Well Said.

Look, NZ are a very good team but so is this England side when they put it together.I still think we have another couple of gears to go to and hopefully we will see us shift up on Saturday.The side have pretty much known for 3 weeks that this big Wembley date with the Kiwis was coming and one eye has always been on it.Im sure the intensity and buzz in training will be lifted this week to an awesome level not seen so far amongst the group and come KO time every player should be ready for a perfomance of their lives.

With the home advantage it really is a 50/50 call for me.Im really looking forward to this now.

I'm far from being a McNamara fan, but Brough CHOOSING Scotland over England says more about his "unbending arrogance" than McNamara's.

Brough & Chase did what's best for them to play in this World Cup. I'm sure Rangi wishes he was playing in a black jersey next weekend but he knew is wasn't going to happen, England is his plan B, same with Brough and Scotland.

To be fair, do you really think the Aussies or Kiwis will fear Sinfield or Chase?

Brough wouldn't have beaten NZ or OZ on his own. But I personally feel he would have made our team a lot better. Him and Sinfield sharing the kicking duties would have givin us a real weapon. Chase's club foot kicking will hurt us against the big boys. Why I hope Sinfield doesn't let him kick on Saturday.

The last time New Zealand faced them as a half back pair they lost 28-6 so I would have thought so yes

Two years a go. This is a World Cup which they are the defending champions. Different circumstances. I doubt they will fear them. Respect yes. Fear no. They won't fear Cronk, Thurston, Inglis etc.

Well now I'm confused. You brought the word fear into the conversation by saying the aussies or kiwis wouldn't fear Chase or Sinfield and yet now you say New Zealand won't fear anyone which makes the original point moot, we could list thousands of players they won't fear if they don't fear anyone

brough didnt choose, he was asked by scotland. seeing as he wasnt going to be asked by mcnamara, why not? too good a player not to be involved in a world cup.

If you bothered to read my post i was quoting Christopher who originally said the Aussies wouldn't fear Brough.

He didn't say that, he said worry, you introduced and then dismissed the use of the word fear

OK fair enough i genuinely thought he said fear. My mistake.

Either way i still don't think they will worry about Chase or Sinfield. The only thing the kiwis will be concentrating on is winding him up, he needs to rise above it and concentrate on the team. He was so petulant on Saturday, slapping peoples heads into the ground, trying to start a fight, if that's what he's like when we're winning comfortably whats he going to be like when things aren't going our way and he is been sledged by the kiwis?

OK.

Anyway, as you say, back to the point. I must admit with all the talk about McNamara not knowing his best half backs etc I was surprised to see that the English halves for our last game against New Zealand in 2011 were Chase and Sinfield, a game we won 28-6. What is clear is that McNamara has been building his team around these two for years ready for the world cup. Despite the comments about the two not clicking, without an Andrew Johns, Darren Lockyer or Wally Lewis to play the best a coach can do is create some continuity and a team structure. At least McNamara has tried to do this. A repeat of 28-6 will do me nicely (actually, 1-0 would do me nicely!)

NOPE its super mac still coaching the team in 2020 ashes series

FWIW I don't agree with Chase playing for England, but that is not the point.

There are posters on here who want to paint McNamara as the "villain" and Brough as the victimised hero in waiting. Whilst I have no idea what's gone on within the England setup I [isuspect[/i that Brough had ample opportunity to change the minds of the England coaches by his actions. He CHOSE instead, to take the easy option of a guaranteed place with Scotland.

He made the CHOICE.

Had he chosen to fight for his place and displaced Chase, then I wouldn't grumble in the slightest.

Of course he chose, Scotland asked a question and he had the choice of an answer, yes or no.