Apart from Burrows, I'm struggling to come up with anyone good enough, which is the main problem as far as i can see, we just don't have the strength in depth as the aussies!

Brough over Myler any day of the week.

Guess one of either Sinfield or Eastmond have to play now as we have zero other goal kicking options

Which again highlights the problems we have. Although Sinfield has/is without doubt been a great player at club level but he has exactly shone on the international stage! As for Eastmond he is a great prospect for the future I'm not too sure he's ready for this challenge just yet, having said that he may prove me wrong ( and as far as England are concerned - I hope he does ).

What is the England team coming to when players are picked on kicking ability rather than anything else?

International RL is an absolute joke.

Easy tiger. Is it a fact that they've been picked on kicking ability? N0.
It's just the opinion of someone on an internet forum.
It isn't international rugby league that's the joke, it's some of the people who claim to be rugby league fans.

Wilkins and westwood are two 100% players but ultimately not good enough players who shouldn't get near the international squad.

We have an almost decent pack especially in the props (none anywhere as good as Whatmough (sp?) though, some new exciting (but ultimately inexperienced) half-backs but a distinct lack of quality in the backs. However in Hall and Shenton we have a definate improvement over Calderwood and Sykes from the world cup.

It really depends on what game we try and play and how the games are reff'd as to whether we are blown away or are at least competetive.

At least we have had a season where the players are not just scooting at almost every play the ball, so we have a little more experience in playing 'proper' rugby.
That said - it does show our limitations at 9 now - Roby is nowhere near the superstar he was initially hyped as - and is still living off the reputation of saint's broken field, scooting style of play. He doesn't have a proper no 9's distribution skills IMO. Much rather have seen Disco in at 9 with Moore as replacement.

Pryce has also been seen as not a international no 6 which has to be a good thing - I do think he would still make a very good full back though.....

Eastmond is also a scrum half, in that that is his first choice position. However, he isn't an organising scrum half - as yet, anyway - but a cocky creative one. He has also given excellent service to us as a fullback and centre, which makes him quite a talent but one we don't really know what to do with just yet!

I am glad Tomkins has been chosen because although I don't like his on field persona I do think he is really talented.

I'm also glad that all but Graham, Roby and Wilkin have been dropped from the Saints contingent. Had there been other experienced options available I would have been happy to see Roby and Wilkin dropped too but I think Smith needs to balance out the inexperience of Eastmond/Tomkins/Myler with players who do know what it is like to play against the Aussies and of the Saints contingent, the ones Smith has chosen were the ones who consistently worked hard in the World Cup even if they were ultimately ineffective (as were the whole England team).

Well if Sinfield is picked over Lockers or Eastmond is picked over Tomkins there can only be one reason and that's down to place kicking alone. Lockers can do everything plus more than Sinfield except kick for goals and the same can defiantly be said about Tomkins vs Eastmond as well.

I'll stick with my opinion that international RL is a joke and this current England team selection proves it imo. Players like Bridge & Sykes being selected as the one of the top 24 players in this country can only be described as farcical. Players like Burrow missing out for players like Myler who couldn’t even get in his Salford team is a joke as well.

I can’t see why I’m not a proper RL fan as you say because I don’t want to support a pitiful international calendar of fixtures which serves zero purpose what so ever?

Your opinion, not a fact.

Who said you weren't? Don't take it so seriously, it's just a forum.
If you think international rugby league is a joke why are you still posting about the England squad for the Four Nations?
If you're not interested in the game at international level have a great off season and a cracking Christmas. See you in February

In regards to Lockers I agree it’s just an opinion but Tomkins vs Eastmond is a no contest and Tomkins award proves this.



Sorry but you said the real joke are the supposed fans of RL.

The problem I have with international RL as it stands is that coaches like Smith have simply turned it into a way of improving his own clubs players imo and it’s plain wrong.

The rest of RL suffers because of the usual white wash at this time of year. I’d much prefer the season to have ended with that great game at OT last Saturday.

While I agree with you here, awards don't always prove who the better player is.

True

Having an ankle operation unfortunately



And what's with all this "terrible centres" crap? Shenton is above average, it's the other centre I'm concerned about, so half the centres could be crap

Sinfield should be Stand Off because he's the sort of player who can guide the team around the pitch then let whoevers at Scrum Half do all the fancy stuff.

I think international RL is great and I look forward to Autumn and seeing the best players from here taking on the Aussies and Kiwis, i know we lose most of them but its still 'must-see' viewing for me. I'd be gutted if we give up on international RL all together.

Embarrassing

Agreed. I'm looking forward to the 4 Nations even though I know England will get whooped. It's good to see some good Rugby for once.

.
Sykes is only small and wqas poor in the World Cup.

IMO I'd love to see

Shaun Briscoe (Hull Kingston Rovers)
Ryan Hall (Leeds)
Michael Shenton (Castleford)
Kyle Eastmond (St Helens)
Lee Smith (Leeds)
Sam Tomkins (Wigan)
Richard Myler (Salford)
Jamie Peacock (Leeds, captain)
Scott Moore (Huddersfield)
Adrian Morley (Warrington)
Sam Burgess (Bradford)
Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers)
Kevin Sinfield (Leeds)

Garreth Carvell (Warrington)
James Graham (St Helens)
Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan)
James Roby (St Helens)

Young, fresh and pacey back-line with a experienced and brutal pack and forward line!

What made you change your mind?

I've decided I no longer like McGuire... Tomkins is the way forward

I think that is probably our strongest team.

Sadly, it is nowhere near the level of the Australian/NZ team. We will tonk France and then have the usual "We will win the competition" or "We should seriously challenge Australia" before being tonked by Australia and then NZ.

It's quite sad that some of those players (in the full 24squad) are the best we can come up with to play for England.

Reading reports on NZ and Aussie and it looks like the Kiwis have alot of players missing or who have been "stood down" but your probably right whoever they field will just run over the top of us as usual All Blacks sides do.

As for the Aussie I know Folau is missing but has been replaced with Jennings from what I've seen is well pretty darn good, his 110 metre try Vs Sydney City Roosters comes to mind

Have not put my team up as thought it was pointless till Smith named his squad.
I'd go with

1. Shaun Briscoe
2. Lee Smith
3. Chris Bridge
4. Michael Shenton
5. Peter Fox
6. Kyle Eastmond
7. Danny McGuire
8. Adrian Morley
9. James Roby
10. Sam Burgess
11. Jamie Peacock
12. Gareth Ellis
13. Kevin Sinfield

14. James Graham
15. Eorl Crabtree
16. Sean O’Loughlin
17. Scott Moore

Awful choice from Tony Smith with some players.

Pryce should be in to play centre!

Tomkins must play IMO.

No LMS



Bridge