But Inglis being quiet had little to do with Shenton in that game.
The flow of the game did not go that way early on, Shenton was hardly the player keeping Australia in check, the Aussies were building up to breaking England before Shenton went off and as they usually do put the cleaners through England in the last 20 minutes.
The fact that England chose 4 Forwards on the Bench and had to re shuffle the team had more to do with the slaughter than Shentons ability, although he did have a solid game that day.

[iAfter ten minutes of sustained pressure on Australia's defence England were through, Burgess again charging over under the posts from close range.[32 Sinfield's kick added the Extras so once again England had the lead at 16-14. A little over three minutes later it was Australia attacking England's line when their fullback Billy Slater dove over from dummy-half, the lead changing again to be back with the Kangaroos.[33 Thurston couldn't get the conversion so Australia's lead stayed at only two points, 18-16. In the fifty-eighth minute the Kangaroos were on the attack again when Thurston chipped ahead from twenty metres out for Brett Morris to chase through and score in the corner behind the England defence. The conversion attempt by Thurston was missed so Australia lead 22-16 with twenty-one minutes of the match remaining. Shortly after the kick-off following the try England's Michael Shenton suffered a head clash when trying to tackle front-row forward Ben Hannant and the game was halted as he was stretchered unconscious from the field.[/i

From there England unraveled.

My Team from what's available - Definitely weaker than the WC - Im also taking it as Brough not being available


1. Hardaker - Obviously if he doesn't get banned Id let by gones be by gones
2. Briscoe - Wins my choice as the second winger simply because he already is used to that partnership wit KW
3. Watkins
4. Shenton - Reward for good form and the genuine lack of anyone else
5. Hall
6. Tomkins - I know hes a full back predominantly but as an allround play I rate Hardaker better than any of our halves and Tomkins has been dodgy at times in INT games at 1. This is the best option in my opinion
7 - Widdop
8. G Burguess
9. Roby - Probably one of our strongest areas right now - But I still would go with Roby
10. Graham
11. Ferres
12. Farrell
13. O'Loughlin - And make him Captain - Yes he is coming to the end of his career and he is no long term solution but if he is fit id still pick him

14. Bateman
15. Clark
16. Hill
17. Id be very tempted to give Walmsley a shot

Squad

T Burguess
Cooper
Burrow - Cover for half back and hooker
Joel Tomkins - Yes a gamble but if he did get a shot im sure he will match up well and the cover for SR and Centre
Joe Burguess - Yes over charnley - I know charnley can be devastating in attack but has been found our by the Aussie too and with him not been my first choice and this being a squad position that might not even get a game id take Joe, I felt against the Roosters for Wigan he did a god job - The experience
Ablett or another half back

1. Hardaker
2. Makinson
3. Watkins
4. Shenton
5. Hall
6. Tomkins
7. Widdop
8. Burgess G
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Westwood
12. Ablett
13. O'Loughlin (C)

14. Clark
15. Hill
16. Burgess L
17. Ferres

18. Burrow
19. Huby
20. Cooper
21. Farrell
22. Crabtree
23. Burgess T
24. Lomax
25. Ratchford

I think it's also a mistake not having a warm up game. Sam Tomkins and Gareth Widdops season is over. That's a full 7 weeks sitting without a game for two of England's top players.

If shenton comes up against inglis or jennings, he won't just be outplayed.

He'll die.

Put him against most centres, I think inglis come out on top. He's one of the best players, ever. Defensively, Shentons probably the best centre we have.

For me

1. Hardaker (if not banned)
2. Charnley
3. Watkins
4. Shenton
5. Hall
6. Tomkins
7. Widdop
8. Hill
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Ablett
12. Ferres
13 O'loughlin

14. Clark
15. Huby
16. G Burgess
17. Bateman

As a warm up, before he announces his squad, we could have a trial match, England v.s England knights. More people would come to see it, it would be more competitive.

Knights

1. Ratchford
2. Makinson
3. Murphy
4. Wardle
5. Briscoe
6. Sneyd
7. Mellor
8. Taylor
9. Mcclorum
10. Amor
11. Whitehead
12. Tomkins
13. Westerman

14. Lunt
15. Walmsley
16. Adam Walker
17. Liam Farrell

McNamara can lay down the gauntlet, his is my strongest 17, but places are up for grabs. The knights would give it to them.

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Hardaker
Hall
Widdop
Smith
G Burgess
Roby
Graham
Ferres
Farrell
O'Loughlin

Clark
Hill
Westwood (though would be tempted to put Bateman or Whitehead in)
Another prop (Walmsley, T Burgess, Taylor, Cooper, Huby)

If Ben Harrison doesn't make the squad at least i will be gobsmacked! along with Hill recently he has been carrying Warrington's pack. Also surprised that nobody has mentioned Chris Bridge

Its odd that for once England look to have more strength in depth in the outside backs than the forwards. Back row looks poor to me, whatever combinations are picked. I wouldn't pick Luke Burgess at prop as I think we have better options, but I'd definitely have Cooper in the squad.

Clark and Roby are too similar, they only thrive on quick ptb's which we won't be getting too much of. Mcilorum has to start for me to soften their forwards up then it's either Clark or Roby off the bench.

We've also spent far too many years playing people out of position so Tomkins should play full back.

How anyone can pick Briscoe or Makinson over Charnley is beyond me, look how many tries Josh has scored compared to the games played. Last year everyone wanted Briscoe in because he only didn't score much because Hull were rubbish, what's the excuse this year?

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Shenton
Hall

Widdop
Smith

Graham
Mcilorum
Cooper
Farrell
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Clark
Cooper
G Burgess
Ferres

This is the one that makes me laugh. People (although normally only Wigan fans) thinking McIllorum should play just because he is our most aggressive hooker. He might have aggression but everything else is distinctly average. Clark and Roby are much better players.
Anybody who think McIllorum would worry the Aussie because he is aggressive is just kidding themselves. The Aussies would more than likely relish the fact that a young pommy thinks they can take them on, and McIllorum would get worse than he can give. That's if he's on the field long enough before getting sent off.

Not bad, needs a few more Cas players in though. Couldn't you shoehorn a couple more in?

I'd also add that Roby isn't the same type of player he was in 2007, it just goes to show how little people actually notice during the 80 minutes they watch. Robes is an excellent all round hooker and his game against the Aussies last year proved it. His play selection was excellent in that game, his distribution is slick, he's got a good kicking game, he's creative, he makes over 40 tackles every week AND he's a threat from dummy half if there's a quick play the ball.
Obviously though, since he's never broken anyone's jaw and Saints haven't won a trophy lately, he's nowhere near as good as Mickey Mac.

We're all a bit biased in favour of our own players, but this is on another level. Nice one.

When is the last time you watched that game?

Two tries in about 8 minutes were scored down Shenton's side just before he got injured. The flood of points had already started, and yes, it continued after he went off.

If Shenton plays this year, he'll also have Konrad Hurrell to worry about now.

Could there be a case made to put Ablett there, purely to avoid any of our other centres getting trampled to death by Inglis and Hurrell?

Not if your half backs are defending the centre channel, which is oft the case.

While Tompkins and Widdopp look good on paper, I'd really worry about kicking (short and long).

For that reason I'd have Smith in the team.

Did your P get stuck?

I fail to see how I've been anymore biased than anyone else.

People don't like Mcilorum fine, I do.

Maybe some people like other players over Faz, I don't. Other than that I don't see any bias.

Cooper looks a decent player this year but not sure he's good enough to be named twice.

A little bit of Wigan favouritism in there but still an excellent team if you stick in Hill and someone else for the Cooper twins.

Happens to all of us at a certain age.

I don't know. That could be seen as a negative tactic, but defence does win big games.

Listening to reports, I now very much doubt if Inglis will play in the Four Nations. It sounds like he's playing through a painful hip injury for Souths.

Watkins did fine defending against Inglis last year. You can't start picking backs because of their defence. Shenton deserves another crack, he's solid in every area and has had a great season.