Playing for England doesn't necessarily mean you're international class. Atkins got found out in the four nations.

Atkins wouldn't cut it as a second rower, he's better out along the edges, always where he burns to be, bullying smaller 3/4s.

Correct. Atkins wasn't up to much last night, but name me a player who was? It's good to see that we have strength in depth, but when fully fit Atkins is our first choice centre, and rightly so.

Was worse when David Plange put Briers at Full Back...

I thought it was a Van De Velde masterstroke for the 1st game at Wigan 1 year. My mind may really be playing tricks but it could have been the game TKL and Nikau ( cant remember if he got red or yellow) were sent off

Quote: sirlesboyd "I thought it was a Van De Velde masterstroke for the 1st game at Wigan 1 year. My mind may really be playing tricks but it could have been the game TKL and Nikau ( cant remember if he got red or yellow) were sent off'" Sorry, I think you may be right. Did he have Langer and Walters at halfback? Yep, you are right: www.slstats.org/2001/3/2/Wigan+W ... olves.html Eek!

Quote: sirlesboyd "I thought it was a Van De Velde masterstroke for the 1st game at Wigan 1 year. My mind may really be playing tricks but it could have been the game TKL and Nikau ( cant remember if he got red or yellow) were sent off'" Sorry, I think you may be right. Did he have Langer and Walters at halfback? Yep, you are right: www.slstats.org/2001/3/2/Wigan+W ... olves.html Eek!

Lol cheers!!

The mentioned Wigan game, there is a clip *ON THAT VIDEO SHARING WEBSITE* of it, absolute corker! Check it out.

Haven't you got an "issue" with one of your centres
I'd keep quiet, before you go having a pop at one of ours, if I were you

What is it with decent centres from Wakefield. Are they destined to all end up playing second row. Ellis, Westwood and suggestions of Atkins. Far too many British centres have transferred to the pack but has left GB / England short of depth in those positions. Some player have been moved out of necessity ( Gary Mercer under Johno) due to injuries and were very effective some were moved to second row as they lost their speed. When you look at the Aussie second rowers over the last 10 to 15 years there has been a lot of grunt, aggression and hard work and less emphasis on finnesse. See Thaiday, Hindmarsh and Tallis. Westwood and Harrison are more like these players but I just can't see Atkins putting in that type of shift. Over the same time scale we have sent international teams out to play with the likes of Wilkin and Gilmour who in their own right are good players just a different type of player that was pulling on the Australian Jersey.

aye but westwood (for all the good will in the world) wasn't much cop as a centre

Agreed. Westwood did not have a lot of finnesse when playing at centre which makes him better suited to the Australian model of second rowers. British teams have looked to centres to provide extra pace and class in the back row and I don't think that was the answer. I think Tony Smith has shown us that your back three does not have to have players with the pace of Mark Roberts to succeed.