brough didnt choose, he was asked by scotland. seeing as he wasnt going to be asked by mcnamara, why not? too good a player not to be involved in a world cup.

If you bothered to read my post i was quoting Christopher who originally said the Aussies wouldn't fear Brough.

He didn't say that, he said worry, you introduced and then dismissed the use of the word fear

OK fair enough i genuinely thought he said fear. My mistake.

Either way i still don't think they will worry about Chase or Sinfield. The only thing the kiwis will be concentrating on is winding him up, he needs to rise above it and concentrate on the team. He was so petulant on Saturday, slapping peoples heads into the ground, trying to start a fight, if that's what he's like when we're winning comfortably whats he going to be like when things aren't going our way and he is been sledged by the kiwis?

OK.

Anyway, as you say, back to the point. I must admit with all the talk about McNamara not knowing his best half backs etc I was surprised to see that the English halves for our last game against New Zealand in 2011 were Chase and Sinfield, a game we won 28-6. What is clear is that McNamara has been building his team around these two for years ready for the world cup. Despite the comments about the two not clicking, without an Andrew Johns, Darren Lockyer or Wally Lewis to play the best a coach can do is create some continuity and a team structure. At least McNamara has tried to do this. A repeat of 28-6 will do me nicely (actually, 1-0 would do me nicely!)

NOPE its super mac still coaching the team in 2020 ashes series

FWIW I don't agree with Chase playing for England, but that is not the point.

There are posters on here who want to paint McNamara as the "villain" and Brough as the victimised hero in waiting. Whilst I have no idea what's gone on within the England setup I [isuspect[/i that Brough had ample opportunity to change the minds of the England coaches by his actions. He CHOSE instead, to take the easy option of a guaranteed place with Scotland.

He made the CHOICE.

Had he chosen to fight for his place and displaced Chase, then I wouldn't grumble in the slightest.

Of course he chose, Scotland asked a question and he had the choice of an answer, yes or no.

Not saying Brough is right or wrong , but when the giants are at the top of the pile mid June and with Brough being the key orchestrater for that. For McNamara to not even select him in the squad for the exiles game probably said to Danny that he wouldn't be getting picked at all.

But hey ho, what's done is done. I for will back Sinfield and Chase because they are representing England

Chase & Sinfield did not impress at the weekend or the game before IMO.

Chase is undoubtedly a genius, he is a flawed genius. He often runs around like a headless chicken with no-one from his own side any clue what he is trying to do as he is so off the cuff. He is also very petulant in the same way as Tomkins was- a similarly gifted player; however Tomkins appears to be maturing and putting the daft stuff behind him.

Sinfield deserves a place in the side as he is a superb kicker and very experienced and professional and a very hard worker for the team. I'm not sure where to put him but he is not a natural S/O; perhaps second row as he is not a line breaking loose forward?

I personally would have liked to have seen Burrow and Widdup tried at S/H & S/O, of and Sam Burgess at loose - he would be devastating attacking centres and the odd second rower.

Getting back to Chase, he seems incapable of being part of structured play. This might be OK against the Kiwi's as they are more off the cuff and unstructured but certainly not against the Aussies as they have and stick to a firm structure.

Sinfield in the second row? I dread to think what the McNamara haters on these boards would say if he pulled off that one

Why not if he is big enough and fit enough to play LF?

I am one of those who dislike McNamara.

In some ways we would have been best advised to lose to Fiji in the group section... and face up against an Aussie team which has an air of vulnerability.

Unfortunately I think NZ are the best team in the world cup and they will have to be way off their best for England to win... as well as England playing exceptionally... not impossible at all.

I would have loved this game as the final.

1. Sinfield
2. Sinfield
3. Sinfield
4. Sinfield
5. Sinfield

Nothing against him, he is a great player but he is not a world class scrum half and without one we've got buckleys of winning. Put him at 13 and find a decent 7 for fricks sake!

I'd have had:
6. Chase
7. Widdop
13. Sinfield

but then i'm not the coach and I guess he knows what he's doing, lol.

Agree re Brough, his partnership with Wallace has been the highlight of the RLWC so far for me. That half back with the England forwards would make a world of difference. Bring back GB!

Do you actually understand how Rugby League works? As if the scrum half alone is the determining factor in whether a team wins or loses. It's all about the grunt. Get on the front foot and the halves can easily compete.

Jeez, it must have been a pretty ordinary WC for you if that is the highlight.

No wonder you dislike McNamara if he is missing the obvious key selection decision of putting Sinfield in the second row. I'm surprised he hasn't given Tom Burgess a run at scrum half either

Bottom line, regardless of the why's and wherefores of selection and englands ability, saturday is a massive game and everyone must be pretty damn pumped up for it, i know i am.

No matter what you think, theres always that small part of you, your heart talking maybe, that just thinks ''what if?''.

It's dumb asking him to change the half-back combo mid tournament. The reason he's kept the same halves in place for so long, regardless of periods of form, is because the squad have been working on set plays and attacking (and defensive) patterns for over a year so they will be smooth under pressure.

Why the hell would he drop Sinfield or Chase now unless there's injury or suspension?!?

to say no would of been no to a world cup for him. He was never going to get picked for England.

anyway back on topic, England can win but will need to up the level and cut out the scrappy mistakes, which they can do.

What we really need is 80 minutes of non-stop Mexican waves. That could give us the edge imo.

Indeed. Sheens and Kurney have been changing their teams too. You need to just in case of injuries. Though I would have gone for Widdop at Halfback with Chase at Five-Eighth, but Sinfield did well against France.

For me it's about some of the middle men taking the ball to the line, condensing the oppositions defence, so O'Loughlin has to start at Loose Forward, with S Burgess in the Front Row. Sinfield did well in taking on the line against France.

Knowing him, I surprised he hasn't either.

The "Why we CANNOT beat NZ" thread is twice as long as the why we can.

Shows our collective mentality at times doesn't it.