The principal of picking the players that give you the best chance to win?

Follow that principle through and ask why Jamie Peacock is playing ahead of Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook.

I am a great believer in International Rugby League. I think International Rugby League would flourish if we could win this series. I think to do that you pick the best team available to you. Smith is available.

Your example of Farrell and Robinson is moot because I don't think a scenario like this ever occurred.

I wasn't a fan of Noble as GB coach but one sentiment he expressed that I do agree with is that international jerseys should be earned and not handed out just because of what you might think some you kid could, potentially do in the future.

The main reason we struggled so much in the World Cup (and there were a lot of reasons, many of Tony Smith's making) was that we didn't take enough Props over there in the first place. I'd hoped with this squad including Crabtree and Carvell, Smith had seen his error and would *put two bloody props on the bench and spell the forwards more effectively so that Peacock and Morley aren't shot by the time we play NZ*. But no, Tony Smith doesn't make mistakes. Tony Smith is right all along. We'll see.

I wouldn't be surprised with a PNG 2008-style game vs. France.

Not sure if this has already been mentioned but this is a real chance for Sinfield to stamp his authority on the international scene and stake a claim for future captaincy.

Spot on.
Once Fassavalou (sp) got injured we wwre shot.

Oh and Smith also only took one specialised fullback, who had a nightmare series.

Depends how Smith uses him.

If he uses him in the same pivot role he plays at Leeds he'll do just fine.

If he does what he's done with him since he took the England job (and Noble/Waite before him did) and ask him to play as a running loose forward then he'll struggle and the usual "not good enough at that level" voices will be out in force.

Still, at least unlike both Waite and Noble he seems to have figured out that he needs to be selected at loose forward, not stand off or hooker.

Quote ="Richie"Well, here's your team www.englandrl.co.uk/article.php?id=15740 1 Shaun Briscoe (Hull KR) 2 Tom Briscoe (Hull FC) 3 Lee Smith (Leeds Rhinos) 4 Michael Shenton (Castleford Tigers) 5 Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos) 6 Danny MCGuire (Leeds Rhinos) 7 Richard Myler (Salford City Reds) 8 Jamie Peacock (Leeds Rhinos, capt ) 9 Scott Moore (Huddersfield Giants) 10 Adrian Morley (Warrington Wolves) 11 Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers) 12 Sam Burgess (Bradford Bulls) 13 Kevin Sinfield (Leeds Rhinos) Interchange 14 James Graham (St Helens) 15 James Roby (St Helens) 16 Ben Westwood (Warrington Wolves) 17 Kyle Eastmond (St Helens)'" That is a strange team. Surely Tomkins has to be ahead of Myler if we're picking on form. OK its only against France but I would have liked to see McGuire and Tomkins play together before sticking them in against the Aussies and the Kiwi's and this was the perfect game to let them get used to each other a bit. As for the bench, thats just bizarre.

Quote ="Richie"Well, here's your team www.englandrl.co.uk/article.php?id=15740 1 Shaun Briscoe (Hull KR) 2 Tom Briscoe (Hull FC) 3 Lee Smith (Leeds Rhinos) 4 Michael Shenton (Castleford Tigers) 5 Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos) 6 Danny MCGuire (Leeds Rhinos) 7 Richard Myler (Salford City Reds) 8 Jamie Peacock (Leeds Rhinos, capt ) 9 Scott Moore (Huddersfield Giants) 10 Adrian Morley (Warrington Wolves) 11 Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers) 12 Sam Burgess (Bradford Bulls) 13 Kevin Sinfield (Leeds Rhinos) Interchange 14 James Graham (St Helens) 15 James Roby (St Helens) 16 Ben Westwood (Warrington Wolves) 17 Kyle Eastmond (St Helens)'" That is a strange team. Surely Tomkins has to be ahead of Myler if we're picking on form. OK its only against France but I would have liked to see McGuire and Tomkins play together before sticking them in against the Aussies and the Kiwi's and this was the perfect game to let them get used to each other a bit. As for the bench, thats just bizarre.

Got to disagree there.
JP for me every time without doubt.

Biscuits are far too dry, you would get terrible dry mouth-----a yoghurt, ice cream, chocolate, that kind of thing is much better

I know we are supposed to hate saints players here, but Ade Gardner, an average at best player, is a better player than Peter Fox, who should now be beginning to peak in his career, and he still isnt really a threat

Completely agree AG it's a point that's been over-looked by many when wanting to stick the boot into sinfield at international level!

Me too but that is not the point I was making. I will illustrating that you don't simply discard players because they may not be around to play international Rugby in the distant future.

Take your word for it. I never inhaled



Couldn't disagree more. I really rate Fox but accept he had a shaky end to the season. The break he made at headingley in the playoffs that Vella fluffed by getting in the way illustrative of what he can do.

Gardner is a terrible player. Simply terrible. He's been a very lucky boy to play outside Jamie Lyon and Matt Gidley. He's there Francis Cummins and that is doing Francis a massive, massive dis-service.

IMO of course.

Good point well put,but tbf mate TS did say at the press conference that this squad was picked with a view to the "future" and on form so surely you can see why many are questioning it!
I agree Smithy ticks the "Form and available" box but as a future international player he won't be around for at least 3yrs!

Tony Smith's selections and reasoning's have not been consistent, I agree.

But I am giving MY opinions and reasoning's.

Fair enough mate,lets hope TS proves us all wrong but i honestly don't see what he's thinking with some of the selections and contradicting himself!!

Nor me.

What has Myler done to deserve a starting place above Tomkins? TS is a joker. He'll probably come out with some $hite that Myler is the only 7 in the team and that he picked McGuire over Tomkins. McGuire should of been at 7 with Tomkins at 6. I'm surprised Bridge and Carvell aren't in the team.
Wouldn't of picked Eastmond and Roby on the bench, should of been just one of them with another prop IMO.

typical tony smith. some very strange selections. i thought the world cup may have taught him a thing or two but obviously not

I think he has picked a team for the France game only and although the majority of the team will be the team to face the Aussies, I don't think he has fully made his mind up about a couple of players yet and wants to see how they stand up in the France game.

I think he has decided on his first choice 1 to 5 with the possible switch of Briscoe for Fox and they are in the team. He has also decided, quite rightly, that he will play Danny in the halfs, which jersey is still anyones guess but in some ways it will not matter. I think he is undecided between Tomkins, Myler and Eastmond for the 6/7 jersey and I would expect only one of those three to be in the side to face the Aussies... my gut is telling me it will be Tomkins unless Myler plays a blinder on Friday! I think TS wants to give Myler one more chance to put his hand-up given his lack of game-time this year in comparison to Tomkins. I think Eastmond is likely to be carrying a water bottle and kicking tee against the Aussies!

I think he will have three fowards on the bench and Roby. I don't think he has decided (other than Graham) whom those three will be and Carvell, Crabtree and Eastwood will be battling it out for the two bench places alondside Graham and Roby

I am not sure of the wisdom of not playing the side you are likley to play against the Aussies, but I think that is what he has decided to do!

Not sure he's qualified yet on residency.



Crabtree will not be available until the game V the Australians after an injury.

Here's what I posted on the Wigan site.
"Apart from the Tomkins issue, which has now been done to death I don't understand the selection of James Graham on the bench.

Graham is NOT an impact prop. He doesn't makes a lot of metres per carry. His major strengths are his fitness, tenacity, durability, stamina and his ability to take on a number of drives per set.

Morley on the other takes less drives but will make more metres per drive.

I would have had Graham and Peacock starting with Morley and Carvell on the bench.

Dropping Carvell is another strange decision, he and OLoughlin were top tacklers last week."

I agree, it's just bizarre. But then again he can't put Morley on the bench because he is his mate and he'd be embarassed at training when Morley had a grumpy face on him.

This won't be the team against the Aussies. Graham could be alright from the bench he's a fairly mobile prop and has very good hands, maybe Smith think he'll be more effective against a tiring defence than Morley?

People should chill out.

This game is against France, not Australia or NZ.

People also need to forget their obsession with who did what against a bunch of spirited virtual amateurs last weekend as a basis for international selection and form.

Graham has done a disproportionate amount of work for St helens this season all the way up to the GF. Graham will be crucial for the big games to come as he is a top notch player. Therefore it makes perfect sense to allow him to spend some time on te bench.