Loving the irony. Watkins pah!!

What saddens me week after week and game after game on this board are the club coaches who come on here and slag off other clubs players, pick fault on everything and ANYTHING.

YOU ARE ALL A LOT OF IDIOTS. why not for once get behind the bloody team. Played three, won 2. In to the QF. WHAT MORE DO YOU Fucking want? Jesus get a life.


Come on ENGLAND!

I think the side is selecting itself.

I'm glad others can see that the Sinfield to 9 tactic is a waste of time and player talent. Either Widdop plays or he doesn't, but you have to stick to your guns and not take the cowards choice of putting him on the bench.

Putting him on the bench weakens the team by shifting Sinfield to 9 a place he really does not play particularly well at this level.

As for Charnley v Briscoe. I would have started with Charnley after this season, but he lost his place fair and square. Sure he got a try in the Australia match, but it was off a mistake and a stoke of luck with the bounce. Any winger worth his salt with that mistake and bounce would have scored.

Briscoe has shown a lot more endevour and enthusiasm for me.
I would not say O'Loughlin is a poor choice but he will not shine like he will in a Wigan side. The difference is that some of the best pack players in the world are in this England set up, so in comparison he does not seem as fantastic as he does against teams in SL. (but I did think he ran some decent lines and did not seem to let us down in defense either)

I was a little concerned at halftime. But it was nice to see once we got our tails up we executed better.

Cudjoe did not have his best game, but he has shown against the Aussies that he has the game for this level.

Having seen most of the team. My best pick would be...

Tomkins, Briscoe, Cudjoe, Watkins, Hall, Chase, Sinfield
G.Burgess, Roby, Hill, Westwood, Ferres, O'Loughlin

Bench

Burrows, Graham, S. Burgess, (then probably Mossop)

Lots of one eyed fans just supporting their own team players and slating anyone not involved with their own club.
Thought the team played well. Nice to see sinfield had another good game, but I think he has come in for a lot of undue critisism. Thought most of the pack played well, and fair play to ferries wasn't a fan of his inclusion in the squad but is having a good tourniment.
Today I thought both centres were pretty poor, particulary Watkins.
On the comment regarding the Wigan players didn't think Mclorum had a bad game at all, decent distribution and some good defence.
SOL had a quiet game but would still have him In the starting team.
Charnley vs Briscoe is very much of a muchness. At the start of the tourniment would have had charnley ahead of briscoe. Prefer briscoe in defence but charnley in attack.
On Farrell Vs Ablett again much of a muchness, both good club men, i personally would have ablett on the bench over Farrell just as I think ablett covers centre better and Watkins leg seems to get more strapping every game, the same leg injured against Wigan in the play offs and may need cover there.

1 more warm up game before the world cup begins for England

When McIllorum was on the pitch today, the team scored only 6 points and conceded 12.

His distribution is nothing special at all, he has zero creativity and his discipline is suspect and for those saying "he didn't have a bad game", well hooker touches the ball more than any other position in case you've forgot and as I said before, there's a handful of English hookers with far superior attacking nous in virtually every facet of the game with ball in hand.

McIllorum is total and utter e and it's nothing to do with club bias - I just want what's best for England RL.

FINALLY a sensible post! Well said. This!

So the fact this was his first game of the comp. and he was probably told to go out and settle in is not considered? If you are so good a hooker or coach them apply for a a place in the squad or the coaches job. MM played steady game. The tries scored or conceded is not a measure of his performance. More dope comments from the intellectual RL fan base.

RL fans won't be pleased even if England lift the trophy. Some club nutter will come on a complain so and so had a poor game and Sinfield is not international class. RL fans sadden me.

I think that G Burgess and Hill coming on was the big difference tbh. When they came on we started making good ground but also got the quick play the balls an momentum. For me G Burgess and Hill should start the game to get us off to a strong start. Graham should be used off the bench like he does a lot at the Bulldogs. People bagging McLlorum are doing so based on how the majority of the good play and tries were scored with him off the field but for me that was more a coincidence that he was off at the same time as George and Chris Hill. Regards Farrell I to agree he is a little small to make a big impact off the bench he has better footwork and runs better lines than Ablett but Ablett offers good options incase of injuries in the backs. Im not even going to defend O'Loughlin because he is one of the best English players around and although he wasn't amazing today he was still everywhere in defence and ran strong. Briscoe Vs Charnley is still a tough call. Both can score spectacular long range tries, both are strong ball carriers when helping the forwards, Briscoe has worse ball handling and isn't as good in the air whilst Charnley can get caught coming off his wing although most times that is due to the numbers being wrong in the middle of the field leaving him helpless. IMO our strongest team would be (Baring in mind McNamara will never change Chase ...

S.Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall
Chase
Sinfield
Hill
McLlorum
G Burgess
Ferres
S Burgess
O'Loughlin

Roby (on after 20 for the remainder)
Graham
Westwood
Ablett/T Burgess/Farrell depending on what you need against certain opposition.

You think Josh Hodgson is better than McIlorum.

I'm now disregarding everything you post as balls.

Wouldn't disagree to much with that. I quite liked Sam starting at proper and then dropping into the second row or loose when spelled at prop.

Also I would have ablett on the bench to cover centre. Watkins is carrying a knee injury

I think that's the last we'll see of McIllorum this tournament unless injuries hit us. He was extremely poor today, distribution and decision making left a lot to be desired at dummy half.
Roby starting with Burrow coming off the bench for the rest of the tournament in my eyes.

We had some moments where we played some very nice rugby but still need to find more consistency.

I thought it was appalling how long it took the England medical team to go and help Burrow when he went down injured in the 70th (ish) minute. The cameraman was signalling them, the ballboy was signalling them, the crowd were signalling them. In the end the cameraman had to put his camera down to help Burrow and the physio only came over when he was redirected when going to a different player.

Overall, I found it pretty entertaining. I went with family members who are not into rugby at all and they really enjoyed it, found it quite exciting at times.

Please girls put your club colours away for a few weeks, normal hand bags can be resumed on 1st December.

Our team played we'll a roos the park. Some showed up better than others, but WE WON! At the end of the day winning is the most important thing! Do you think the Aussies care if the odd player has bit of an off day? They are only interested that the team WON!


Get behind the white shirts, you know our national team!

I reckon Robbie Burrows has done enough to be in the starting 17, would prefer Sam Burgess to start again at prop with Hill, bench props James Graham and George Burgess.
Ferres has been excellent in every game so partners Westwood. Sean O,Loughlin still not up to speed but should get better. Roby a shoe in at 9.

Its too late to mess around with the backline so leave it as it is.