Lockers has played well all season, and should be in the squad.

I'd like to see Clough given a chance, and I'd love to see Sam Tomkins in there but it may be too soon for him.

One step at a time

Lockers has looked very good this year. His defence is very good and very hard but he is a yard of pace short of making at international level.

Bryn just ain't good enough to play for England.

Wheeler and tomkins ain't had enough game time to play for England yet but clough should defo play.

My Dad, bless his 70 plus old soul (been a Saints fan since he was 10), often raves about Alex Murphy who apparently played first grade while still in the womb and was an international by the time he went to nursery. Or at about 18 anyway. Apparently he was also a very good player. Anyway, if it is indeed true that he was a very good player and played internationally at 18, then surely we should not be denying our youngsters an opportunity to play in the mid season international just based on their age? After all, what is this match going to be? Just a one-off rugby league game against a side that they will have all played against before anyway (or pretty much). It's not like they are meeting the Aussies!

While I know that the lineup is just in the imagination of Chris Irvine, I think (bar one or two of the senior players who I would change for other senior players) it would be fantastic to have that group of players in one team for the mid season international. Doesn't anyone think it would just be great to give so much talent a chance to have a go as a unit?

If you are good enough then you are old enough but I don't think the likes of wheeler, tomkins, eastmond and co have played enough games yet to judge if they are at that level.

Let's not rush them and build them up to be England class just yet.

The is some good kids that are now in there 2nd season of super league that deserve a chance.

If this is the reporters idea of a squad, i'm glad he's not a coach. Fielden? Hargreaves? and wheeler is a talent, but playing for england? same goes for tompkins.

How about McIlorum and Moore as hookers?

Not a bad idea, i'd like to see an under 23's side put out. It would be fairly decent IMO

Moore yes.
Partnering Roby.

Mcilorum no chance. Good passer but isnt dynamic enough round the ruck to play the impact role, and his form this year hasnt been as good or consistent as that of Scott Moore.

Mcilorum has only been getting game time due to the injury to Riddel.
Once Riddel gets fit, out will go Mcilorum from the squad.

O'Loughlin's looked good when I've seen him, his defence has been good and hard and I've even seen him make a couple of breaks and score one or two - and we know he's a player that can transfer his game to International level better than most.
I would suggest Clough would be a similar performer for England, and should really be getting a run out. One of our consistant stand outs (and we are top of the table).

Talk of players like Wheeler and Tomkins getting picked is all a bit premature, imo.

Hargreaves? C'mon, lets be sensible.
Fielden? For a start, Andy Coley's been playing better for Wigan , from what I've seen.
I'm a big fan of Luke Burgess, think he's a bit underratted.
No mention of Fa'asavalu, either.

But,but he'll never make It,remember.

Remember I said as a scrum half, and to be fair he has played well in the limited games I have seen him.

totally disagree with you, wheeler should be given a shot at international rugby, he is an outstanding talent who will go to the very top. alex murphy played against the aussies when he was 18 and he and wheeler are very similar in their style and skill factor.................................if your good enough you're old enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You also said he wouldn't make it full stop, don't worry it's ok to be wrong

.

As for O'Loughlin, he's always been performed consistently well at International level. He'd probably look even better if we had a scrum half that was anywhere near being creative.

But is he good enough yet? Yes he has a lot of potential and I am sure within a few years he will be playing for England but I think before that is even considered he needs a season of playing regularly in the first team.

yes i think he is good enough, i have seen many players come through over the years and he last time i saw someone with wheelers natural talent was tony myler. and i would certainly go as far as to say that he will be as good as "alexander the great"...............

Are you related to him?

Never,
1) he hasn't got the pace
2) he hasn't got the football brain of Murphy
3) where is going to play?

How are we going to know until we try him? Surely against France that is the best time since he has already played the Dragons and so he will have an idea of what to expect.

So has Sam Tomkins, should we also play him?

Yes!
Player Myler and Tompkins in the halves, sink or swim time boys.
I really rate Wheeler, but at the moment there are people ahead of him at centre and stand off in England and under 23ish.

You clearly haven't seen him play much! On the speed tests he's done on the international squads he's been the fastest, he's also one of the fastest at Saints now.

Oh, and Murph thinks he's a fantastic player, who will be an international.

I'd agree with this, he had a really good game on the wing for saints. He and Eastmond are rapid, I would think they are faster than both of our wingers.

I've seen quite a bit of him, and I posted on another thread he was very quick when he was younger.

However, injuries appear (IMO) to have slowed him down. Whether he can ever regain that "sharpness" I'm not sure.

Good player though, but never a Murphy.

Clough is the cocker who should be given a go. Sensational kid, this lad is hot property and well worthy of a shot in an england fake team