Agree, my previous post has Smith at fb.

I though we needed to get Eastman into the team somewhere though so put him right centre. He has an x factor that i think could just win us a game. Thats why ive replaced Mcguire with Tomkins too. Very young backline but i thought we were using this tournament for that reason.

Smith
Fox
Ellis
Westwood
Hall
Tomkins
Eastmond
Morley
Roby
Peacock
Burgess
Wilkin
Sinfield

Graham
Carvell
Crabtree
Shenton

Bit of contoversy in the centres but both Westwood and Ellis started out in the centres and both are very strong defensively. I would only use these two there against the aussies. Got Shenton on the bench if Westwood needs to revert back to the pack as out of the two I believe Ellis would make the conversion back to his old position a little easier. Gone for a big bench and picked Sinfield because basically there isnt anyone else and he cam kick goals. Don't think Myler is up to it and bothe Eastmond and Tomkins are fearless, have a lot of creativity and both can defend. Doubt Smith will go with anything like this line up but we need to mix it up a bit. We're weak as p155 in the three quarters, Senior showed us this year when he ripped Atkins and Shenton to pieces when he came up against them in Super League.

for me its damage limitation against aus and the only side I could see doing that would be as follows;

1. Briscoe
2. Fox
3. Ellis
4. Smith
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. Tomkins
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Morley
11. Peacock
12. Burgess
13. Wilkin
-----------------------
14. Eastmond
15. Carvell
16. Crabtree
17. Myler

Briscoe has to play FB, what he lacks in attack he makes up fo by being in teh right spot to pick up kicks and as a last line of defence (which we will need big time!).

Eastmond looked good but hard to say what his best position is.

On that performace were fricked whoever we pick!

Can anyone who has suggested dropping Tom Briscoe say why they would do so? What has he done wrong in the two games he's played?

smith
briscoe
eastmond
ellis
hall
mcguire
tomkins
FGB
roby
Peacock
morley
burgess
sinfield

crabtree
wilkin
westwood
myler

But that thing with Senior, thats was an attention seeking idiot feeling left out and realising that when he isn't playing football he isn't important.


As Smith said, Senior took the time to tell the media about wanting to possibly play, then didn't tell the English management or the coach.


Glad he left him out. I think Smith is a completely different issue.

I'd have Ellis in the for a few reasons.

He likes running wide anyway, he'll provide size out there which is needed (I think some people here don't realize how big Hodges and Inglis actually are), he will provide experience....


I'd rather see him having a few problems out wide then seeing one of these kids being destroyed.

Keep in mind, Greg Inglis has the ability to slaughter the best in the game.

No way Smith should be playing. As soon as he announced he was leaving teh game he should have been dropped from rep honours. An England cap should be reserved for those who care about RL!

Defiantly.

I don't think he is that good a player to be honest, and I think he'll be back in League in a few years time anyway.

I think that's basically down to a lack of depth in English Centres and probably Englands first choice Centre Ryan Atkins being ruled out through injury...

But as has been noted earlier by a Wakey fan, Atkins was totally outplayed by Senior when they came up against each other in SL this year. Likewise Shenton. When Cas had their most embarassing performance of the season (over 60 points conceded at Sheddingly) a lot of the points came as a result of Senior running over the top of Shenton.

People have been decrying Senior and Gleeson at centre for the last few years but the fact is we still don't have anyone close to 'em for the test berths.

I'd give Ellis a place there against the Aussies cos he's the only one who will match up defensively to what is an awesome Aussie threequarter line and lets face it, on last nights showing we won't be losing anything in attack by playing a forward there!

Eastmond is possibly the only player England have got that could provide the 'X' factor so he's got to be in somewhere. Playing him at centre or fullback would be a risk defensively but it's a case of play it safe and try and keep the score to a respectable level (a policy Gt Britain followed for too long against the Aussies ie. playing forwards in the halves for their defensive abilities) or take a risk and see what happens....