England: Welsby, Young, Newman, Farnworth, Ashton, Williams, Smith, Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Radley.
Interchanges: Lewis, Knowles, McMeeken, Burgess

Some odd selections in there

Good size crowd.

Nice try for Ashton

Bit surprised at Bateman over Nsemba and no Luke Thompson unless he’s injured

Luke Thompson is serving a 1 match ban I think.

Very suprised at Clark over Walker.

Wire players both scored already

That was a really good try. Great break from Williams great step from Farnworth and great offload to Radley to finish off.

Radley contracted to end of 2027, will be 29 by then.

Another good try for Samoa this time.

When I posted the team for this I was going to add does anyone care or even going to watch this. Well I have to admit this as been a really good watch, some good plays some good try’s. Williams is bossing it.

Of course Lewis comes on and gets a try. Been a good game to watch. Little bit of sloppiness in defence that was not punished but attacking wise England have been good.

Enjoyed that bit of handbags at the end and surprisingly dealt with well by Liam Moore.

Walker doesn’t deserve selection.
He hasn’t been the best English 9 and wasn’t even Wire’s best 9.
Clark is better than him imo.
Walker has Clark on age.

However Wane no longer has a honeymoon period. He couldn’t afford another loss while building a team for a future WC. He is on egg shells.
A defeat in the mini test would see him sacked.

Another thing is that Walker offers little more than England had in that team with the inclusion of Clark and Smith.

Give your head a wobble Walker was super leagues best no 9 last season, ill admit that injuries to Ipape, Brad ONeil made it easier to claim that title, Mellor and Parcell had some good form at season end but weren't consistently as good as Danny.

Clark did look better yesterday behind a pack that wasn't as useless as Saints and with some better game tactics, I di hope Briers doesn't bring it to Saints but that was a howler of an intercept.

The only reason Walker didn't get a game was to include the current MOS, I thought that Wane did well in keeping the right half back pairing.

I can understand what you are saying in that a major advantage if Walkers game is he has a kicking game (most 40/20s in SL last season) and that having Smith means it is superfluous, but surely having that threat in multiple places is an advantage. Its like saying we don't need Ashton to run fast because Dufty can.

I was envious of Smiths kicking yesterday and lost count if the times he hit grass, and the distance.he made.

Danny Walker definitely better than Clark currently, will he be better than peak Clark not sure, would I have liked to keep them both yes but still the right decision to keep Walker over Clark, and I'll enjoy Walkers performances until he invariably moves to the NRL.