Don't know what Darrell Goulding has to do to make the squad. He's as good as any centres named in the squad. Surprised Atkins wasn't named as well.

Wasn't Atkins recalled at some point last year only to pull out again?

The threequarters look better than they have for some time (although I hope Reed doesn't slow down any more or else the only place you'd pick him is the second row), and Tomkins provides real ammunition going forward.

We still look miles away from having a decent halfback combination though. Sinfield is picked because of his kicking and the fact that he does at least hold the shape of the team together in attack - which having seen some GB/England 'efforts' is no mean thing. But we do look very weak compared to both Australia and NZ.

I'm also not that convinced about our pack either, particularly as a group. Without Burgess and Graham we'd look very ordinary up front.

Hock never turned his nose up at cockayne

Don't know if anyone watched Back chat last night but thought Danny Lockwood made some excellent points in that we look like a team that just wants to complete their set of 6.

Danny Lockwood talking bollox as per...

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/ma ... ieldgiants looks like Brough is back to playing for Scotland

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/ma ... ieldgiants looks like Brough is back to playing for Scotland

Lets have a look at the semi final line up from the '08 WC vs a Probable '13 line up

[u2008 WCSF[/u.......Vs..........[uLikely '13 Team[/u
1. Wellens.......... Vs..........1. Tomkins
2. Gardner..........Vs.........2. Charnley
3. Gleeson........ .Vs.........3. Watkins
4. Senior.............Vs.........4. Reed
5. Calderwood.....Vs.........5. Hall

6. McGuire....... ..Vs.........6. Sinfield
7. Burrow.......... Vs.........7. Chase

8. Graham..........Vs.........8. Crabtree
9. Roby............. Vs.........9. Roby
10. Peacock.......Vs........10. Graham
11. Westwood... Vs........11. Westwood
12. Ellis............. Vs........12. Ellis
13. Purdham.......Vs........13. Burgess

14. Pryce......... Vs........14. Burrow
15. Morley...... ...Vs.......15. Morley
16. Higham.........Vs.......16. Hill
17. Wilkin...........Vs........17. Hock

Personally, I think this team would beat the '08 version quite comfortably. The 3/4 line looks much more dangerous and the current 6/7 combo offers more direction than McGuire/Burrow did at the time. The bench is where we are much stronger though. I think that team can compete. It probably wont win anything, but it isn't as bad as what a lot of you are making out. Add to that the 18-23 compared to the rest of the '08 squad and it looks like we have massively improved in the "player pool"

But you seem to be forgetting that the WC campaign in 2008 we only managed to win 1 game against PNG (and were lucky in some ways to win that) and was beaten twice by NZ and mauled by Australia

Going on the Aussie and NZ teams that played last year alone (not taking into account players who missed out and will possibly feature in World Cup):

1. Tomkins...Slater...Hoffman
2. Charnley...Boyd...Perrett
3. Watkins...Inglis...Kenny-Dowell
4. Reed...J Morris...Mannering
5. Hall...B Morris...Beale

6. Sinfield...Thurston...Marshall
7. Chase...Cronk...Johnson

8. Crabtree...Scott...Matulino
9. Roby...Smith...Luke
10. Graham...Tamou...McKendry
11. Westwood...Gallen...Blair
12. Ellis...Thaiday...Pritchard
13. Burgess...Bird...Smith

14. Burrow...Farah...Fien
15. Morley...Myles...Eastwood
16. Hill...Shillington...Bromwich
17. Hock...Williams...Warea-Hargreaves

On that, you possibly have Hall & Graham that would have a chance of making Australia and NZ squads, Tomkins, Watkins, Roby & Burgess possibly making it into one of the two (NZ mainly) and rest wouldnt get anywhere near the other 2 squads with the quality they have (as well as a number of players who will also come into the reckoning for a squad place).

Basically, we are still streets behind Australia and NZ with the squad picked imo and (as much as I would love to be wrong) cant see that team mounting a serious challenge to win the World Cup

That England squad is more than capable of beating that NZ squad, with a fair wind they could beat that Australian squad aswell.

The NZ backs outside Marshall are nothing to be terrified of, their pack is big and strong and full of skill and impact but in my opinion James Graham is better than any of them. Sam Burgess is a step above Smith.

James Roby is on a different level to Isaac Luke.

2 things.

Firstly, are we supposed to magic these superstars out of thin air? We are progressing and building a stronger squad over time. It's not something that magically changes. This squad is much better than the squad of 4 years or so ago. Forget that the Aussies are miles ahead of us. That's a given. We have to look at if we are better, and I think it's plain to see that we are.

Sencondly, the Kiwi's are good in the Southern Hemisphere. When was the last time they got the better of us on English soil though? I bet it's a while back. Yes, we were beaten twice by them in the last world cup, but IIRC both games were close and the semi final could have gone either way going into the last 10 mins or so.

After watching McNamara on boots N all it looks like Broughs got as much chance of making the England squad as I have. Basically he stopped short of telling him to go play for Scotland.

Irritated me how he kept banging on about form, yet half the players in that squad aren't in form. Including Cockayne is just a stunt to try show everyone he's picking form players. Think McNamara has already chosen his squad and it doesn't matter how well the lights of Brough, Lunt, Atkins, Dixon etc play, I don't think they will get a look in.

What did he say for those who don't have sky? Completely agree about form, Morley's been injured for example, how can he be on form!

Unless Hoffman improves a lot this year he may not even make the NZ squad. Tomkins is miles better than him. In fact Hoffman's lack of any ball-playing capability or ability to break the line through speed/strength was a mjor problem for the Broncos last year.

Actually, scratch that. Unless Hoffman improves a lot he may not even make the Broncos squad (at least at fullback).

Basically Eddie asked him about Brough and McNamara said due to the superb form of Sinfield, McGuire, Chase and Myler, Brough isn't in the squad and can go play for Scotland squad if he wishes to do so.

Then he went on about the form of Cockayne and it shows there are choosing form. Which isn't true for a lot of the squad. Like I says earlier, Think Mcnamaras chosen his squad.

Spot on, other than Morley I have no problems with that squad.

I'd seriously be considering George Burgess for a World Cup spot.

Outstanding this morning against the Roosters, and a very nice try to boot. And he's feckin enormous!

Except Tommy Leuluai will probably be NZ's starting hooker with Luke on the bench, Jeremy Smith might not get in the team ahead of Blair, Pritchard, Eastwood and Mannering, and Graham wasn't even the best prop at his club - that would be Dally M winner Kasiano, who'll be playing for...NZ

Except Tommy Leuluai will probably be NZ's starting hooker with Luke on the bench, Jeremy Smith might not get in the team ahead of Blair, Pritchard, Eastwood and Mannering, and Graham wasn't even the best prop at his club - that would be Dally M winner Kasiano, who'll be playing for...NZ

And we saw Tommy over here for years, and he never looked like a hooker on the level of Roby.

Burgess is still a better player than, Pritchard, Eastwood or Mannering. Adam Blair is simply an average forward made to look great playing for Craig Bellamy.

And i would still take Graham over Kasiano.

Impressed with George Burgess this morning. He looked like he had been playing First Grade for years. 16 carries, 153m, 15 tackles, 0 misses, 1 offload, 5 busts, 1 clean break, 1 line break assist and 1 try.

Hopefully some good game time for him this year and he'll be pushing for a WC spot. If like to see Tom get some game time too.

You'd certainly hope that if a lad like George Burgess gets a good run for Souths then he'd merit a place over someone like Morley.

McNamara needs a job I RU

They haven't got a clue what a good halfback looks like either

george was immense this morning and i think last season i would have put luke above sam in consistant performances

How good does Brought have to play to be considered 'in form'?! Apparently he was absolutely spitting mad about it at a Giants fans forum the other night, can't say I'm surprised! Behind McGuire and Myler??

Maybe Brough should concentrate on playing well for more than a third of the season?

Didn't Brough play in last years exiles game? Well outplayed should I sayicon_wink.gif