Quote: The_Enforcer "No longer good enough for GB
Graham - burned out/plodder
Hill - Lost a lot of his physicality, now a plodder
Hall - Never a fast winger but even slower now. Looks old and tired.
McGilvary - Strong carries nothing else.
Need to seriously step up
Widdop - Too hot and cold for me.
Burgess - No longer runs his weight, similar to his brothers - declining
Lomax - Couldnt create beans on toast. Mega over-rated
Hodgson - Obviously good at Canberra but does not fit the national team
Time to give the outsiders a go. Clarke, Williams, Philbin, Grace, Connor and Hughes to come in but i can see Bennett going with a similar team again just replacing the injured players.'"
Agreed with all but one from the “no longer good enough” and “need to step up” lists; Hodgson. He’s a far better hooker than Clarke will ever be and is streets ahead of any other English hooker. There is literally no other option.
The “outsiders” list though I’d tend to agree with. Though I do question Grace, he would have been mullered v Tonga and I’m inclined to think he would v NZ/Aus but we’ll never know until he’s been put in there. Williams’ exclusion is down to his 9’s performance IMO which was sub standard. Philbin, Hughes likely excluded in the pack purely down to size. Connor excluded to make way for Hardaker who in turn made way for Coote. Connor should be given his chance v NZ given Gildart’s injury.
FWIW I think the only reason Clarke was excluded was down to needing a big bench to match the Tongan physicality.
