Actually, it smacks more of a few silly kids getting giddy with all the hype & losing a bit of any sense they may have been born with. That said, "personal issues" could be anything, press conf tomorrow (?) from McN then a statement from Zak on Thursday. That's got to be the wrong way round.

rlhttps://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-league/news/article/480/9011364/barwick-thrilled-with-world-cuprl

England 19 for Saturday.

Carl Ablett (Leeds Rhinos, Hunslet Parkside)

Tom Briscoe (Hull FC, Featherstone Lions)

George Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs, Dewsbury Moor)

Sam Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs, Dewsbury Moor)

Rob Burrow (Leeds Rhinos, Featherstone Lions)

Rangi Chase (Castleford Tigers, Dannevirke Tigers)

Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield Giants, Newsome Panthers)

Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)

Brett Ferres (Huddersfield Giants, Smawthorne Panthers)

James Graham (Canterbury Bulldog, Blackbrook)

Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos, Oulton Raiders)

Chris Hill (Warrington Wolves, New Spring Lions)

Michael McIlorum (Wigan Warriors, Queens)

Lee Mossop (Wigan Warriors, Hensingham)

Sean O’Loughlin (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)

Kevin Sinfield (captain) (Leeds Rhinos, Waterhead)

Sam Tomkins (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)

Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos, Latchford Albion)

Ben Westwood (Warrington Wolves, Normanton Knights)

1,000 tickets have just been released to sale for the Final, I'd move sharpish anyone wanting some!

Widdop must wonder why he's bothering sometimes.

Other then that I don't have too many issues. I can understand why Briscoe keeps his place and it should prove a lesson to Charnley in the future to never take your place for granted. I felt against the Aussies he played at half pace at points and its cost him. I'm surprised Roby isn't in but I think we'll see him back for the knock out stages playing alongside either Micky Mac or Burrow.

I'd leave Mossop and Ablett out of that 19.

And who pray would be playing Hooker ?

Certainly not Mossop or Ablett

Charnley has had a raw deal as he is being judged against the Aussies whereas Briscoe played against Ireland and their performances during the regular season were incomparable. Some have said that Josh was poor against the Aussies but his stats in that match were better than Hall's in what was his first match against Aus / NZ. Can't help feeling that if we can get close in the semi or final the loss of the x-factor which Josh has served up time and time again will come back to haunt us.

McIlorum and Burrow from the bench for me. I've never fancied Mossop there tbh

Overall I'd go-

Tomkins
Briscoe Watkins Cudjoe Hall
Sinfield Chase
Hill McIlorum Graham
Ferres S Burgess O'Loughlin

Subs
G Burgess Westwood Farrell Burrow


I'd be happy with the three out and out props there considering we can throw Sam Burgess or Westwood in there when needed.

I'd use Sam Burgess as a 2nd rower and leave Westwood and Ablett out, start Ferres and Burgess with Farrell on the bench. Can't believe he's not giving Widdop 80 minutes. It's like he decided Chase and Sinfield were his halfbacks 2 years ago that's what he's sticking with, regardless.

It's exactly what he's done and it's the reason we stand no chance of winning this World Cup IMO. He has backed himself in to a corner with both. Firstly he's selected a guy in Sinfield as captain when he should be far from a certain starter but now he has to and he picked a Kiwi in Chase to play for England and seems to feel he has to keep justifying the decision by playing him.

He'll say he's trying to breed continuity but I don't think that works in a sport where you only play 3 or 4 games a year maximum. You need to pick your best players and your form players and IMO the halfback pairing should have been Widdop and Matty Smith. The season that Smith has had had got him on cloud 9 and his confidence must be sky high. He can do the things Sinfield can with the boot but had more zip to his play.

I'd love to be proved wrong but I think we'll now out with a whimper in the semis and that has to be the end for McNamara. We don't need a full time and I'd be happy for Shaun Wane to take the job on alongside his Wigan role.

No, can't wait to watch Micky Mac rip in. Doubt we'll see the Fijians try and bully him!!

No need for apologies either.

Just watching the Scotland v USA on Premier Live. Hope the rugby is better than the singing of the anthems.

cracking game so far. really enjoying the expansive game the scots are playing.