I agree, Sinfield did okay yesterday, better than Chase anyway.
Why people want to put a full back at 6 when he's not played there in years and Sinfield at Loose Forward when he's not played there in years I can't understand.
The World Cup has started, this isn't the time to start chopping the team around and playing players out of position.
I'd bring O'Loughlin in for the probably banned Sam Burgess and Graham in for one of Tom Burgess or Mossop and then bring Sam Burgess in for the Fiji game.

My rationale is simple - I believe he could win us matches from that position and even with lack of experience could offer alot more threat and better defence than chase. Hardaker is a good full back. Overall I feel the TEAM (after all its a team sport and when the going gets tough you're only as good as your weakest link - which to me is Chase) would be stronger. It shouldn't be about individuals and preferred positions but the team. If Sam is as talented rugby player as people say he should be able to excel anywhere in the back line.

The great German football striker Gerd Muller once played full back and was man of the match. If you've got you can play.

I recall Widnes having to put prop Mike O'Neill on the wing because of injuries in a televised match. Alex Murphy joked he'd like to see him go the full length. A minute later the ball went across and he whizzed in (Albeit from about 25 yards). Likewise, Kurt Sorensen once. That's because they were both deceptively quick and good players.

With Burgess...

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall
Chase
Sinfield
Hill
McLlorum
G Burgess
Ferres
S Burgess
O'Loughlin

Roby (On after 20 for the remainder)
Graham (Used like at the Bulldogs on after 20 for remainder)
Westwood (Brought on for a prop and S Burgess pushed to front row)
Farrell

Without Sam Burgess start Westwood and play Mossop or Tom Burgess off the bench.

I don't think Sam Burgess should be banned - he committed himself but the guy's head was low.

I'd go with the lads with some thing to prove and the lads needing to force their way in. So

Hardaker
Briscoe
Ablett
Cudjoe
Charnley
Widdop
Sinfield
Graham
Mcilorum
Tom Burgess
Westwood
Ferres
O'loughlin

Burrow
Mossop
Farrell
G Burgess

O'Loughlin Sinfield, Roby Tomkins, hall and S Burgess all own their shirts, But I've kept Sinfield in as we need to see how Widdop plays with Sinfield and OLoughlin needs games. The others wont be harmed by a rest and it gives those fighting for or to hold on to a shirt to push for it

Given that most would go with a 2 prop and 1 back rower bench then it's a question of how you use that last bench spot.

Personally would go straight swap at hooker and have McIlorum there, but.....

If you wanted something different, I'd ignore having Widdop or Burrow there. For the latter's style to work we need quick PTB's, won't happen against the Aussies without a natural hooker leading the forwards around.

As I've suggested before this year I'd use a ploy Leeds used back in the late 90's. Iestyn Harris (very similar to Tomkins in being the wow player of his day) would start at FB at Leeds with Powell at 6. Halfway through the match we would bring St. Hilaire off the bench for Powell, slot him in at FB and move Harris up to 6.
I reckon you could go that route with Hardaker coming off the bench.
Tomkins gets more hands on the ball and you introduced another exciting runner at FB. You could do it straight forward with Tomkins then moving out to defend wide like most halves or you could defensively leave him at FB with Hardaker out there as he has decent experience of defending around that area from his time at centre.

Given charnley's half d effort I'd have him out & get Briscoe in, he still offers more than both Hall & Charnley anyway.

Whomever said Tomkins over Chase is crazy, he'd effectively be stifled to play to the plan that Chase has being asked to. Also Sam isn't a better tackler either, watch again because Chase does very well, excellent classic one on one tackle. Tomkins can't tackle the skin off a rice pudding..

1. Tomkins
2. Briscoe
3. Watkins
4. Cudjoe
5. Hall
6. Widdop
7. Sinfield
8. Hill
9. Roby
10. Gurgess
11. Farrell
12. Ferres
13. O'Loughlin

14. Surgess
15. Graham
16. Hardaker/Charnley/Chase/Mossop/Turgess/Mcllorum/Westwood/Ablett
17. Burrow

The starting line up started the game well yesterday and i'd be reluctant to change that. The bench made no impact and that's where i'd make changes.

If S Burgess is suspended then O'Loughlin comes in to loose forward (if fit), if neither of those two are available then Westwood to LF and Farrell in to SR.

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall
Chase
Sinfield
Hill
Roby
G Burgess
Westwood
Ferres
S Burgess

Graham
Farrell
Burrow
O'Loughlin/Mossop/Ablett

Funny how people noticed Westwoods penalty indiscretions but not his titanic defensive stint which was an astonishing effort.

The two players who should loose their places are Chase and Mossop. Without any doubt.

I'm not far off agreeing there Mark. Chase isn't cutting it.

I wouldn't move tomkins to 6 but we do need him to see the ball more.

No messing about now, we need to pick our best team each game,we need continuity.

Widdop is a waste of a bench spot, if he's decided Kev and Chase are his halves then it's just hard lines for Widdop, he can't shoe horn him in for the sake of it. Although i'd start Widdop

Don't understand why anyone thinks Briscoe is better than Charnley. We do need more impact off the bench so i'd class Sam Burgess as a prop.

1 Tomkins
2 Charnley
3 Watkins
4 Cudjoe
5 Hall
6 Widdop
7 Sinfield
8 Graham
9 Mcilorum
10 S Burgess
11 Farrell
12 Westwood
13 O'loughlin

14 Roby
15 G Burgess
16 Hill/Mossop
17 Ferres

I'm surprised people are putting Ferris on bench and starting Farrell. Ferris played well and didn't let anyone down IMO.

Hill and G Burgess both played well and neither deserve to be benched either. let Graham come of the bench.

Half backs. Honestly can't see him changing these about. part of me would stick with Chase/Sinfield. It worked for the 1st 20 until we made a few changes to front row and lost a bit of momentum. But I think I am right in saying in the Exiles game we played Sinfield/Myler with Chase coming of the bench. I think Chase could provide a little bit of "magic" coming of the bench after 30min and giving him a bit of a free role with Sinfield moved to 9

1 Tomkins
2 Charnley
3 Watkins
4 Cudjoe
5 Hall
6 Widdop
7 Sinfield
8 Hill
9 Roby
10 G Burgess
11 Ferris
12 S Burgess/Westwood (depending if banned)
13 O'loughlin

14 Chase/Mcilorum/Burrow
15 T Burgess
16 Graham
17 Westwood/Ablett (depending on S. Burgess)

I think we need to give Widdop 80 mins in these next 2 games. I'd spell Roby with Burrow or McIlorum with a view to using him for 80 mins in the semis and (hopefully) final.

For Ireland game (presuming Sam burgess has a ban):

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall
Widdop
Sinfield
Hill
Mcilorum
Graham
Farrell
Ferres
O'Loughlin

Mossop
G Burgess
Westwood
Roby

You watch Leeds


You like boring

I rate both very highly but next year when Briscoe is on the end of a far more expansive team in Leeds we may just see how good a winger he is



After the weekend, Hill clearly far more suited to test match rugby than Mossop

I don't see any reason to drop Ferres, thought he had a good game. I would drop Chase, but I've always campaigned for Widdop to get a starting jersey. O'Loughlin comes straight back in at 13. There's no need for many changes. Continuity is important.

Mossop stank and shouldn't be anywhere near next week. I was surprised because he's had a huge end to the season for us. I'd add Tom Burgess to your list as well. He is way behind George at this moment in time and isn't ready for this level.

On the plus side in the front row, George Burgess and Chris Hill were immense. If you consider all 4 props were making their big match debuts (discounting the exiles, France games etc), those two looked like pigs in muck running around whilst Mossop and T Burgess looked like rabbits in headlights.

I've always said this. Yes Ben gives away a lot of penalties, but just look at what he contributes, both in attack and defence. In terms of his work-rate, the man is an absolute machine. George Burgess and Hill were immense for us against Australia, again boding very well not just for this World Cup, but for the future of England.

Sorry to say this again. But Tom Burgess played most of the season in reserve grade in oz. How can he get a place above any good English prop?

He's still better than Mossop?

Westwood was garbage. He could have pulled off 60 tackles and made 150m with the ball, and he would still have been massively in debit due to cheap penalties and errors. Those things absolutely kill you against a side as good as Australia. The only excuse is being tired, in which case he needs to be subbed as soon as he starts d*cking around.

The main things I'd change are the hooker rotation, which was just wrong, and bring in Graham and O'Loughlin. Losing out would be Mossop, who was invisible, and probably T Burgess. However, I'd say Westwood would be on his last chance. He really needs to produce error-free performances from now on if I were to pick him vs NZ.

As for halfback, those who didn't rate Sinfield against Aus are just plain wrong. He was quite simply the glue that held the team's play together. He'll never be as dangerous as some halfbacks, but without him England would be headless chickens.

I'm glad somebody mentioned Chase's defence, because he was very good in that area. In attack there were a couple of times near the Aus line where he made his trademark run across the defence and it was clear that what was lacking wasn't him, but runners to give him options. If he's to stay in the side England have to work more planned moves on that right side.

In any event, England need continuity at halfback, not messing around. Against Australia we're playing against 1, 6, 7 and 9 who have played with each other a lot for Qld and Australia, and obviously three of them play for the Storm every week. It's no wonder that they link together somewhat better than any set England could put out.

I agree changes need to be made this week, in my opinion Graham for Mossop and O'Loughlin for Ablett. But the thing we do need is some continuity in the squad. Changing the Halves and Full back and Loose forward is not something McNamara can do throughout this tournament. The formula needs to be found and found before the Fiji game.

I think Mossop and T Burgess were more victims of the turning tide (due to England's errors and lack of discipline) of the match rather than lack of effect. They were on the field when they had to make tackles rather than carry it in.

I'd bring in S'OL for Westwood, putting Sam Burgess in the second row. Sam likely to be banned though so would bring in Farrell.

Would go with Graham over Tom Burgess.

I don't like Sinfield moving to hooker.
Rotate Roby and McIlorum. If you want Widdop to play, then start him.

Bring Graham in for Mossop. Either start him or use him like the Dogs do, where he comes on after 20 and then stays on.