Many will disagree but I would say Roby and Micky Mac.
Both Roby and Clark are at their best when they get a quick play the ball. Realistically how many quick play the balls will we be getting against the Aussies? How effective has that type of player been in the past for us at international level?
McIlorum is at his best when the game is in an arm wrestle, when the defence is tough and the forwards are piling in. Micky Mac was made for test rugby. McGuire even started him in the 2010 GF because of his ability to rip in at the highest level.
This is not me saying that McIlorum is better than Clark or Roby but at international level he will suit the intensity down to the ground.
Imagine you are Cameron Smith or Paul Gallen. You would love to play against a hooker you can control easily when the PTB is slowed down. The last thing you want is to be up against someone who will make your life uncomfortable.
Micky and Roby as a partnership is better than Roby and Clark as a partnership. For that reason I think Micky will start the games interchanging with Roby.
Before the WC, I was saying that MM had staked a good claim to get a run in the side.
I was at the Fiji game, he had very little impact for me. Did not do anything massively wrong from what I recall, but I did not see any great disribution or fearsome tackling.
It's always a tough call as GB/England sides always split fans along loyalties to club men.
Do I like MM? No.
Would I have him at Saints? No
Would I give him one more whirl at international level before shutting that door? Maybe
Fiji was a damp squib for him, but one match does not test a player. A full test series will let us know if he is decent enough at that level.
My point is that we know Roby will be fine, but we have to take another player and I would be tempted to take MM as he has only had one shot at international level. Yes he did not impress, but one match or part of a match is not enough to consign him to the bin of international RL.
We did that far too often in the past with our halfbacks.
He does bring something to Wigan, whilst he is not at Roby's level, if Roby was to be injured we would need another 80 minute player and to me that would be MM.
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