usually go to a couple of international matches but will be giving it a miss this year, will watch on TV.

I agree with most of this, Widdop at 6 though and Hill over Crabtree. I still don't think anyone has put a name on the 7 shirt either. As good as he was towards the end of this season we are still in trouble if in 12 months time Kevin Sinfield is England's starting stand off at 33 years old. I'm not sure we need a hooker on the bench either, it might be a risk if someone gets injured in the backs but 4 forwards on the bench may suit us better as that is where our strength in depth lies, and Roby always plays 80 mins as well.

My first choice 17 for the WC atm would be:

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Reed
Hall
Widdop
(Lomax/Myler/Brough/Smith/Chase) - all need a big 2013!
S Burgess
Roby
Graham
Ellis
Hock
O'Loughlin

Westwood
3 from Mossop, Hill, Crabtree, L Burgess, Patrick, Taylor, LMS, Lynch, Harrison, Carvell, Morley, Prescott, T/G Burgess

Upcoming internationals ...

Ratchford/Tomkins
Charnley/Briscoe
Watkins
Ablett
Hall
Tomkins/Ratchford
Sinfield
Morley
McLlorum
Hill
Hock
Ellis
O'Loughlin

Subs... Burrow, L Burgess, Mossop and JJB/Farrell

For the World cup it would depend on form at the time but if it was this summer and all the players were fit I'd go with ...

Tomkins
Charnley/Briscoe
Watkins
Reed
Hall
Widdop
Sinfied
Graham
Roby
Crabtree
Burgess
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Burrow
Hill
Hock
Ellis

These autumn internationals are perfect to give some experience to younger players so my team would be:

FB Z.Hardaker
WG J.Charnley
CT S.Ratchford
CT K.Watkins
WG R.Hall
SO S.Tomkins
SH R.Myler
PR L.Burgess
HK M.McIlorum
PR C.Hill
2R B.Harrison
2R L.Farrell
LF S.O'Loughlin (c)

SUB1 K.Sinfield
SUB2 G.Hock
SUB3 A.Morley
SUB4 G.Ellis

My line up for the RLWC 2013 at present would be:

FB S.Tomkins
WG J.Charnley
CT R.Atkins
CT J.Reed
WG R.Hall
SO G.Widdop
SH * no stand out candidate which is concerning, someone needs a big 2013 to claim the jersey
PR S.Burgess
HK J.Roby
PR J.Graham
2R G.Hock
2R G.Ellis
LF S.O'Loughlin (c)

SUB1 K.Sinfield
SUB2 A.Morley
SUB3 C.Hill
SUB4 B.Westwood

Still think we'll see a NZ v Aussie final at O.T in November 2013 though.

Tomkins is without doubt better at 1, but for these internationals I'd have no problem with putting him in the halves and Hardaker at full back. Given what's available: (I assume my 4 props can be in any order, starting or bench matters not)

Hardaker
Briscoe
Watkins
Ablett
Hall

Sinfield
Tomkins

L. Burgess
McIlorum
Hill
Hock
Ellis
O'Loughlin

Harrison
Mossop
JJB
Burrow


With missing people fit, "Biter" comes in at prop, Roby at hooker, Atkins or Reed at 4 (I'm yet to be absolutely sure that Reed offers much more than happening to play in the NRL), Widdop at 6 (possibly therefore Sinfield to 13 but I recognise that would be unpopular on this board...) and I'd probably swap Luke Burgess out in place of Sam. I know Sam isn't a prop these days but meh, I would want Sinfield or O'Loughlin at 13. Could always use Hock as a prop and Burgess in the 2nd row, but that's a bit semantic really.

Sorry but can’t get too over excited at these internationals myself, they seem to be a bit of a poor stop-gap to next February rugby wise, but it’s better than the fat bellied 15 man mogadon that's coming up.