So why start Westerman in the first place?

why pick joel tomkins over whitehead?

New zealand thrashed the aussies 30-12 and they were lucky it wasnt more.The aussies looked bang average with all the enforced changes,we actually have a chance against them this year.

Because he's the best 13 in the squad after sick note. We were sucked into a forward battle (which is what Samoa told us they would do) and we fell for it. It then required us to have in effect 3 possibly 5 props on the field. Not Westy's style (as proven under Gentle) and he was therefore in effective in the end.

We need to learn to dictate play not the opposition. Keep discipline and learn to hold the ball. Oh and while we are at it get a full back who can catch the ball.

Cause McNamara is clueless!

But if his intentions are to play a huge pack then going with Westerman to start at 13 is ridiculous, like you point out, it's not his game. I'm a fan of Westerman, think he is a good player but he has to play as a ball handling LF to be effective.

As for the Aussies, one thing you can pretty much be certain on, they won't play that badly again next week.

they definately miss thurstan and cherry evans seems to have gone backwards this season. they will still be a formidable challenge but i was encouraged at how easily NZ made ground through their forwards. proctor had a great game

I think McNamara should build the England team around westerman, who's was good for hull last season in a poor team!!! Get a grip people, for me totally summed up westerman today's performance, decent player, never be anything more

Westerman made 33 tackles in hat, about what 40 minutes of play with 6 runs for 60metres and no errors aside from a missed tackle maybe?
So on that I'd say he was totally used as a prop, a stopper down the middle. Macbanana is clueless, it was so obvious we had them on the outside which Westerman could have being instrumental in but no..we just tried the crash bang stuff. I've never seen such a poor attacking side in years..
Westerman is being bagged but tbh whilst he hasn't set the world alight, he poked his nose through a few times he did very very little wrong in his first international outing after not playing for the best part of two months..
J Tomkins and Ferres need dropping if you ask me.

I think many forget that Samoa are no mugs , this was never going to be a walk over. To many mistakes and discipline made it tougher but they got the win and thats what matters .

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