A voluntary decision to leave your team short against Australia and you've probably got disharmony in the group anyway. So much for all the time and money spent on McNamara's project to instill a "club spirit" in the squad.

Yes, the draw is pretty much fixed for England to get to the semi-finals. One win against Ireland, even with a loss against Fiji, then a QF vs PNG/France/Samoa and we're there. McNamara would have to drop another 10 players for us not to get through to the semis. But a thrashing by Australia is a terrible way to start the tournament for the competition's sake rather than just from the England team's point-of-view.

The players missing from this game due to drinking when they shouldn't, have been rightly punished. They put SM in a no win situation and they've been stood down as punishment, I'm not a Mcbanana fan but what else could he do in this "heads you win tails you lose" situation. The idiots concerned have not only let themselves and the coach down but most of all they've let us down, yes us the fans who've been waiting for this match for ages, and hoped we actually had a chance of winning the competition. The biggest game we've had for god knows how long and guess what ?? they decide they know best and decide to sneak out for a few drinks like naughty schoolboys. Do the players actually want to win the world cup ? are they taking it seriously ? If the answer is yes they certainly have a funny way of showing it. Have any of them the guts to stand up and issue an apology to Joe public (us mugs) to say they're sorry for their indescretions, have they ****, hope they're all feeling really pleased with themselves.

Hope the lads selected to play, have great games, play out of their skins, give the Aussies a good game and maybe beat them. Maybe Mcbanana can then stick 2 fingers up at the said idiots and tell them to "get back down to the pub" you're not needed for the next match either.

Doubt any of that will happen but I can dream

Totally agree mate, they're adults at the end of the day and the punishment fits the crime.

McNamara had no choice.

ShelleyGiant, you've written the post I was just about to write - spot on - what a bunch of pathetic individuals!

Widdop can't play 7.

Widdop will be on the bench I reckon, he can cover a lot of positions in the backs.

1 and 6.

It is totally childish to get p***ed (if that's what happened) under the circumstances. If people have done so it is right they should be dropped (if that's what happened). It is also good in that we should have a couple of top players fresh and raring to go for later matches (if the knuckle down).

+1 Losing O'Loughlin really damages the back row, Farrell is not a bench player and lacks size, and I worry that they will be tempted to put Sinfield at 13, which is just asking for the pack to be a pushover.

We missed the opportunity to draft Crabtree with Hock leaving, the props really appear to lack experience without Graham.



Jack Reed plays on the left, though it's moot as he's injured.

The amount of penalties Hock gives away means he will be no loss as good as he is.
Graham is one of the best props in the world and England dont have many of the best players in the world.

This is the first time im 100% England will lose.
OZ team just looks unbeatable and a few of our players are not international class in my opinion although Im sure with their ability will not let anyone down.

yep think this will be it.

cant see ablett having much of an impact from the bench though, hope tom burgess steps up , needs too

Graham missing is a massive loss for our pack against the aussies



oloughlin prob not fit enough