Wellens has been a superb fullback. His positional sense and defensive qualities have been the best over the last 10 years. The only way in which Wello lacks is in pace and he always has lacked pace. It didn't matter so much when he first played but the game has changed and has left him behind in that respect. Hence, he wasn't picked this season. I hope he has enjoyed his rest and time with the family. At least he doesn't get the stick this year!

I would also like to have seen Michael Lawrence included in the squad in place of Lee Smith (going to Rugby Union why put him in)

I can't stick this bloke and I am sure many posters are aware of how he never gives English players any praise and berates the entire English game but I give you LeagueFreak's take on Sam TomkinsI think Australia expected England to just roll over and die, but to England credit, they kept stuck in there and led beautifully by Chorleys favorite son, Sam Tomkins, they started to forge their way back.
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Yes they certainly hype this Ozzie team. For me they are very far from the best Ozzie team ever.

Comparing Lockyer to players like Wally Lewis or Brett Kenny is insulting .

Lockyer is very good by todays standards, but won't go down as a legend.

The 80's Oz teams were better IMHO.

If our forwards 'beef up' we can beat the Ozzies no problem.

Sam talks to Sky Sports Eddie Hemmings after the match - rlClick Hererl

I think that's being unfair to Lockyer, the Darren Lockyer you're seeing at the moment (and for most of this season in the NRL) is a pale shadow of what he's delivered year on year through his career. I'm certain Lockyer will go down as one of the NRL greats.

Lockyer has beaten Mal Meniga's record for the number of appearances for Australia.
He has broken Clive Churchill's record for the number of times he's captained Australia.
Lockyer yesterday equalled Ken Irvine's record for the number of tries scored by an Australian in Internationals. Score against the French and he will have the Irvine record.
Lockyer is one of the all time greats, if not the greatest, an absolute legend!

And on top of all that, he's good looking and intelligent too!

*drool*

We're desperate for some young outside backs to come through now that we seem to be sorting our halfback problems out. A clever hooker wouldn't go amiss either........maybe McGuire can mould McIlorum into a clever hooker to add to his energy and his toughness(and then we'd need to get him to switch over to England).

As for the outside backs it's be great for the national side if we rounded up the likes of Lawrence, Cudjoe, Ainscough, Hall, Briscoe, Watkins, Wheeler and co and sent them all over to Australia to play in the NRL.

IMO the best way to find a clever hooker is to put a half-back at hooker.

Noooo!! We want him here to play centre for Saints!

Or a halfback playing without much pace playing at 13 like Sinfield.

Having just watched yesterdays game back for the first time i thought Sinfield was excellent when he went in at hooker and really got us rolling forward with crisp and clever distribution.

I had him down as my 6 for next week but i've changed that now to 9 with Myler partnering Tomkins.

I have been saying Sinfield should play hooker for england for quite a while, let him for most of the match and let someone like Eastmond who is rapid try and get us moving forward quicker.