'"

Roby is world class and has been for 5 years, Mclllorum is just a form player over this season. Roby to be vice captain for me.

Tomkins
Charnley Goulding Reed Hall
Widdop Brough
Graham Mcllorum Mossop
Ellis Westwood
Burgess

Roby, Hock, Crabtree, O'loughlian

Ive changed my mind over the captaincy now, and would give it to Ellis!!

Jon Wilkin

I don't think a captain should be named. The England team should be picked on current form and ability. If you select a captain he is guaranteed selection which IMO should not be the case.

I would select a leadership group of 5 players who are likely to be around the squad and select the captain on a game by game basis. If one or more of the group need to be dropped due to poor form then others are ready to step in.

Something like

Graham
O'loughlin
Roby
Ellis
Tomkins

Lockers should be the captain but I think it may be roby/tomkins.

And my line up for the world cup would be

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Josh Charnley
3. Jack Reed
4. Kallum Watkins
5. Ryan Hall
6. Gareth Widdop
7. Danny Brough
8. James Graham
9. James Roby
10. Sam Burgess
11. Gareth Hock
12. Gareth Ellis
13. Sean O'Loughlin (C)

14. Lee Mossop
15. Luke Burgess
16. Ben Westwood
17. Mike McIlorum

Hw does it rule Graham out? He's 26, with experience at every level of the game. He's seems the obvious candidate.

Agree with the back line.

In the pack I'd go for:

Graham
Roby
Mossop
Ellis
Westwood
Burgess

Bench:

Burrow
Hock
Luke Burgess
Crabtree

A full strength England pack is mouthwatering

Cos he can't be here for any mid season games? Or the training camps?

i like the idea of the leadership team which builds a greater sense of a team with several leaders as admittedly o'loughlin while a solid captain, he is sometimes too quiet.
edit- with o'loughlin assigned captaincy for whenever the captain is called upon.

I forgot about Burgess, I'd have him on the bench in place of LMS/Carvell.
I said why I'd leave out Widdop, we need our halves to play together and everyone in the squad to know what they're doing. The mid-season camps and games aren't very effective if your halves aren't playing in it.
I'd have Widdop in the squad as a useful backup for 6,7 & 1.
I'm sure Reed is a good player, but I saw nothing to label him far and away better than Watkins or Atkins, who would both have the benefit of the mid-season camps & games. Again, I'd have him in the squad as backup.
I also don't think Roby offers impact off the bench anymore. He did a few years ago when spelling Cunningham, now he's developed his game to be the best hooker in the country. I'd start with him, with Burrow off the bench to add the impact. Again McIlorum or Houghton in the squad as backup.

Reed has the confidence to really take it to the aussies. Remember his try at Wembley? He got us a try out of nothing, he had the confidence to go for it and execute the play. Reed must be in IMO.

Maybe you are right about Widdop but only time will tell.

Burgess can't be on the bench, he is one of our few world class players.

Eh? From what I remember he caught the ball off a Sinfield kick and ran to the line unopposed. Like I say, he's a good player but I don't think there's THAT much difference between him & Watkins or Atkins.

As for Burgess, he provides impact off the bench, whether a prop starts or is on the bench has little to do with ability and more when in the game you want them.

Will Reed still be playing centre for much longer? I have a feeling he'll end up in the back row at Brisbane.