If not Mossop definitly Hill. I honestly dont think Crabtree will cause many probs international wise.

Same for Cudjoe he is big and athletic but Watkins is more dangerous with ball and Id say Reed is the better reader jumper and defender.

Like i said i think Sam Burgess would be better concentrating on troubling the opposition defence while Lockers deals with defence but its no loss either way.

Honest question. If Sinfield is injured or whatever, who would you pick as half backs and who would be captain?

Watching Myler all year he must be in with a shout, has been massive this year for us and lead us around the field very well...

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall
Widdop
Smith
Graham
Sinfield
S. Burgess
Farrell
Kirmond/Ferres
O'Loughlin

Houghton
G Burgess
Hill
Westwood

Kirmond could be worth looking at, need to smarten up a bit and shave the beard though lol.

Myler has been great for Warrington, I would sooner have him than Chase.

Good to have options though!
I'm worried that our array of second rowers arn't playing particularly well though. Ellis, Hock and Westwood. I'm not a big fan of Westwood but he's played well the last few games i've seen him.

Luckily though we arent short in that department. I would hope Ellis would improve as he doesnt seem to be firing properly, but you have Sam Burgess who could slot in then add another prop or loose, and they you have players like Farrell who have had great form.

Although knowing McNamara he would pick JJB, or even better MediaMan - formerly known as Wilkin.

I'd go with:

1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Watkins
4. Cudjoe
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. Myler
8. Burgess, S
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Westwood
12. Ellis
13. O'Loughlin

14. Burrow
15. Burgess, G
16. Hill
17. Farrell

18. Hardaker
19. Mossop
20. Morley
21. Widdop
22. Kirmond
23. Houghton
24. Crabtree

This is where the lack of decent international competition during the year hurts us. With a more comprehensive int fixture list we could have been trying out different combinations instead of lick the finger and see how they go in the WC scenario.

Would love to see SOO move to stand alone weekends and see England play NZ at the same time every year.

good I think we would all love to see England play NZ every year but it will not happen

One thing I would say is we need burrow on the bench, possibly even burrow and roby on the bench could be hugely effective
Higham should be forcing his way in if he carries on his form.

Sinfield and chase/widdop is my choice in the halves.
Crabtree has always been a big performer for England too.

The team does more or less pick itself though with a few tough choices

I'd go with:

1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Reed
4. Cudjoe/Watkins
5. Hall
6. Widdop
7. Myler
8. Hill
9. Sinfield
10. Graham
11. Burgess. S
12. Ellis/Westwood
13. O'Loughlin

14. Roby /Burrow
15. Burgess, G
16. Westwood/Ellis
17. Mossop/Crabtree/ Kickmond

Where did I give it Sinfield in the neck? All i said is that he is already definitly a halfback so there is no point questioning it whether you like it or not. Short of injury he is in the England squad end of the matter at this point.

And i say half backs is where we are weakest, do you disagree? Our forwards are strong, as are our backs but we have zero proven half back combinations at international

That's good news. It means we can rid of Macnamara.

Hard to pick an exact team, but here IMO are the certs for the starting 13:

Ellis
S Burgess
Westwood
Graham
Tomkins
Sinfield
roby
watkins
hall

I think those players are musts, the rest of the starting line up and the bench is open to interpretation.