If that happens, hopefully not a single Wigan player will be selected to play for England in the World Cup. Thus preventing all of them from being given the priviledge of appearing for their Nation, in what will probably be the most high profile, most viewed, games of their careers (except Sam Tomkins of course).

Every change of coach for England and GB we hear them say "I'll pick on form"
Everyone gets excited and hopeful then within two matches its same old story, out of form players picked on club and rep and nothing to do with form

The day England genuinely pick in form players in their correct position we might have a fighting chance

Till then ill go to watch, I'll be hopeful as hell, I'll leave disappointed

Is this still about Danny Brough? He doesn't usually get picked because he isn't usually in form at the end of the season.

Perhaps the coaches know more about him than you?. Perhaps there's reasons why a 30 year old has only been selected once to play for England. And it's not because he's Scottish.

Instead of directing your anger at Kevin Sinfield & Steve McNamara, why not question why Brian Noble & Tony Smith didn't select him either. Or since moving to Huddersfield has he improved dramatically?

A game against the Exiles is not "international" RL.

No, but the World Cup games are. And as it's a World Cup year, surely all the contenders for their respective national sides would want to lay down a marker for selection?

If the Exiles pick the right team, it could be a cricket score.

The Hardaker selection has baffled me. He is not a centre! We have a perfectly good centre playing well in Ben Crooks, ok he is still raw but I would much rather him than playing Hardaker. Hardaker isn't playing particularly outstanding to warrant a shirt, never mind playing centre.

JJB shouldn't be anywhere near or Morley. I can understand him putting Roby in as he is our first choice hooker so McNamara will want him to get used to playing with the team again.

Also does anyone else think questions should be asked about McNamara had bridges seem to have been burnt with two players who would be in most people's starting line up?

I'm not convinced that such a low-intensity fixture which nobody cares about and where players involved perform at the level of a casual training session could ever provide any genuine markers for selection in proper international fixtures.

Come on Billy boy,don't sulk.I would say that Mummy loves you but the fact is,even she doesn't.She dispises you for living in your Council bedsit and living off Benefits.
Big night out tonight is it?Silly question,another quiet night,just you and your calculator again,just like Christmas Day.

No Hock? is he injured?

Crooks and Ratchford deserve to be in there for me, with only one player currently playing centre picked, i'm disappointed he hasn't gone with Crooks, that would have been the more innovative move for me, he'll likely play Hardaker there, and fair enough, but I just think a braver coach who isn't scared to take a chance would have gone with Crooks.

Ratchford would have certainly had a place on my bench, I think Burrow is a lucky man to be in at this moment.

Roby and Morley only just back from long injury layoffs walk straight back in without having to prove their form, we all know these two are good Internationals, and Mcnamara won't find anything he doesn't know already about those two, and could have just let them get back up to speed for their clubs, Lunt and Carvell could have been given a chance to put their names in contention and made competition for places more competitive.

Apart from that, all present and correct

Why rush Crooks in to the ETS? This is what we have got the Knights for! Young lads with lots of potential cutting their teeth on the international stage with other players in the same category. They'll still go to camps and be brought on for the future with a hope of developing them for the elite squad. Lineham is another one. Let's not overexpose them just yet, I don't think they are ready for this step up but do deserve recognition for their performances so far this season.

Hardaker will probably be in the ETS come WC time as he covers all the backs, and is very apt at doing so. This justifies his inclusion. He probably just pips Ratchford to this role currently.

Regardless, Watkins will probably be selected if not crocked for the WC, and it'll be between Cudjoe & Reed for the LC spot unless Atkins somehow manages to get his form back sometime soon. He currently looks like a player who's confidence is completely shot. Me personally, I'd go with Jack Reed.

Hate to say this but i agree with the troll here....its not International rugby, its a game made up by the RFL, that, lets be honest no one really seems that bothered about. If we want to play 'International' games play other international teams.

Or if we have to have this type of game have it v a GB XIII to give the other home nation players a chance to get some pre-WC practice in.

We had mid season game against another international team. But, everyone moaned and wanted rid of that as well.

Considering "nobody cares", there seems to be a hell of a lot of posts from certain posters relating to their 'favourites' not being picked.

Regardless of it being a meaningless or meaningful fixture, England have to play somebody. The Exiles will provide more of a contest than France, Wales or Scotland (Yes!, even with Danny Brough playing for them).

That's more to do with their favourite club players getting the representative recognition they think they deserve, in a "my teams players are better than yours" type of way. The actual fixture itself remains meaningless to all and does not stir the imagination and passions of anyone in the game, whether it be players, coaches, or fans... apart from a few of those terminally clueless at RFL HQ.


Indeed they do but they've chosen not to. Hopefully, this will be the very last faux fixture to take place on this scale of abomination.