Before Smith took over it looked possible we would finish third from bottom, I noticed this season how easy it was to beat Wigan by watching the saints. For gods sake he is decent coach ,He did say he can't put it right in one season, but he is doing a reasonable job at the moment. Ok Kiwi's are crap tho they did beat the aussies and it was close last week. We probably won't win, but we'll never match there depth. Over here we're a minor sport whilst there they are like footballers

Wrong in what way? Most criticism I read came in the light of some poor decisions he made. They must have been poor as he, himself, has chosen to correct them. You can't have it both ways. Either the decisions were wrong and therefore deserving of criticism, or he's got it wrong now by changing his original correct decisions.

Having said that, all credit to him for having the strength to make the neccessary calls. Well done Tony!

Just one other thing; from your comment above I take it, should England get beat on Saturday, that you'll be visiting the Wigan and Saints board to tell us what a crap coach TS is and how you got it wrong? Thought not.

C'Mon England (and TS!

)

He got loads of stick for not playing Tomkins against France on here which led to the likes of Odemwingie claiming he was a disgrace and had ruined Englands chances well OTT after one bloody game.

He's a good club coach and crap international coach, he hasnt got a clue, were going to get drubbed every game...mindless stuff like that.

But surely that's a decision that comes unde the heading 'one he got wrong', given he has seen fit to correct it and has played Tomkins ever since? In which case, wasn't the criticism justified?

Don't come on here with your well-reasoned argument - it won't cut much ice, more's the pity.

Well again, to be fair, up to that point his performances as coach in both the World Cup and up to last weeks game in this competition (remember we lost to the Aussies and played poorly against France) suggested this was the case. Even now, we have only had one good win in this comp. Perhaps if we win the tournament, there would be an argument to say he's proved his critics wrong... but after 1 win? Personally I like the way he seems to be addressing the problems as they come up (ineffectual half back pairing and the shocking right side defense for example) but I think it's too early to say he's 'proven' himself as an International coach after just one complete performance.

Is calling Tony Smith a disgrace to the game because he didnt select Tomkins for one game justified criticism?

I think not.

I think that criticism was, not for leaving Tomkins out, but the manner in which it was done. A coach, more so an International one who is given the charge of (in this case) young players from other clubs, should hold as paramount the well being of those players. To 'rubbish' a young players achievements in the way he did in order to justify his decision to drop him was in my, and many other people's opinion, a dereliction of his duty as England coach. For that reason I feel the criticism was justified. You, of course, may feel differently (although if you do, I suggest you would hold a different view if the player in question was from your club and the coach, say, Brian Noble). Whether you agree or not however, the one thing you can't claim is that having that viewpoint is 'wrong'.

Why 1 win?

I thought we beat France and New Zealand which is 2 wins on my calculator.

Are you using Maurice's old one?

Ok. After 1 good win.

Tomkins was always going to play against the Aussies most people knew that (apart a few who decided sulk about the France game all week) Myler scored two tries in the game some Wigan fans were sure we would act the way they had if he didnt make the Aussie game we didn't, for me Wigan fans took what TS said to heart because hes your great hope for the future its a view I doubt they would have and be so offended by if he didnt play for your team.