We desperately needed pace in the backs and now we have it. Provided the defence out wide holds up that squad will do alright.

Notice how everybody says they are pleased with the team now - whats the betting the verdict after the tournament is "Smith got the team wrong"

If we lose it will be because we weren't good enough as opposed to incorrect team selection.

For example; Kevin Sinfield playing hooker.

I mean in terms of who we did and didn't pick at this stage. If we were to play Sinfield at hooker and he was rubbish then that would fall under the simply wasn't good enough bracket.

Can't see what all the fuss is about with the squad, Tony Smith is the 1st GB/Eng coach to have the balls to drop big name players who have been consistently poor in international matches, and replace them with up and coming youngsters. Fans on other boards are claiming we may aswell not bother showing up against the Kiwis and Aussies with the squad that he's gone for, but with Senior, Burrow, Gleeson, Wellens, Gardner, Jones-Buchanen and Gilmour at last years world cup, we didn't win a game against the Kiwis and got battered against the Aussies.

Would go for something like
1. Briscoe
2. Fox
3. Sykes
4. Shenton
5. Hall
6. McGuire
7. Myler
8. Moz
9. Roby
10. Peacock
11. Ellis
12. O'lockers
13. Sinfield

14. Eastmond (interchange hooker)
15. Graham
16. Carvell
17. Wilkin

Sinfield has only played hooker once in Tests, when GB beat Australia at Huddersfield.

id something like this

Briscoe
Fox
Shenton
Bridge
Hall
Eastmond
Myler
Morley
Roby
Peacock
Ellis
Westwood
Burgess

Tomkins
Graham
Burgess
Carvell

Didn't realise both Burgess's were in the squad!

The nett result being?

That falls into the 'Richard Horne on the wing' too.

I think we failed in the World cup because we didn't have any ball playing half-backs in pryce and burrow, Pryce is either a centre or a fullback IMO and Burrow would do better at hooker ,Tomkins would be my 1st choice to partner Mcguire with Myler as back up to both positions.
Looks like I got Bridge wrong he may turn into a world beater but for me the jury is still out and I will trust in Smiths judgement,
I can't honestly see us wining it but I said that about us and the Challenge cup ,you just never know !

The net result being that Australia's dominance over GB is far more important than one player playing in one position but fans will often focus on that as the 'reason'.

Tony Smith has been known for playing players outside the position fans are used to them....he played Vinnie Anderson stand-off in the Cup Final, we've had Clarke at 7 for spells this season. He played Dunemann at hooker for a whole season at Leeds. All coaches do it.