Spot on!

He didn't get himself into good positions when receiving the ball. He never hit on to the ball at pace.

Thought they both had a really good go. Yeaman did a solid job with a mix of some good defence and some sloppy defence. Was hard done with the offload penalty and did well to take Uate out into touch. With Burgess/Ellis inside him rather then Wilkin he would have shone better IMO. Not international class, but held is own and did as good as any other English centre would have done.

Briscoe was robbed of his try, would have thought he would have gone to the corner like we all know he can, maybe just a bit of nerves. He goes for the corner every week in SL. Think they will keep him and Yeamo together this week, and rightly so.

England played really well at times, really took it to them and performed the best I have seen them in years. Overall good match. We can definatley beat the Kiwi's if they reach their full potential and sort out their brain farts.

I agree, for me both centres (at times) were run out of space by the inside ball players and a lack of other options being available, making it easier for the defenders to read. Nothing special from Yeamo; we all know he can do better (on his day)

Happy with Briscoe on the whole barring his early mishap.

Rangi "Roger" Chase is still not creating enough Imo.

to be fair the way ryan atkins finished the season he should be in the team

Hugely over-rated. Played better towards end of season, but with a team who were near unstoppable and class across the park. Never does it at international.

I think Slammer on the HDM website makes an importantt contribution to this debate:

“IMO the team selection was Englands downfall.
Its all well and good selecting players based on club roles but to do so means you have to do it properly. Sinfield in the half backs works for Leeds because Burrows comes on with sinfield reverting to either 9 & 13. Chase has had Orr to harness his 'off the cuff' plays. Yeaman (and Briscoe) need feeding by the half backs or a ball handling forward (like Manu), and also need their support in defence. Westwood is most effective when he is working in close quarters with ball handling forwards (his links with Carvell proved devastating). J-Buchannan's (Englands stand out forward) impact was lost when he was rested, but at Leeds he interchanges with Bailey, another hard running forward with an off-load.
IMO macca made too many school boy errors in his team selection because he failed to accomodate these factors in his team selection.”

My starting line-up for the NZ match would be:

Widdop
Hall, Reed, Ablett, Briscoe
Tomkins, Chase
Peacock, Roby, Graham
Westwood, Ellis
Sinfield

Bench: Bailey, Carvell, Wilkin, J-JBuchanan

I have dropped Morley (lack of impact), Heighington (poor defence) and Yeaman (exposed).

Personally I don't think he will drop anyone or make any changes unless forced by injury.

IMO 3 players Chase (poor decisions cost us), Yeaman (Game too limited for international level) and Westwood (discipline was shocking) will be lucky to get a place in the 17.

Yeaman will get it as there is no-one any better at centre in the squad.

I would bring in Mcguire and Carvell for the other two though, depending on injuries.

Atkins is over-rated,and anyone would look good n the wire team.

i wander if McNamara will explain to james roby that you are allowed to pass the ball to his left,when he`s playing the ball from dummy half,instead of 90% to his right.

Defence is not only about making your one on one tackles, which he generally does really well. Him and Chase have regularly read plays wrong and as a defensive pairing have been pretty poor IMO, not just in the Aus game but against France and Wales too.

Apart from the injuries, I think SM will stick with a very similar team. I just hope he doesn't take a gamble on a half-fit player. England can definately do this, but they need 17 fit and firing.

You could swap Chase for McGuire, maybe Yeaman for Ablett, and Heighington hasn't been brilliant. But I'd go for continuity.

Why don't you talk about all the individual mistakes made by the players? Or is it just Yeaman/Briscoe you sit there sock in hand with?