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The c0ck has got Moz as starting prop and on the bench!

They should be the 2 starting half backs.

Wouldn't be surprised if Smith played Morley at stand off.



I really feel England are going to be embarrassed against the Kiwi's and Aussies

Danny McGuire & Sam Tomkins as rotating 6/7's...

tomkins 6
mcguire 7

mcguire was awesome in the world cup, he has definately matured as a player. sam cant be dropped on the back of a hat trick, and man of the match display. sinfield at 13 can be used as an organiser and mcguire and tomkins can do what him and burrow do at leeds.

Yeah, think id go Tompkins @ 6 and McGuire @ 7. McGuire needs to play in one of the positions anyway to add a bit of experience to the half backs.

I am unsure if Sinfield would have the impact off the bench that you need at international level.

For me he needs to start and play 80mins or you wont get the best out him.

*shrug*

We need to be careful about how we assess Tomkins performance given the "quality" of the opposition. Having said that, Myler didn't impress.

Tompkins impressed me when we played them at JJB this year. I reckon he'd do well at SO with McGuire at 7 as they will feed off each other and the defences will always be kept guessing. I suppose the only way to find out though is try him. At least we wont die wondering.

Given the squad I'd agree. I don't think I'd play Eastmond or Myler in the halves.

I'd agree that Tomkins will probably start at 6 with McGuire at 7 to start the comp

If TS is a man of his principles then how can he choose a squad on a form basis and include Myler?

But i would not be surprised if Sinny went to 6 to partner McGuire if things don't work out between the 2 during the competition

I'd go with what seems to be the concensus here and have McGuire and Tomkins at 6 and 7. Myler has a while to go yet. He has just joined a bigger club who should be competing for honours again next year. He should get plenty of chances in future.
I can't see any reason not to give Tomkins a go, especially as we have no Burrow, but our kicking game against Wales was truly diabolical. Now that may be because we didn't need any type of kicking game to win, or it could be because Myler and Tomkins aren't good enough in this area.
If Flanders get's the 13 shirt then without McGuire we will have no kicking game of any description. And as has been pointed out, in the tightest, most important game of the SL season, all the tries, bar one, came from kicks and the team with the best kicking game edged it.

However the question is pointless if Paul Sykes is in the 17. We've lost.

I'm a big Tomkins fan and have been banging on about him for four years.
However, I wouldn't be adverse to that combination starting with Tomkins on the bench and O'Loughlin at 13.

I don't think we should play Sinfield at 6. He's a 13. Lets have two real half backs and a real 13 who can pass, tackle, offload and kick. If we play with another biff and barge merchant at 13 it will be a mistake.
We've got planty of beef in the front row and second row, we need a bit of balance at 13.

Tomkins deserves an extended shot in the international ring. TS already knows what Danny can do on that stage so I'm not fussed if he tries somethings out.

Its not who plays out of them its who plays with danny am afraid it will be myler should be sam or rob but to pay 200k for a halfback after being in one camp and one game trust me he will play him ,the coments after the game on tomkins were enough to tell you myler will partner danny.

IMO it should be Tomkins at 6 and McGuire at 7 but i think Tony Smith will play McGuire at 6 and Myler at 7, Myler doesn't deserve to be in the squad nevermind start the first game but that how it will be. He did naff all against Wales and will do even less against the Aussies and Kiwis.
IMO he needs to pick his strongest 17 and stick with it throughout unless injuries occur, no point chopping and changing every game or your asking for trouble. If he changes the team every game like last years WC and then we get embarrased he needs to be shown the door, his squad hasn't been picked on form, too many players from his own team who have hardly performed well all season.

My concern about Tomkins are three fold;

His defence which has been really exposed in big games against a quality side - the Kiwis must be keeping their fingers crossed he starts.

His temprament which is suspect to say the least - he appears to have a really nasty streak in him especially if things aren't going well

Finally is he all that - I appreciate he is young but when he has been asked to do the business in a big game e.g. PO v Saints he was nowhere to be seen - these jinking little runs may work against a side of NL players like Wales or France but I can't see the Kiwis and the Aussies being too concerned tbh.

I would not mind Sinfield at 6 and McGuire at 7 - at least they have both proved they can perform when it really matters.

McGuire made Myler look good against the French he looked very ordinary on Saturday.

David, are you sitting down?

I couldn't agree with your assessment more.

Tomkins was "found out" a little by Saints in the GF qualifier. Often he took his trade-mark step off the left, jink to the right, at the expense of an overlap on the left. Saints had him dealt with. I'd make more an assessment of him from that game than I would Friday nights.

And your comment about Myler and McGuire in the France game is also very astute. McGuire was head and shoulders the best half on the pitch before taking his knock.

Every dog has his day



I am not Sinfield's biggest but I was very impressed with his form towards the back end of the season and his performance in GF was head and shoulders above any other player on the field.

If players are picked on form Sinfield should be the first name on the team sheet - for me him and McGuire should start at 6 and 7

no doubt about it Mcguire is the man because he's a proven big game player and always seems to pop up in the right place at the right time in big games, as for Tomkins, he is un proven in the pressure situations and needs another big season for wigan before you can consider him as a genuine threat to Mcguire.

You would of said the same about Myler needing to prove himself at Wire next season before being a genuine threat to Rob Burrow but TS has put his little bumboy straight in.
Myler and Tomkins are both good at running in broken field but against Aus/NZ you aren't gonna get the chance to do it.

There will be one or two chances.

The question is do you risk Tomkins, Eastmond or Myler and hope that they display that bit of magic, or do you go for a more solid approach.

Personally I don't think we're (England) good enough to compete using the solid arm wrestle game and may need a bit of individual brilliance if we're going to achieve anything.

thats what we are best at you tool are back is as good as anyones ,were not riskin anything we need tompkins mcguire ect to do something ,we have the solid with are pack dick head