crabtree and lunt stick out a mile for me, both should have been in, crabtree has always looked the part at international level, no problem at all with hill think he has been superb this year.

Wouldnt have picked chase,tom burgess, hock or mcilorum last 2 because they are penalty machines, same problem exist in the halves though as in previous years sinfields kicking game against the aussies wont be good enough, dont see the fuss about the centres tbh for me they are the best 2 english centres going, cudjoe in defence and watkins in attack.

No Chase, Thomas Burgess, Gareth Hock, Michael McIllorum, Carl Ablett or, despite being an FC fan, Tom Briscoe for me. I can't really say I agree with/like the squad that's been selected.

The pack will be useful, I have doubts over whatever half back combo England will go with.

I can see Ablett playing at centre after the 1st game.

Decent squad, strong pack and good wingers. Might be a weakness at half back, also Tomkins is not a great defender at full back.

lunt,crabtree,ratchford are the big surprise omissions for me, surely lunt offers more than burrow and mcilorum at 9?
ratchford probably offers more than hardaker who I imagine will be cover for centre/full back? ratchford can do both and has a good kicking game.
haven't seen much of NRL so cant comment on burgesses but surely ferres and kirmond deserve a chance ahead of ablett and hock?

lets hope macca and the guys can do the business now.

24 places & we don't include a scrum-half or a left centre

The squad lacks a bit of balance for me. Too many pivots/hookers and not enough pack men.

For me, I see the line up as; Sam, Charnley, Watkins, Cudjoe, Hall, Chase, Sinfield, Graham, Roby, Hill, Westwood, Burgess, O'Loughlin. Subs of Widdop, Hock, Burgess and Mossop.

Which leaves a full back, winger, two hookers, two back row forwards and a prop.

The thing worrying me is the possibility of Mac playing Sinfield at 13, with Widdop and Chase halves and one of the hookers on the bench. Too many chiefs written all over that, especially with another 'pivot' style fullback in Sam.

I'd have added Crabtree in for McIllorum/Burrow as a minimum

Ferres came off against Wire with suspected broken hand, if that's true, then that will be the reason he didn't make it.

Eorl is a little unlucky but no massive loss.

Richie Myler is the unluckiest for me.

I'd say the squad is pretty much spot on.

I honestly can't see who Crabtree is better than in that squad, he punches well below his weight and struggles to get a decent quick play the ball.

Dress her up as Bodaecea and have her lead the cheers at the England games. On second thoughts, never mind, Bodaecea git beat and enslaved, by the Italians no less.

Hock is a headcase whose discipline is suspect and is likely to get wound up by the opposition, do something crazy and get sent off or sin binned and we will have a difficult enough time winning against the big boys without playing a man short.

The lack of a proper 7 is worrying. Sinfield, Chase and Widdop are stand offs and Burrow is an impact hooker or half. Would have liked to have seen Smith of Wigan in there. Looking to the future (or even now to be honest) i would like to see Smith and Widdop in the halves.

Ratchford for Burrow and Wilkin for Hock would be the only two changes for me.... However I'm reasonably pleased and can't wait for the off!!

Hock might be a head case but if you can see beyond that he's easily a top 10 in the world back rower, proper quality. People let his discipline and drug ban cloud the fact he's a very good player.