from them.

The biggest dilemma with the England team is what to do with Tomkins/Hardaker. Whether Zac plays 1 and Sam 6 or to play 1 at FB and not play the other. I'm not sure playing Sam at 6 is a great idea given he has not played there since he was a kid however I do think he would be capable and if I was picking the team I would take the gamble. Picking players out of position seems to work for Australia. I think SM will pick Sam at 1 because of Zac's indiscretions at the World Cup and since. The back row proved more difficult than I thought.

However this is my team not SM's

1 Hardaker
2 Charnley
3 Reed
4 Watkins
5 Hall
6 S. Tomkins
7 Widdop
8 Graham
9 Roby
10 Hill
11 Westwood
12 Ferres
13 O'Loughlin

14 Clarke
15 G Burgess
16 Taylor
17 Westerman

18 Ratchford
19 Briscoe
20 Shenton
21 Lunt
22 Huby
23 Amor
24 Whitehead

Agree about Aussie props being average. Still think Aussies may struggle (famous last words) when they have to replace their spine of Slater, Smith, Cronk, Thurston. They are some of the greatest players of all time who have played together for years.

Agree back row is a worry but we've some good ones for a few years time. Bateman, Currie, Ward etc

NSW showed how you have to defend against Thurston and co - strong inside defence to pressure them and not just standing back and watching them throw the ball around. Far too often GB/England seem to stand back and admire the Aussie playmakers, then seem stunned when they setup lovely looking tries.

I pointed out the lack of quality in the back row last year and was told I was talking cr*p. I think its a really big problem for England, especially with Sam Burgess gone.

Another weakness is having to rotate Roby. That means England have to have a hooker on the bench (or even worse move the halfbacks around), rather than another big forward.

Hardaker/Tomkins is one of the most interesting selection dilemmas, as is 6 and 7 - I'd assume Widdopp has to be there, but also Sinfield if he's fit and selected as well. Given that Tomkins is a must, Hardaker would probably miss out, be picked in the centres or (possibly) on the bench. Given that Hardaker can cover 1-5 that may not be the worst move if we can avoid a hooker on the bench.

If there is a problem with rotating Roby, simple, just play Clark for 80 minutes.

It's a great issue for England to have trying to fit both Clark and Roby in. I expect Clark's form will bring the best out of Roby at the end of the year because if it doesn't he's in danger of losing his position.

On form Clark should be the first name on the team sheet.

It's funny how no one seems to think that roby's form is anything to shout about. He's so hugely important to the saints team - he was taken off for 20 minutes against Bradford and we conceded 4 times! He's topping 50 tackles a game with alarming regularity and is just the glue that holds saints together at times. Perhaps not as flashy as Clark, but just as good.

Also, not sure why Roby "needs" to be rotated, he's been playing without being so for the best part of 2 years. If were playing only one hooker it has to be Roby.

That said, rotating between Clark and Roby is the best option of all imo, the 4 props we have are capable of playing longer minutes then were actualy giving them, and there's no once actually worth dislodging the second hooker for in the back row

I don't watch Roby every week but when I do he doesn't look the same player as in years gone by especially in attack. It's no shame to be overtaken by a fresher, quicker version of himself though which is what's happened IMO. Roby is a top class hooker and for so long he's been nailed on to be England's 9 but he's now in competition with a lad who I believe has not only been the best hooker in superleague this year but the best player.

It's a great position for England to be in tbh. That competition should drive them both and others to keep improving.