Andy Coley would deserve to be included ahead of Fielden IMO.

All very valid points

I must have misses something, is it Thursday, who, besides a southern journo has said this?

Good job that team will be playing France.
If it was the Aussies, the Roos would put 80 past them.
It's not the players who are the problem it's Tony Smith.
Smith's useless and proved it in the World Cup.

I'd agree with that - his reputation absolutely plummeted in the world cup. It wasn't just the lame, un-coached appearance of his teams, it was his infuriating refusal to acknowledge the problems everyone else could see.

Coley is on current form the top prop in SL at the moment. That would have been an unthinkable statement at the start of this season but he has really emerged as a international class talent in recent weeks, its been fantastic to watch him growing in confidence, culminating in an immense performance against Saints, where he bullied their pack and then followed it up with another powerful display against Wakey. Well done Andy.



As for Lockers, as one of those (Red Dwarf fans please imagine me entering a Kryten-esque "smug mode"icon_wink.gif who has consistently defended Lockers - a disgracefully under-appreciated Wigan lad, hang your heads in shame Lockers knockers - on this board, he should definitely be in the side. He's easily the best British loose forward and whilst he's probably always destined to be in the shadow of Farrell to some degree, he deserves recognition as an international standard player and a 100% committed servant of the Wigan club and for my money, a decent captain. It certainly isn't his fault that many of the other senior players only started delivering a few weeks ago.

Should he be England captain? I'm not convinced by Peacock to be honest (though he hasn't made Irvine's team anyway!), so I'd give Lockers a shot, he looks to be the best captain from that 13.

A team of world beaters and you're outside the playoffs, played more games than everyone else, and likely to drop behind Bradford, with their games in hand, all in all, I think its time to lay off the absinthe mate.

early season form was shocking as usual! at the minute we're the form team in the competition.

On paper the 1-17 is the 3rd best in the league after Saints and Leeds.

On the field though it was appaling up until 4 weeks ago. We do now seem to be heading in the right direction and if this group of players can produce thier best form for the majority of whatremains of the season we'll win alot more then we'll lose.

Fielden definitely shouldn't be in the team, he's only just back to a standard where I feel he's worth his place in the 17 as a bench prop, though his form looks to be on the up. The Wigan players I feel should be in with a shot are:

Hock - Surely a shoe in
O'Loughlin - Ditto, he takes a lot of stick but IMO he's been awesome this season.
Coley - I'd rest Peacock and give him a run out
McIllorum - Suprised no one's mentioned him, why not rest Roby for this one and give him a go?
Gleeson - I'd rest Senior and play like Gleeson and Atkins in this game, the better player makes the England team at the end of the year.

Don't think I'd have the Tomkins brothers or Ainscough in there, they're good players to have but not the best in England at this stage IMO. If Ainscough sorts out his kick defence he's straight in. Joel Tomkins needs to give us something to show he's better than Hock, Ellis, O'Loughlin or Wilkin. Sam Tomkins just needs a little more time, he's still finding his way in super league so England is premature.

Senior has retired from internationals hasn't he? if not he should do.

I'd rest Gleeson aswell tbh. We know that he's the best English centre in superleague and this is an opportunity to look at some others.

Shenton and Atkins would be my picks.

Ahhh yeah just found that he has. To be honest I think Lee Gilmour should be in there too then. I know he's not an young up and coming star and this would probably be his last year at interational level but always played well for GB, he's on form at Saints and competition at centre is fairly weak.

I think he played for Ireland in the WC

Yup he did.

As I have said previously I think Smith will only pick 2 players maximum from each Superleague club, as there is a round of Superleague games that weekend.

I wonder if James Graham likes the idea of travelling to France for a game?

Coley over Fielden everytime.

No its to many games and to far to travel he will get hurt the week before and have a miracle happen the same day as the saints game and will be a late inclusion into the side

Ireland seems to be more like an "Anyone who's ever drank guiness' squad

In fairness, i think McIllorum has one of the more believable names.


Then again, so does Paddy Richards.

[size=200Can I be the Mascot[/size

Since Rads and Carney lined up for GB imo.

Don't personally rate Wellens or Gardner and i think Fox & Briscoe are very underrated.

I only commented on two players



If you were a regular visitor to this board (and after that post I'm glad you're not!

) you'd know that I have been one of the vocal critics of BN and our shambolic start to the season.

IMO no Wigan player in the French game, we've just started to get a roll on let's not take a backward step by letting our best players play in a rinky dink pointless game

With you on this one.... perhaps RL fans nationally would be happier if no current Wigan players and no players ever conected with Wigan were omitted.

if everyone in SL could be selected....

Briscoe
Ainscough Senior Gleeson Fox
Pryce Long
Graham Newton Peacock
Ellis Lockers
Sinfeld
------------
Hock Roby Carvell Morley