Does to me

Burgess and Widdop?

WIlkin was probably England's best player in last years Four Nations Final. Not saying much I know but at least he turned up

My full strength England team would be:

Tomkins
Charnley
Reed
Watkins
Hall
Widdop
Brough
Graham
Roby
Burgess
Westwood
Ellis
O'Loughlin

Mossop
McIlorum
Crabtree
Hock

But I think Crapbanana will go with:

Tomkins
Briscoe
Reed
Bridge
Hall
Chase
Sinfield
Peacock
Roby
Graham
Ellis
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Widdop
Crabtree
Carvell
Morley

We will win this stupid England/Wales/France tri tournament at the end of the season by miles, papering over the cracks of our rubbish coach and when the world cup comes along none of the young players will have enough international experience and players like Morley and Peacock will be gone and we will yet again be embarrassed by the Aussies. This is the England way.

Sam Burgess is a backrower, and should be played in the back row if possible. No other LF should get a look in unless he's injured.

I'm not sure Wilkin deserves the stick he gets based on last years 4 nations, he showed up pretty well. He'll never be a world beater but he didn't look out of his depth at all.

Completely forgot about them and even Ellis who I also forgot!

Them 3 players would all get into the 1st team for me. I think Mossop could end up missing out again this year if McNamara insists on playing Peacock and Morley.

1.tomkins
2.charnley
3.bridge
4.Reed
5.hall
6.widdop
7.brough
8.graham
9.henderson
10.Burgess
11.westwood
12.ellis (c)
13.o'loughlin

14.mossop
15.hock
16.sinfield
17.roby

I hate it when people use the word world class BUT I do think our pack is 2nd to none.

Burgess, Ellis & Graham are, imo, world class players and I don't say that lightly either.

Hock, Westwood, Roby, Henderson and Lockers are all good enough as well but do fall out of that elite bracket.

Shame about the backs and the coach also

Chase, I agree, but Brough's having a pretty good season, he was the main factor in their wins over both us and Saints, and there aren't many with a better kicking game than him...

@FIOS that first team would be a belter and would be a good shout at what we should take into the World Cup... and be competitive!

Unfortunately your spot on in thinking that Crapnamara will choose the latter team you've displayed. Such a shame!

Lockers and Roby are as good as though 3.

Maguire plays him prop.

I'd expect Rogues to be on shortly telling us again how Wigan's academy system is so much better than their counterparts at the Rhinos

Then he would be right!

Only because Souths have got a lot of injuries in the front row atm.

what, Luke Burgess?

Souths have no injuries up front, Sam Burgess is a Prop Forward and it utilised as such in the best league in the world, and impressed massively against Roosters in round 1. Why do people think they know better than Michael Maguire?

Souths' (ie. your man Maguire's) plan is to use Sam Burgess at 13 this season, whatever happened in the first game. But you obviously think you know better than him.

Not arguing the above point but maybe that's because it's become the Australan way to play what is effectively a 3rd prop at 13. Sam, for all his quality, has no kicking game, utilitarian passing and doesn't really operate as any sort of link. If that's the way England are going then fine. It's never been the GB/England way in the past and we have little experience in playing this way. That's not to say it's neccessarily wrong. However, it might not serve us well to try and play the Aussies at their own game. Just a thought...

he rang you and told you that did he???



I don't think I know better than him, i'm just questioning the fact people think he should be played in a different position as to where his club coach plays him, despite the fact the majority on here probably haven't seen him play since he was last in an England jersey

I dont doubt he has a good kicking game, but the rest of his game (IMO) is not International standard, although our choices are limited at halfback.

How the hell is Zak Hardaker anywhere near the England team and Atkins is overlooked again. Atkins has been outstanding for 2 seasons now and Hardaker looks just an average youngster at best at the moment

It's great to see Ryan Atkins getting some love. I do still think he's a bit of a bully though, by that I mean that he always shines against the lesser sides. I bet you've never seen him play Wigan and think "Atkins had a belter tonight". Good and potentially great player, but a lot of work to do.

Hardaker was embarrasingly poor against Castleford last week. How he has got in over Atkins is beyond me.

How there's 11 Leeds players in the England setup is beyond me.

Hardaker has a lot of potential, but is still developing as a centre. He also looks as though he's suffering a bit playing on the left TBH. At least he is big and quick, unlike so many threequarters we've picked in the past. Seems to me that he may be in for experience at this stage?

As for Atkins, he withdrew from selection last year didn't he? Has he made himself available? IMO Atkins was honest and brave in stating that the last time he played the Aussies his confidence got smashed. Maybe he wants to make sure he really believes he's up to it himself before trying again? Physically there's no doubt at all he'd be OK - the question is whether the rest of his game (setting up the winger and defensive positioning) is up to it.

We all need to hope Watkins stays injury-free and carries on developing his game. As well as being big and fast he also - unlike so many British centres including the likes of Senior - came into the game with a ready-made passing game from the start.