He won't half, but has he got the 'captain of the forwards' in him?



Indeed.

The problem with basing the team selection on NRL experience is that with Graham out through disciplinary and Reed injured this would only leave Sam, Tom and George Burgess and Gareth Widdop left to play the Kangaroos. Personally I would rather we selected 17 players rather than 4

Or in other words. Of course the first team Super League experience that Tom has needs to be taken into consideration when discussing experience. The fact is that Tom has played more first team rugby than George so we either say that both are too inexperienced or both are good to go, we cannot say George has the experience and Tom doesn't

In his career maybe. But on current form I saw Tom in a North Sydney jersey a lot more than a Souths one. ie. He was playing in the reserves in Australia. How can he be a top choice for England?



I do wish him well having said all that as he'll be wearing the jersey.

Bottom line is that England is weak in the halves. Both Sinfield and Chase are good club players but have never risen to the international challenge. England's backs will not have many opportunities when dependent upon inadequate halves.

Choosing Widdop is the only way that England can compete. But McNamara has not shown any inclination to do that.

England will compete if the forwards match the Aussie forwards. If they don't, we'll lose badly. Whether 1 player is in or out is almost irrelevant compared to what attitude our forwards will be in when the game starts.

I seriously hope McBanana knows what he's doing, as I'm really not confident.

I had my doubts over him leaving Matty Smith out of the squad and picking Chase, as I think Smith has been far more consistent than Chase for the last two seasons. I don't like Sinfield as an international standoff, if we need to boost our playmaking because we don't have enough quality in the halves I would much rather have gone with Smith and Widdop and move Sinfield to 13.

I'm hoping they surprise me, I really am, but without Graham and O'Loughlin the pack looks underpowered, I'm not even a great fan of O'Loughlin, but this side just looks a bit makeweight when we know the Aussies have got some real quality throughout their side. How many of our squad would get close to an Aussie squad? Graham and Sam Burgess are arguably better than a number of forwards in the Aussie squad, and I'm sure they'd find space for Tompkins even if as a back-up player, Hall is probably as good a winger as they have got, and maybe Roby might just edge in as a back-up hooker. But otherwise it doesn't look great.

McNamara has just walked out of the press conference. Persistent questioning about Hock and the players not picked and he stopped the conference

I agree. Farrell is an 80 minute work horse not an impact player off the bench.

I'd go with

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Ablett
Hall
Chase
Widdop
S burgess
Roby
Mossop
Farrell
Westwood
Sinfield

G burgess
Hill
Burrow
T burgess

Allowing Sinfield at 13 gives us 3 halves on the field and widdop on the bench is a waste of a spot.

That would have been Graham, can,t explain, need to catch a bus.

Told Farrell and burrow miss out. Mossop T Burgess Ablett and Widdop on bench. Told by one of bench. Who knows.

Nobody think Sinfield will start at hooker?

Not sure Graham needs to be dropped from this or any other game to be made 'more hungry'. His appetite to play and succeed can never be questioned. If he has broke the rules, then by all means discipline him and if that means dropping him, so be it. Some comment on here that it shows strength by McNamara but if a third of the squad have already ignored his no alcohol ban at this late stage, then there's is perhaps little respect there already.

The way the Cup is structured, its clear we are going to reach the quarters and likely the semis, so its a bit of false muscle flexing by the coach and no doubt the players will understand that.

Its interesting to note that a player may (or may not) be dropped for going for a drink, but some will retain their place after several mediocre performances through this tournament.

My command of our language is not always good but surely the above is the definition of a paradox. You state that we used to have strong packs and leaders but we've lacked in the halves and dummies but then go on to say Sinfield has it all to do with this mob. As he has failed to do it for about ten years behind those packs you mentioned, its not going to happen this year. Playing the likes of Sinfield in the halves at this level is a waste when there is a better half on the bench.

How has Sinfield failed for the last 10 years behind that pack, he's only been first choice half back for 2 years, that pack has also consistently failed every year, and every year we say we have a better pack, we have never had a better pack than Australia at any point in the last 10 years, as it happens I reckon we now have a pack to at least match them.

I agree.but we only match them with Graham and O'Loughlin in that pack.Sam Burgess needs a wow game today with the rest of the forwards need to play above their normal levels in SL for us to get a foot hold IMO.

If that's the case then McNamara has changed his mind since earlier in the week. Farrell was told he was gonna be on the bench.

I'm still trying to work out why Sinfield is anywhere near the field but then...................

George Riley on twitter reckons Ferres and Burrow miss out, which would make sense to me.

Team has been named. Burrow and Farrell miss out.

Ferres has gone from not being in the squad to starting against Australia

Spot on. Hope my source has a good game when he gets on the pitch.

Based on form this season, he's earned his place.

As I said - Sam Tomkins under the high ball! Hardaker please.

Inglis has done that to some of the best players in the world.

Tomkins is playing well.