I'd have said Chase was excellent in defence (very strong and helped out immensely out wide against Australia) and part of a reasonably well-structured backline.

An argument could have been made for McNamara selecting Widdopp ahead of Chase before the cup started, but one of the weaknesses England has is that unless we pick a club partnership, our halfbacks (and in fact the whole team) very rarely get to play together.

McNamara had to choose and stick with a halfback partnership before the tournament started. Compare to Australia where Slater, Cronk, Smith and Thurston have played oodles of times for Qld, and 3 of them every week for the Storm.

The only thing that could and should have changed McNamara's selections was as others have said if the reserve halfback was so awesome off the bench that they forced their way in. Widdopp has been OK off the bench. But has he put in performances demanding of a start? I think not.

In fact what England need more than anything isn't Chase to do much more (or Widdopp) but Sam Tomkins to start firing. He was OK in patches against Australia but hasn't really been the great attacking threat he needs to be.

Did you actually read what I posted or just see what you wanted to see and then spewed out some guff onto your keyboard?

I don't rate Widdop because he plays in the NRL, I rate him because he's a good player. That doesn't mean I don't rate Chase, just that I think Widdop is better suited to one style of play and Chase to another. If England can find a way unleashing Chase's talents then fantastic. But does that leave too much on Sinfield's shoulders?

At the start of the tournament I'd have started Widdop, but as others have said Chase has played well and Widdop hasn't, so Chase deserves starting now.

We'll see just how good Widdop is next year when he doesn't have Smith, Slater and Cronk calling the plays around him. I'm not saying he'll fail but he won't have the excellence around him that he's had the Storm.

What sport do you suggest clown boy?

Calling somebody a clown when you walk around with a ginger clowns wig on your head is slightly ironic!,

Come on treacle, that's awful! Terrible [ishanter[/i

It's not shanter, it's based on evidenced based observation.

Let's be honest sugar I'd have to be vain or you to wear a wig

Doesn't make sense, evidence that my tax has been wasted on your University education.

It's taken you three days to think of that and you have been posting everywhere else


oh dear

What is Jon Wilkin on? On the red button show, theyve shown the England team he would pick against NZ and he would drop Hall to play Widdop in his place on the wing!

Wilkin loves the sound of his own voice. He's RL's answer to Gary Neville, although Neville knows what he's talking about a lot of the time.

Wilkin has also got a huge beef with Leeds and a lot of its players, following regular dry-humpings in big games where he's gone missing.

I'd take more notice of Eorl Crabtree giving style advice than I would anything Wilkin says about rugby league.

I think Wilkin has been quite impressive personally. Don't believe he has any bias againts teams either.

Would much rather hear his views than Noble's, which bore the pants off me.

I think its more likely it was a mistake on the graphic.

I have quite liked the BBC's pundit team. I've been a fan of Eorl Crabtree as a pundit for a while - he does a good job on Radio Leeds coverage and has a bit of personality. Wilkin isn't bad. I don't agree with dropping Hall, but don't chuck the baby out with the bath water. Peacock's been very good - for someone who used to suffer badly with nerves in front of the cameras he's looking very comfortable there now. And I also like Brian Noble.

I am not so keen on Jonathan Davies. Can't and the sound of his voice.

My wife who hates Eddie & Stevo with a passion has actually enjoyed watching & listening to the games shown on Premier when Andrew Voss has been commentating.
He's come over as a huge fan of this competition & has been particularly eloquent not to say gushing in his praise for our city & Headingley.

There's a petition on facebook somewhere to get Andrew Voss to do SL coverage. I signed it

He must be on crack.

When he learns a new bit of vernacular he is hilarious. So far I've had the pleasure of his use of 'scran' & 'mi duck'.

Is he from Nantwich by any chance?

Just a thought.

Rangi Chase dropped frpm squad for Saturday. Widdop to replace him.

It says dropped, but surely there is more to it.A half back combination he has stuck by through thick and thin for two years,and throughout this whole comp., even against the weaker teams when he could have checked out other combinations (Widdop) and now he drops one from the 19 a few days before our biggest game in almost 20 years!

If he it is true, and he is dropped, then its a real ballsy decision in such a big game.

Not really. He had a bad game on Saturday. He had played much better than people giving him credit for before that, but Saturday he was really bad.

Players in any team, should always be picked on form. IMO that is what McNamara is doing.

Strange one that .
Maybe a bit too maverick for the coach/captain can be a bit of a one man show at times