So using that rational why pick a young player who hasn't played since July because he has great potential for the future?

I wouldn't, Myler shouldn't be in the squad IMO, Burrow however...

He last played in Round 23 of 27 presumably due to a decision by his then club coach.

He was excellent for England V France mid season.

He's got potential but he's also a fair player already and yes I also wouldn't have by-passed Burrow so soon, who finished the season well after an indifferent start.

England Team to face Wales:

Paul Sykes,
Peter Fox,
Sean O’Loughlin,
Michael Shenton,
Tom Briscoe,
Sam Tomkins,
Richard Myler,

Adrian Morley,
Scott Moore,
Garreth Carvell,
Gareth Ellis,
Ben Westwood,
Sam Burgess.

Subs:
Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook,
Mickey Higham,
Chris Bridge,
Danny Tickle.

No surprises there with O'Loughlin at right centre.

We should play an u20 team against wales,this is a meaningless mis-match imo.
If we are selecting an experimental england team surely we'd have a better challenge against ireland.

TBF a few havent played for around a month so its to give them game time too.

That's why i suggested ireland mate they'd be a much stronger test than the welsh imo.

Am I the only one who finds O'Loughlin at centre a bit baffling? Has he played there much before? More importantly, is he ever likely to play there in a proper international match? Much of my confusion stems from being pretty sure I've seen Chris Bridge play there on some of the occasions I've watched Warrington. In fact I'd assumed that was the position he was in the squad to play.

Puzzled. Am I missing something?

Nope, you're right to be puzzled.

I'd agree with that. I also think Rob is unlucky to lose what was his number 7 short. Ignoring the dead rubbers mid season against FGrance Robs' international career started wit ha man of the series award in the series win over NZ in 07. His world cup wasn't great but then again it wasn't Paul Sykes-esque either.

...and then, that's it. Discarded. Done.

Meh. Pleasing that he, Senior and JJB will get a decent off season.

Be interesting to see what Johns does for Mylers game I think. I know it's only a fortnight but still.

Myler will be Ecstatic with Johns influence.

E's really gonna help bring him along.

Oh you're gurner bring that up now are you?

Yeah, there ar4e some puzzelling selections thats for sure. He may have been invisible again on Saturday, but the none-selection of Pryce was also very strange, given his experience and ability to cover 1-6, and to a better standard than Sykes

To be fair Pryce has been pretty poor every time I've seen him this year. Most Saints fans I've spoken to (not many it must be admitted) didn't expect him to be in the squad and felt that his omission might be a much needed kick up the backside for him.

I'm not sure I'd pick Paul Sykes either, but I am certain that he's a much better player than the World Cup suggested.

I thought Sykes should get a selection for the World Cup. Jesus was I wrong. His game has not shown anything this year as far as I am aware.
There is always the overwhelming temptaion for international coaches (well GB/England ones) to include a "utility back". They have all been truly c**p. It meant the likes of Steve Donlan got in a GB squad at the expense of better qualified players in established positions.
Sykes is ordinary in every position. Ordinary is not good enough.
Smith has proved he is a quality full back, an okay winger and an okay centre. He would be my 1st choice at 1.

The sad thing is, which "specialists" are being kept out of the squad by picking a utility like Sykes?

I can't think of anyone who has particularly put their hand up and demanded to be selected with their form in the second half of the season.

Well when you put it that way.....

There may, in fact, be an argument that there's no point picking somebody average in one position when you could have somebody who is average in 3 or 4........

Actually though, if you want a full back, then Wellens is a better FB than Sykes, if you want a centre then Yeaman is better as is Atkins (and apparantly Sean O'Loughlin is as well). If you want a better winger than Sykes then my Mum is available.

This is why it was a surprise to see Pryce left out. He may have been poor at times this year, but he is different class to Sykes, who has never played at a consistently high level

The logic of that had me defeated also. especially as Pryce has played in all the positions where you might expect to see Sykes and also is the current Saints 6.

Exactly.

The team that is picked for tonight is awful. It is an absolute embarrasment and an indicment of the game at the moment.

OK, so there are no Leeds or Saints players (exc. Scott Moore), but we are playing a loose forward at centre. A loose forward who has no pace at all. It is terrible IMO.

Sykes was garbage in the WC - like Wellens - but when has he ever come close to showing anything like Wellens has in the domestic game? If TS wants change, fine it is needed, but Sykes?? Come on. It is the inclusion that has depressed just about every serious RL fan around.

The team will change for the nitty-gritty against Aus, but the problems are still there - we are set to try two youngsters at HB who have had one good season each, and have possibly the worst backline in GB history.

Fortunately at Saints we can pin hopes on the likes of Wheller, Gaskell, Lomax and Eastomd doing something in the future, but that takes time and the attrition rate for promising players to international class players is very high.

The gamer needs to really change but the RFL are masters at self serving and self interest.

Pryce hasn't been left out.

He will play next week if someone finds him. This is the time of year he goes missing, and generally doesn't turn up again until St Helens are scheduled to play Wakefield or Salford next season.

Sykes doesn't go missing much.....he's just shiit and everyone can see that.......except Tony Smith