Got to agree Paul, that was never a high ball that he knocked on when he was not tackled in the air

Its alway back handed compliments with you.

couldnt have said it better myself, young tom looks to be an excellent prospect and will no doubt be in the england squad again in the future. lets not let our rose tinted glasses see past that

Proved a lot of people wrong last night and I said earlier in the tournament that him missing out was the best thing to happen to him and last night it showed . Ran Sinfield very close for MOTM for me.

You're right about him being let down by the sliding defence, but I think the mild criticism he's received has been more about him going forward out of the line rather than his choice of going for the wing or centre. Either way it was hardly a major error and he didn't let it affect the rest of his performance which is the main thing.

He was defensively sound otherwise and I certainly didn't see any signs of his supposed weakness under the high ball. Thought he dealt well with the single bomb he got in defence and was unlucky not to get the penalty when hit in the air at the other end.

He'll have more of a test against Australia next week but he's earned his chance to show what he can do against them and hopefully he'll do as good a job as he did last night.

As other non-biased supporters have mentioned it's good that England have what looks to be two excellent young players for the positions on that wing. As Briscoe develops we could see them partnering up at wing and centre for many years.

The Fox v Briscoe thing than some fans have is really a no brainer as far as England are concerned. It seems clear that Fox is the natural winger whose main asset is his pace. Fox was the best SL winger prior to a dip in form towards the end of the season which lead to the doubts recently raised. To my mind he has come back wiser and better for the experience. Briscoes is 6 years younger and lacking experience although the more naturally gifted all round player. He is clearly recognised by the leading coaches as international quality by virtue of his selection in the England elite squad. I think he is only playing on the wing short term to protect him as he gains experience before eventually moving to centre. I think Hull FC have given him the No. 3 squad number for next season so may be making the move pretty soon. The players themselves seem to have built up a good friendship off the pitch, perhaps we will see them partnering each other on the international scene in the not too distant future.

Good post.

Went to the match last night on a mixed bus of Hull and Rovers fans.

Thoroughly enjoyed watching Fox and darling Shaun Briscoe and had plenty to applaud them for. The Rovers fans amongst us winced at Fox's early lapse and we all thought we'd have a repeat of last week's riot down the right side. But better support from his insiders meant Fox avoided Tom Briscoe's fate.

Fox made no attacking errors this time and took his chances excellently - I was yelling my head off for him. So fair play and well done to him.

He's cemented his place for the final. It'll be interesting to see the Aussie's tactics next week.

But his poor form at the end of the season and Fox's shocker against Wales mean it was right for Fox to have been dropped for Briscoe. The fact also remains that Briscoe earned his place against Australia against France. And the fact also remains that Briscoe was made a scapegoat last week as a result of his inexperience and youth.

The sad legacies of all this are the emergence of ZZZZod's vitriol against a young player who will become a Great centre and the worrying doubts about the effect that this may have had on Tom's confidence, though absolutely no fault of his own.

Tom Briscoe should have played against Wales and France to give him more experience at that level. Fox, though he did better last night still, now and again, lacks concentration, but for me is a shoe in at present for that position in the team.

If anyone is at fault it's Tony Smith who expects too much too soon from Tom Briscoe who, I have no doubt, has plenty more international selections ahead of him.

Good post and I share your sentiments about Hull and Rovers players only being England players when they are playing for England.
Although I think it has turned out to be a blessing in disguise after what happened in the first half against Australia, I think Fox was unlucky to be dropped after one, IMO, indifferent game against Wales - with O'Loughlin as his centre and to a player who did little more against sub-SL opposition (if Fox's tries last night were easy T.Briscoe's out wide against Wales was a walk in). That said Briscoe was perhaps even more unlucky in what happened to him subsequently.
While Zod has done a pretty thorough job of surrending the moral high-ground, it has only mirrored alot of the rubbish written about Fox by [isome[/i Hull posters.

Best performance I have seen from Fox for a while, Glad he has got his confidence back, hope he has a good game next week as I am sure he has secured a place.

Well done