Who should be 1st choice Full Back for England in the World Cup this winter?

Zak Hardaker
Positives - probably the form full back in Super League, defensively very capable, already has a good relationship with Luke Gale who is likely to be no. 7.
Negatives - has looked out of his depth internationally before, was very easily shut down in attack by New Zealand's fringe defenders a couple of years ago.

Sam Tomkins
Positives - arguably world class in the past, possesses international-quality skills in attack, experience of playing full-back at the highest level in the NRL.
Negatives - a shadow of his former self since returning to SL, no longer appears to be a running threat with the ball in hand, looks to have lost pace.

Stefan Ratchford
Positives - a running threat with the ball in hand, strong attack particularly when running from dummy half.
Negatives - question marks over his defensive abilities at full back, possibly too big a step up at international to be effective.

Jamie Shaul
Positives - pace, probably the best returner of the ball in SL.
Negatives - liable to mistakes in defence, no experience at this level.

Any others worth mentioning?

I would have been interested to see Eden given a run at full back in a warm-up game but he may miss it with injury now.

Hardaker for me. The best English full-back by a country mile this year.

However, I wouldn't have wanted Eden playing full-back for Cas, never mind England.

Hardaker aside, those other options look a bit concerning.

Jamie Shaul is nowhere near good enough for international level.

Surely Jonny Lomax has to be in the running after he was recently given a central contract.

Zak Hardaker for me as things stand, Tomkins as back up.

WE had Eden at full back terrible But he went to OZ and came back a great winger if he is fit try him on the wing but not full back please

Ratchford for me, seems to be the better attacking option. Tomkins shouldn't be anywhere near an international shirt at the moment.

I'd probably pick Hardaker but I think Bennett will pick Widdop at full back, Hardaker at centre and Gale/Williams in the halves.

Ratchford is so very very average. Ordinary in defence. Shouldn't be in consideration but shows a lack of depth for me. Tomkins is shot and regressing.

Hardaker first choice with Shaul in the squad. Good player is Jamie Shaul don't quite get the criticism towards him.

Hardaker is the form FB in the league, and is way ahead of everyone when it comes to the defensive side. Although, I think Ratchford is still better as the extra pivot you also need at FB.
As for Tomkins, his days as FB are numbered IMO. He's lost his pace, and his kick returns are pretty pathetic. He's still a class player who's game is now more suited to the halves, and given how poor TL has been there for Wigan, and his age I think we'll see Tomkins move to 7 along side Williams next season.

I agree with Towns it as to be Hardaker,Good under the high ball,Quick and good joining the line no brainer & Shaul just needs to keep playing well for Hull is time may well come, Only down side with Shaul is Physically he not the biggest is he & the size of the Ozzy but he is still good to be 2nd choice.



Up The Trin

Hardaker with Lomax in reserve

Does anyone actually think Bennett will pick Hardaker though? For the Samoa game when Widdop dropped out with injury he brought Ratchford straight in to play full back and left Percival out even though he was originally in the squad, which suggests he doesn't fancy any centres other than Watkins. I think he'll play the same backline as the Samoa game with Widdop in for Ratchford at full back barring injuries to anyone.

Hardaker 100%. Seems to have sorted his problems out and enjoying his rugby again. World above any other fullback other than Shaul who also has much to offer.

Shenton and Percival are having tremendous seasons and are better centres then Zak and Zak is a better FB then Ratchford. Samoa game was there to experiment so I'm hoping that's all it was ....

I don't get why this is even a discussion? Hardaker has been head and shoulders above every one! He's a shoe in and rightly so. Why had Tomkins been mentioned? He's probably the 10th best English full back.

Regards

King James

I agree that Hardaker has to be the choice going on form this season, I expect Widdop to play at 6, I don't believe he has played 1 for a number of years now.

One thing I would say about Tomkins is out of all of them I still think he is the most talented with respect to decision making and executing in attack. Against Australia and New Zealand there will be a huge difference in the quality of the fringe defence compared with Super League, they will shoot out quicker, drift quicker and will be stronger in the contact. Chances will be few and far between so it is imperative that we convert them, as I said I think that part of Tomkins game can still be better than the others.

Bennett and McNamara before him just don't seem to fancy any centres other than Watkins. In the NZ series two years ago Bateman was played at centre and then in the Samoa game Bennett picked Hardaker there. Also when Hardaker was at Penrith he was usually picked at centre when he played wasn't he? I think he's more interested in his centres being good defensively than going forward, which is why I think he'll go with Hardaker as he's pretty good defensively, as most of the attack will come from carries up the middle which is why he'll always pick Hall and McGillvary on the wings even if they were out of form for some reason. I think if we had another centre as good as Watkins he'd maybe pick Hardaker at fullback, although even then I still think he'd want his full back to be better going forward than Hardaker is against a defence as good as Australia's.

Probably not what I'd go with but I think that's what he'll go with.

For me, Bennett has to decide on the spine of the team and stick with it every game unless there are injuries. Only by playing together will we develop the combinations that give us a chance of winning in the latter stages. Whoever Bennett picks, I just hope he is willing to stick with them and give them the opportunity to develop and understanding.
Personally I'd have Hardaker, Gale, Widdop and Hodgson as the four spine players.

Hardaker is way ahead of everyone else. No contest.

Hardaker is head & shoulders above anyone else at FB and has been for a number of years with 1 obvious dip last season. Best defensive full back by a long way and no slouch in attack at all. Players like Tomkins & Lomax shouldn't even get anywhere near the squad nevermind the starting lineup. Ratchford is a decent player to take because of the number of positions he can cover.

I'd go with that but just can't see it happening.

We don't have many centres capable of matching the Australians or Kiwis physically, either in size or pace. Shenton would be solid, and he's in good form, I think he should get the nod, but Josh Griffin has also been in good form recently, he has all the athletic attributes, so perhaps he could work his way into the squad. I also think Joe Burgess would be a good shout to play in the centres.

i'm a hull supporter and i wouldn't have griffin anywhere near an international side. would be pulled apart defensively

Yep, this is what I think Bennett thinks and why I reckon he'll go with Hardaker in the centres.

To be fair, against Samoa Percival would have been opposite Leilua, who is probably the strongest centre in the game ATM. On the whole our outside backs aren't big or strong enough, which is why the default will be to pick those who are big enough, even if they're not in form.