Everything doesn't go through him at all. He handles the kicking duties well, but you can't compare solidity at SL level to being fit for purpose at international level.

Leeds also had a terrible season. Their cup run had no opposition and whilst their play off form was superb, it was hardly the Sinfield show. If anything Rob Burrow's individual breaks won them the semi and Grand final.

Wilkin isn't a stand off. He's played there occasionally when we have been really short and made a decent fist of it. I agree that he isn't a conventional second row and I see him more of a ball playing 13 but there doesn't seem to be a call for that at international level. Wilkin's form this season warrants selection in an England 17 without doubt. He's certainly been top 3 for Saints this season. If you want 40 tackles with few misses, a good pair of hands, an eye for a gap and a decent kicking game for a second rower then he's your man.

wilkin is defo a 13......everyday of the week

Correct - he's a very good player to be able to bring off the bench (and I'm a Wigan fan!).

Where is Garreth Carvell people talking about being a prop light why not play the best prop in SL this season he gets through a lot of work and is better than Bailey. Sinfield is one of the best players i have seen in SL and is the only real Kicking threat in the 24 man squad. Chase has no real kicking game, From what i have seen from Widdop similar no real kicking of note.

Sinfield at 6? Oh dear lord.

Widdop + Chase should be the pairing we're trying to get gelled.

A great kicking game is needed against Aus, that is why Sinfield has to be in the starting 13. You can't play him at loose forward after playing a full season at 6, so 6 it is. Widdop off the bench seems a good move to me.

I dont see the issue with playing Sinfield at 6. He will play as first receiver i would imagine, and supply Chase and Tomkins with the ball out wide, so effectively playing as a 7. When he has played in the halves previously he hasnt had a real pivot chiming in from full back (he had Wellens) so had to be relied to be a flair player which isnt his game. I think he will go well

Chris Heighington can walk straight into the best pack in the World?
Not even as a bench player but the starting 13?

against france jonesy...

Sinfield to 9 if Mr Perpetual Motion has a rest.

Most of the rest of the team are likely to be in the starting 17 for the 4 Nations.
Just experimenting with Chris Heighington? makes sense.

I agree

Morley over Carvell is the only pick I'd disagree with.

That team will trample France.

aye just giving heighington,reed and richard chase a easy debut.....makes sense too me

Maybe.... but Chris Heighington and Jack Reed play all of the players in the Oz and Kiwi teams every week so it will hardly be a shock for them.
Heighington will not need an easy debut if he was not going to be included in the 17 for the 4 Nations would he?
Bit disappointed that the form forward of the fantastic Leeds team is not included in the French Test.

?

Its Rangi's Brother

What I expected really, although the lack of a hooker on the bench would worry me even though we know Roby can do the full 80, against the Aussies and NZ he will probably need a rest, and we dont need Sinfield at 9!

Its a luxury having a hooker on the bench at Test level.
Cam Smith plays 80 minutes, The Kiwis have Luke but he can cover the Halves spots if needed and could probably player anywhere in the backs or even Lock at a pinch.
Surely Sinfield can be moved to Hooker and bring Widdop on?

i think rangi chase playing for england is disgraceful and shows how mcnamara lacks faith in any english talent. he has no english heritage, his only claim is that he has lived here for 3 years which is quite frankly rubbish. also, he has played against england for the exiles, how does this make sense. a team of new zealand and australians playing in england can have players who then play for england. its a joke.

that being said, i have no problem with widdop or reed playing as they have english parents and were born here but moved to australia.

also, sinfield is a loose forward, gareth widdop has played at 6 for arguably the best team in the world at the moment, second best at worst, in the best league in the world, he should be 6. sinfield should play 13.

Disagree about Wilkin, He has been one of Saints better players this year.

No arguments from me.

McNamara





His moto should be "Took Bradford Backwards, Take England Backwards"

Bench for me is a bit light would prefer two props on there.