Top quality options are thin on the ground really. I think that's summed up by Dupree being in a 31 man squad because his form hasn't been good enough IMO. If Thompson gets off this charge, I'd start him and Havard and play McMeekan and Tom Burgess from the bench. If he doesn't, then I'd push Burgess to start and bring Mulhern on to the bench. Realistically though, Lees is Wanes type of prop and I suspect he'll start both tests.

I rate Mulhern and think he should get in there. But front row seems to have gone from being easily England's biggest strength to perhaps their biggest weakness. Be great if another Burgess family popped up from somewhere.

Appeal unsuccessful, nice one Minichello, a tap on the shoulder and he went down like he'd been hit with a baseball bat, where's the outrage from Wilkin and co ?

Still can't get past nothing been done or even said about Burgess' forearm on Junior whilst on the ground . What's with the complete radio silence from all quarters?
Still, got a few months 'til Feb to get over it

2nd time this year KR have avoided a ban for a shot to a Wigan player on the floor, Hiku on Field in the CC and now Burgess.

Hiku and Burgess need to be dealt with the next time we play them.

Chris Hill selected in the squad

Can understand it, thought we looked light on props before Thompson got banned.

NY idea when the full squad is announced?

Marshall finally in a squad! Much deserved. Wardle out through injury. I recall him grabbing something, as though he was hurt on Saturday. It's such a shame that these injuries keep cropping up around international time because I think he would be huge for us.

Wardle and Farnworth would be a great centre partnership.

As good, if not better than anything any other nation could throw at us IMO. They're probably the best centres on either side of the globe. Such a shame we're yet to see it in action and it's also a shame that at a time we have a great backline, we're now struggling in the forwards. Imagine if you had a backline like this one, with a forward pack like the one in the early 2000's, with guys like Morley, Peacock, Fielden, Sculthrope, Farrell etc in it.

I've read that Wardle has 'withdrawn himself from selection'. Is he injured?