I'm not sure but Rob seems a bit hesitant this year.

Maybe the knocks to the head have taken their toll a bit

or possibly just a bad patch/dip in form

Whilst I don't think Monie was a good appointment I can't see Bobbie Goulding moving things on. This is the guy who famously said that Catalans were an embarrassment to SL as they didn't have enough English players.

I'd largely agree with your second paragraph but I don't think TS's England selection will look too much like the side he'll use in the 4 nations.

anyoine concerned about burrows mental health in later life if he continues to take all these bad knocks to the head?

Hopefully not but isn't he out of the team with a leg injury?

replying to Leeds Rhydon: from what I saw from last year's World Cup we might gain more from playing one of the Polynesian teams in a mid- season international. I thought Samoa and Tonga looked very strong with highly skilled players who had a real pride in playing for their national side.
Agree also with the other idea that staging a game that includes a team made up of foreign players signed to SL clubs would be a useful test for England.

My understanding was the team selection is geared more towards the future with a few regulars mixed in. By getting the next nucleus of the team together we hit the ground running when it's time. 1 or 2 may even impress that much that keep a shirt.

Won't be a great game of rugby but the players need that time together ,and we should benefit from it.