Yeah, adds the size, grunt and experience in the back row. This will probably be Westwood and SOL's last major series but both will still add a lot imo.

James Roby should be fourth choice hooker. It's a shame we don't have that depth in the centres.

I expect O'Loughlin to be involved and I'd also have Westwood in.

At hooker Roby has to drop down the pecking order for me, Hodgson to start and Clark interchange.

Selection problems really are the back. Centres is a huge issue, I've been hanging on for Reed's availability but looks like he may be crocked for good. Watkins is likely to get a game but was woeful last year for England. Sarginson/Cudjoe/Atkins teh likely other choices. Real shame Shenton is out.

Currie is a good shout to play centre.

Tomkins
Hall
Atkins
Watkins
McGilvary
Williams
Gale/Smith
Graham
Hodgson
Hill
Bateman
S Burgess
SOL

is how I can see the 13 lining up.

Whitehead will get a back row slot. his quality performances in a Canberra side going for the premiership will not have gone unnoticed by Bennett for sure. Its difficult, because all of a sudden we have see real back row options again. unfortunately, and it seems harsh but i don't see a place in the line up right now for Currie or Bateman barring injuries or playing them out of position at centre but they will be in the squad for sure and will be around for many years to come so their turn will come.

I forgot about Whitehead in all honesty. Personally I'd play Sam Burgess at 13 and sack SOL off. But we all know that won't happen.
Whitehead will get a bench spot.

Fair enough. I'm just glad we have finally got some real headaches and some quality players are going to be left out which ever side gets picked if we are picking from near fit squad.

Aye the forwards can really match the Kiwis and Aussies. Shame the backs are seriously lacking in sheer talent.

It is a shame because that's where the points come from. Regardless of who he picks, I'd hope the main change for England under Bennett in the short-term will be attitude against Australia - i.e. not playing scared.

I just don't see that we have the backs to get enough points against Aus (or stop them scoring them).

Based on what?

The Saints pack this year hasnt been great in comparison to others, and even playing on the back of a beaten pack/slow ruck Roby has been outstanding yet again.

Interesting when you compare his season stats with Houghton (for example) who is no doubt higher up your pecking order for the England 9 shirt and touted as a MOS candidate:

Defending:
Houghton 1130/56 misses, 95% tackles made
Roby 962/31 misses, 97% tackles made

Attacking:
Houghton 230 carries, 1448 metres, 6.3m avg gain, 32 tackle busts, 3 clean breaks, 7 tries
Roby 294 carries, 2201 metres, 7.4m avg gain, 41 tackle busts, 7 clean breaks, 4 tries

Whilst Houghton has made more tackles, Roby still managed an impressive amount with less misses on average. With ball in hand, Roby is far better & offers far more than Houghton. When you bear in mind Houghton has played on the back of the best pack in SL (don't really recall seeing Hull's forward pack not on top many times this season) and their go forward I would have expected more with the ball from Houghton. Don't get me wrong I think Houghton is a very good player, but still not ahead of Roby (same opinion currently of Daryl Clark).

Imo the 2 England hookers should still be Hodgson and Roby interchanging

^^^^^^^^

Yeah agree Roby should still be ahead of Houghton who is probaly 3rd in line. THink we should be going with just Hodgson as 80 minute hooker though and a big four man bench. Maybe even three big guys and Bateman or Currie who can cover a few positions.

Tomkins has been poor all season, I'd put Ratchford in, seems Tomkins is named by default no metter what

No Shaul? Arguably been the standout fullback this season.

we say pick on form, and then there are still the usual suspects in the side

It's a balance.

Just because a player goes well at club level doesn't mean they will perform in an international.
Whatever we may think, playing against Aussie or New Zealand is a whole different prospect to playing Widnes or Salford and when players have already proved themselves at the higher level, they will always be ahead of a good player who hasn't played at international level.

Having said that, Bennett needs to be thinking about the next world cup and making sure some "new blood" is coming through and not just go with established players.

It will be interesting to see who gets the jerseys.

Houghton has 17 try assists. Roby has 3.

My team would be:

Tomkins
McGillavray
Watkins
Currie
Hall
Williams/Sneyd
Gale
Hill
Hodgson
Graham
Bateman
Whitehead
S.Burgess

G.Burgess
Taylor
Walmsley
Roby

That is a big back line. The wingers need to be big to start the sets off out of backfield with Tomkins not wanting to run it in. Big pack too

Liam Watts this season and last, has been seriously unlucky not to get a look in at the England camp due to our amount of quality in the front row. Yet again he's been outstanding for Hull.

And has kicked 2 40/20's

Of the SL based hookers, Clarke is probably the most likely to change a game, Houghton is consistency personified. Roby, on this seasons showings should be behind these 2.

We're always thinking about the next tournament. Wanting to select potential. To ''build things''.

What would be the best prep for the world cup? Actually beating austrailia in a tournament. Select the best possible team, the one with the best chance of winning, regardless of age or potential availability for the world cup, and think about the world cup when it's the world cup.

Graham, Sam, Hodgson, Whitehead are the only players in good form in the NRL.

The Morris twins and Hodkinson would be farcical.

I don't see the point in picking players like Roby, or Kevin Brown for that matter. Whether or not they are the best players this year is irrelevant in terms of the bigger picture - can they be expected to be this good come RLWC2017? This tournament is important but surely building for the World Cup has to be the goal. The younger generation need the experience of playing these big games. And lets face it, these old heads have failed repeatedly on the international scene for their whole careers.

Hodgson and Clark as hookers for me. Hodgson to play some back row / half-back to maximise the time of both on the field.

All fit it would include Manfreidi, however

Tomkins
Hall
Watkins
Atkins
McGilvary
Williams
Sneyd
Hill
Hodgson
Graham
Currie
Whitehead
S Burgess

Clark
Watts
Taylor
Bateman

All fit it would include Manfreidi, however

Tomkins
Hall
Watkins
Atkins
McGilvary
Williams
Sneyd
Hill
Hodgson
Graham
Currie
Whitehead
S Burgess

Clark
Watts
Taylor
Bateman

I'm a Wire fan, so an admirer of Ben Currie, but cannot understand why we would consider playing him or anyone else out of position. Currie has played at centre occasionally for Wire, but only occasionally. Why put him up against experienced, international quality centres in a big tournament, where his [ilack [/iof experience will be shown up? Bateman last year did a solid job in the same circumatances, but solid isn't going to cut it if we're trying to beat Aus or NZ.