What is the state of play with Rob Burrow? I know he was injured against Cas but have no idea how serious it is. I assumed that his absence from the England squad was down to the fact that he was still crocked but I've read elsewhere that he is being considered for the game against Catalans? If it's not injury that's ruling him out of the international game where are all the protests from Rhinos fans? Surely he's still England's best scrum half.

burrows season to date has be plagued by injury and poor form

I think that Tony Smith is trying to spread the squad out across more of the SL clubs rather than just having the Leeds and Saints players predominantly taking most of the squad places up, imo it is the ideal chance to give exciting players like Myler,Shenton and Atkins etc a go

I wouldn't read too much into the squad that takes part against France though, as imo Tony Smith will revert to his best squad come the end of season

TBH I think we could send a team assembled of Hunslet players and still beat the cheese eating surrender monkeys!!! Ickle Rob's absence wont make much difference IMO.

Not according to [url=http://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/7372.phpthis[/urlhe isn't.

Leeds have probably played their most fluent stuff this season with Sinfield and McGuire at half back.

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

I think the England 'international' is a waste of time and effort TBH.

You mean just like the Aussies do when they have to play us?

It is not the first team. It is the middle of the season. It is a friendly.
What is the point?

gets the guys together to allow bonding, allows coach to take a look at players in training as well as going through plays an team philosophies.

Its a much thing for the national set up if we're to catch up with the world champs NZ.

Much like taking the full-strength England side over to France last year was vital for the World Cup campaign?

I won't put too much weight on any of it. France are currently a lot further behind England than anyone would have really expected, and I fear that their inclusion in the Four Nations is a bit premature.

From what I can make out playing for a Catalan side evokes more pride as playing for the national side. I think that's a problem for them.

The bigger issue they have is some very strange team selections by John Monie. Logically, you'd expect them to field sides almost totally based on Dragons players but Monie has regularly selected semi-professional players from the French Elite League - sometimes Catalans rejects - over French players playing week in week out in Superleague.

Not sure Monie was ever the right man for the job anyway but I do wonder if the team selections are more political than designed to put the best 17 players out.

What's the point of bonding a team that's unlikely to play together when it matters?

Maybe having Toulouse in the Championship will widen the pool a little more, but the fact of the matter is that Smith has over 10 professional sides to choose his side from, whereas Goulding realistically has 1 that can match that level. In time I am sure that the French national side will become more competetive, but for now that seems a little distant.

The question I'd ask is are England better off aiding the French by giving them a good smacking mid-season, or should they play a Rest of the World team made up of Super League players with an England A side going out to France.

I must have missed England finishing close to last in the World Cup.

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.