Also with regards to the Wigan wingers. Isn't Charnley almost back now? How do Wigan fans see Wane going for the rest of the year? The current two are going fine but will the fact Burgess is leaving cost him his spot?

Yeah I've been thinking the same. He's also going to Sydney where McNamara is coach so he may as well print his #2 shirt already.

The biggest weaknesses England had last year were lack of threat from 6/7, the hooker rotation and the backrow. Hooker should be better as Hodgson has really done well for the Raiders. I'd go for Tomkins at 7 simply to get him and Hardaker in the team together, and make use of Hardaker's strength in defence and returning kicks.

Backrow options aren't exactly jaw-dropping. Is Joel Tomkins doing better now? I wouldn't have Farrell in the team, he's far too lightweight in the collission. O'Loughlin should be in if fit.

Quote Wigg'n="Wigg'n"Well he has the most tackle busts in SL this season despite only playing 9 games. Watkins in second has played 13 games. superleague.co.uk/stats/player_stats Agree with you on Briscoe but he has been injured most of the year so currently completely out of the question.'" Hmmm. All of a sudden stats matter. And yet, when it was shown to you that Percival had the same amount of tries and more assists in six games as Sarginson has in eleven, you dismissed it as hilarious. What can one expect from the daft mugs from Wigan ? Wouldn't know a good RL player unless they pulled a Wigan shirt on. Everything is awesome !!!!!

Quote Wigg'n="Wigg'n"Well he has the most tackle busts in SL this season despite only playing 9 games. Watkins in second has played 13 games. superleague.co.uk/stats/player_stats Agree with you on Briscoe but he has been injured most of the year so currently completely out of the question.'" Hmmm. All of a sudden stats matter. And yet, when it was shown to you that Percival had the same amount of tries and more assists in six games as Sarginson has in eleven, you dismissed it as hilarious. What can one expect from the daft mugs from Wigan ? Wouldn't know a good RL player unless they pulled a Wigan shirt on. Everything is awesome !!!!!

and yet you picked Percival at centre?

Clark not Clarke!

If people are picking Hardaker at full back i'd want Briscoe on the other wing to Hall. Dropping back for kicks these lads will have played with each other for most of the season have that team chemistry, even if it's only dropping back for kicks. Centres, one is Watkins obviously. I'd go with Sarginson again after a good 4N last year. Bit early for Percival yet who I want just playing games regularly without injury. If Hardaker if at 1 then that's Tomkins in the halves, even though i'd rather him at full back. Alongside Widdop obviously. Ask Tomkins to defend on the wing in the defensive line, ideally on Nightingale's side. Props pick themselves, 4 of Graham, T Burgess, G Burgess, Hill, Walmsley, anyone else I've missed of note. Loose forward i'd still pick O'Loughlin if fit because he's world class, his standard is amazing even on return from injury usually. Second row would be Whitehead and Tomkins in my opinion. Potentially one of Bateman/Farrell/Ferres/one of the youngsters. For hooker, Roby obviously starts. He's an 80 minute man so I don't know whether we'd need another hooker on the bench. We could run with 3 props on the bench with a SR, that gives us plenty of size for a massive Kiwi pack.

1. Hardaker
2. Briscoe
3. Watkins
4. Sarginson
5. Hall
6. Tomkins
7. Widdop
8. G Burgess
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Whitehead
12. Tomkins
13. O'loughlin

14. Hill
15. T Burgess
16. Walmsley
17. Second Rower

this, i'm all for bigging up young talented players, but surely they should be given at least 3 seasons in SL to show their credentials, not a few good games for Wigan, Leeds, etc, we saw with penny what can happen to a potential star at a young age, let these talented youngsters earn their stripes with their clubs first before we even consider them as internationals.
yes sutcliffe is a brilliant talent but he need to be given a role for leeds and bed into that first before we chuck him in against the best team in the world surely? same goes for percival, manfredi, etc.

There is an alternative school of thought and that is that if they're good enough, they're old enough and they play. My team would be....

S. Tomkins
J.Burgess
Watkins
Sarginson
Hall
Sutcliffe
Widdop
Graham
Roby
Hill
Westwood
J. Tomkins
O'Loughlin

Ward
Walmsley
G.Burgess
T. Burgess

Sarginson is picked because he played well last time out against them and so deserves another chance, despite his obvious limitations. It's a matter of time before Percival takes his spot anyhow. Sutcliffe was absolutely outstanding at Langtree Park when I saw him. A young kid but looking around, who is better ? I'd move Widdop to 7 and give him the 6 shirt. It can't be any worse than seeing Matty Smith put in his turnstile defensive performances and average kicking. Had he not got injured and carried his form on, Joe Greenwood would have got the 11 shirt as well. As it is, he cannot. Westwood is a solid option. O'Loughlin is the best player in the country by a distance and an automatic selection if fit. I think J. Tomkins has come on leaps and bounds this year and is another nailed on selection, although I think Whitehead is going well also. Ward has been superb and deserves a chance whilst the three other props on the bench are obvious calls.

With our lack of back row options at the moment an alternative option could be to play Graham or Cuthbertson at 13 and move Flanders into the 2nd row?

Sutcliffe should be nowhere near at the moment. He's shown some good touches so far but drifts in and out of games too much at the moment to be playing in the halves at test level.

I'm not sure why so many people are in a rush to pick Hill. His standard of play has been terrible this season by comparison.

Granted, his past achievements warrant consideration. But what happened to selection based on current form? Comparing Hill with Sims really puts his game in stark context. If it were a fight they'd have stopped it.

He's certainly looking quite shop worn this season, perhaps a full off season is what he needs?

You could also argue that on current form Clark, and Roby don't really warrant selection.