Maybe a bit controversial but i am not convinced about Ainscough. as good and quick as he is, and leading try scorer in SL defensively he is not good enough yet. He was at fault for two Huddersfield tries and did not play against Saints because they threatened to bomb him on every 5th tackle.

Against Australia or NZ he would be targetted from the first minute. Whilst various English teams have suffered from different weaknesses over the years the one consistent one is the inabilty of our wingers to deal with kicks. That would be the key issue for me in picking a future english winger it is likely to mean that we have to train Ainscough to leap like a gazelle, find another winger or play someone out of their normal position.

I was thinking of Puletua as a prop. But yes, id have Clough over Galea, but I know youd have Galea over Clough

From the looks of that westy would certainly be regarded as the more creative player, he hasnt been himself this year in some of the games i've noticed when he has come on from the bench he has seemed much better, at a guess i would say this is because beeing a starting player for over 2 seasons at his age has exhausted him a bit. Looking forward to when he comes back he will be raring to go, especially if its against leeds.

1. S Briscoe
2. R Hall
3. T Briscoe
4. M Shenton
5. S Aincough
6. S Tomkins
7. R Myler
8. J Graham
9. D Houghton
10. L McCarthy-Scarsbrook
11. M Burnett
12. S Burgess
13. J Westerman

14. J Roby
15. K Eastmond
16. P Prescott
17. L Burgess

So you wouldn't have Offiah (in his prime) in your team - a player that was hardly noted for his defence and was targeted by the opposition week after week?
By this I'm not comparing Ainscough's attacking skills / speed with Offiah, just that he's a young british winger, currently at the top of the scoring charts doing exactly what he does best......score tries!

yes i do come from fingerpost in st helens, but i have always been a widnes fan,

as for wheeler, i watch quite a lot of academy games at widnes and from the youngsters coming through young wheeler is the pick of the crop IMO.

You obviously missed the bit in Bold.

However looking at your arguement i would make two points.

If being fast and scoring points is the main criteria for a winger ( and defence is secondary) could i suggest we go into the games against Aus and NZ with Ainscough on one wing and Penny on the other. That way we will be guaranteed lots of tries and would surely win the competition. NOT

Additionally the game has moved on a lot from the days when Offiah was playing as a FULL TIME PRO in a semi pro sport. defensively he was not the best but he was not playing against the Athletes that the game has now ie Folau or Inglis or Vatuvei. Additionally the game particularly attacking wise was as i remember very different without the pin point kicks to wing men to score. If you want to put Ainscough up against those three players i have mentioned above then you would be as successful an international coach as Tony Smith.

1. Briscoe (HKR)/Cudjoe
2. Lawrence
3. Atkins
4. Shenton
5. Ainscough/Briscoe (HullFC)
6.Tomkins
7. Myler
8. Graham
9. Moore
10. S Burgess
11. Tomkins
12. Ferguson
13. Westerman

14. Roby
15. Clubb
16. LMS
17. L Burgess

Just Kevin Iro. Dead easy.

He isn't.

His defence is pretty sound but his positioning from kicks needs a little work imo.

The one thing Ainscough has though that Penny doesn't seem to have is balls! He'll throw himself at anything and will work his rocks off for the side. He's also bounced back from every single error he's come up with and gone on to have a class game.

He'd be in my side for the France mid season game.

He has come on hugely in the last few months and deserves a crack.

As for him getting into a first choice side at the end of the year the compatition may be abit too great but he should be around the squad.

I think Clubb is turning into a very good wide running second-row, his size, speed and more importantly power are starting combine nicely to punch holes through defences.

seconded, can't remember the last great ball playing second row to come through in britain (and before the w***n fans spout on about hock he isn't great)

don't worry....like most of our good players over the years, they will buy him and ruin him within 2 years
Tony Clubb should play in the French game IMO, but it's not MO that counts.
I still say pick a team of U25's for this game, but it won't happen.

Ellis?

Played nearly a full season at Stand Off 4 or so years back and has a handy offload