Totally agree, he's had a decent year for Wigan, and is my favourite centre to watch in the league. His footwork, lines & handling are all top class. Potentially a question mark over his size, although he is still young, and his defence isn't poor by any means.

I think the three mentioned above will be selected for the final 24-man squad, and taking a 4th centre would be pointless really, so as you say, 3 guaranteed games for Italy at the WC would be a great experience.

Dear god, no!!!!

Ferres won't get in the squad since he's been awful all year.

I like Bateman but he's too small for Test rugby. Second row will be O'Loughlin and Whitehead with Sam Burgess at 13.

It's just a silly statement. Not you personally but the general consensus of it. He is as tough as anyone in the squad if not the toughest and a size vs strength test would have him out on top every time. As a defender and charging second rower, i would have him over Farrell and Ferres any day of the week. I concede that Farrell is much better at running the lines and finding gaps but Bateman's work rate puts him in every day of the week for me. There aren't many players who keep fighting for the full 80 mins at the same intensity as the 1st minute. Him and Lockers are as mentioned, the only two for me that should be in the squad. McMeeken is a shoe in (or should be) Then again i said Walmsley and Hill should have been there last time but weren't. Now i want, Walmsley, Taylor and Watts and will probably get none.

I think it depends on the player. John was at our club last night while his brother was training and for me has to be on the pitch. His mentality gives him an edge for me, I saw a post saying the Kiwis had his number but that was his first game against that stature of size. In the game against Australia after he was very good and had learned fromt he NZ game and equipped himself a lot better. Also to be surrounded by the size of SOL, Sam, Graham and Whitehead the pack is strong. We need a John type in there as Westwood was for us to dish some out

Personally I'd have Sam in the SR and SOL at lock. SOL is a better organised and has better hands and somewhat of a kicking game. Can be used as an extra pivot. Sam running slightly wider I think would be a better option. McMeekan and Burgess linking those edges gives us a lot of size and power.