As we appraoch the upcoming 4 nations i thought we should have a thread for the international series.
So who would your 1st 17 be?
I d go with
Tompkins
Hall
Yeaman
Reed
T.Briscoe
Widdop
Mcguire
Peacock
Roby
Morley
Ellis
Westwood
Sinfield

Bailey
Graham
Heighington
Jjb.

I'm sure there are others who completely disagree but that'd be my 17 for the 1st match.

Not too much wrong with that team, would probably swap heighton with Westwood and think ablett could be a good shout for bench spot, can cover a few positions.

I know yeaman has had a good year but doesn't really excite me, however struggling to remember which other centres are in the squad!

vs. Australia and NZ. Not too important who we play vs. Wales:

Tomkins

Hall
Reed
Widdop
Briscoe

Sinfield
Chase

Graham
Roby
Peacock
Ellis
Westwood
Heighington

Morley
Carvell
JJB
Ablett

Sinfield as organiser and first receiver, Chase and Tomkins as wider playmakers/support runners. Morley and Peacock to spell each other, not on pitch at same time. Graham on for as long as possible with Carvell spelling him, and five go-forward players in the back-row with Ablett also covering 3/4 injuries.

I have not seen any of the NRL players play so its hard to make jusgement except Gaz E of course.

1.Tomkins
2.Hall
3.Yeaman
4.Cudjoe
5.T Briscoe
6.Widdop
7.McGuire
8.Morley
9.Roby
10.Peacock
11.Ellis
12.JJB
13.Sinfield

14.Carvell
15.Westwood
16.Ablett
17.Graham

May I ask rhinoms and man of steel 07 why havent you put Rangi Chase into your teams.

Because he shouldn't be in the squad in the first place? Either should heighton either for me.

Or maybe just there opinion?

But seeing as he is in the squad, should be there or there abouts

1. Tomkins
2. Hall
3. Reed
4. Yeaman
5. Briscoe
6. Widdop
7. Chase
8. Morley
9. Roby
10. Peacock
11. Ellis
12. Heighington
13. Sinfield

14. Graham
15. Westwood
16. Carvell
17. Jones-Buchanan

No Reed or Heighington either and only picked Widdop on the basis he played in the last series.

Will Rangi be tempted to do the Haka when we play New zealand?

People really think Sinfield will be picked to start?

Don't see why not, good organiser good kicker and can clearly motivate and lead a team

I would not question the selection in the slightest, but I wouldn't be amazed if he wasn't in the 17 tbh.

Agreed, for some reason he always seems to get overlooked

If Burrow or Robinson were in the squad I would have gone with

6. Sinfield
7. Widdop

9. Roby

14. Burrow/Robinson

And done like Leeds have this season with Burrow/Robinson coming off the bench at hooker for 15 mins then slotting in at scrum half for the rest of the half with Widdop to 6 and Sinfield to 13.
Also if O'Loughlin were in the squad and fully fit I would have had him at 13 at the expense of Sinfield and not had a hooker/halfback on the bench and left Sinfield out altogether. As the squad stands I think that's the best 17 available in the squad.

For the record my team would be.

Tomkins: Our supposed saviour and great attacking threat, which he can be linking in, I hardly ever seen him return a kick though.

Hall:Far and away englands best winger size speed good finisher but most importantly a great kick returner which is important if Tomkins gives it him as much as he gives richards at wigan.

Yeaman: Been the best centre in SL this year, good all rounder in a position in which we lack depth. fear he will only be average on the international stage.

Cudjoe:A differnt type of centre more athletic with a bit more sleight of hand and decent kicking game as well as covering several positions. Needs to step up for regular selection. The best of slim pickings at his position.

Briscoe: same reasons as Hall except Briscoe can be a bit more explosive and pass better. Contemplated putting him at centre


Chase/Mcguire. I am wholeheartedly against Chase being picked, he is a great player and Mac will give him the nod, but he's not English.

Widdop: in all honesty dont know much about him if I had to hazard a gues I'd say he was just a natural rugby player who can slot anywhere in the back will help having a ball playing loose, sinifield

Mcguire is probably further down the pecking order only in because of injury, we all know how good he can be getting back to form support play second to none. You'd also get the familiar combination of Leeds Halfbacks, even if sinifield is at loose.

Morley: The enforcer, still scares the aussies from his time over there. Compliments peacock well

Roby:Great Hooker who has thrived since stepping out of cunninghams shadow. But I did prefer him as an impact player in stints and would be better if we had another top class hooker to back up.

Peacock: Will still put his all in and still has the quality and quantity, sad to think his time of taking it to the aussies is coming to an end.

Ellis:One of th best back rowers in the world the man is great on defence and basically a more agile peacock when it comes to carting the ball up and his general work rate

JJB: Tireless worker, something differnt because of agility will have to cut the penalties though.

Sinifield: Organiser, kicking game, leader. Lack of dynamism cancelled out by widdop and Mcguire, there to pull the strings.

Graham: there as a like for like replacment for JP so the intensity/workrate dosent drop. Give them a taste of things to come in Canterbury from the FGB

Ablett: I feel Mac wont trust his selection and will feel better if he has a solid cover his own a*** if thing go wrong, will be Carl or the whinging Wilkin. I think he derserves a chance, at least against france and wales.

Bailey. Had a great season, can do a bit of everything, has to play and do what he is known for, widing people up. Spells Morley.

???Depends on whether I want another forward or another hooker would have to see how roby goes first, if its a hooker it will have to be Mcilorum I suppose. Forward probably Carvell.

Metions Reed: Class him as english, but know nothing about hiim
Westwood. 50/50 between him and JJB who one on the fact when I last saw westood he wasnt fully fit/was coming back from injury. Probably will be alright if chosen
Chase not english
Heington: not english

In an ideal world Burrow would be on the bench

Agree 100%.

Is Peacock captain or FGB? If Sinfield is playing he has to be captain. The other 2 can barely hold a conversation never mind speak to a referee under pressure.

I think peacock has been named as capt

I haven't picked him because he hasn't shown any good form since June imo both Widdop and Mcguire had decent play -off performances plus i'd trust their "big game tempraments" more than Chases.

typo corrected

.

Dont see why Sinfield wouldn't be at 13. It was always going to be between him & O'Loughlin in my opinion. Regardless of which, his current form warrants selection. Also gives us a solid place kicker.

Tomkins
Cudjoe
Reed
Ablett
Hall

Chase
McGuire

Graham
Roby
Peacock
Westwood
Ellis
Sinfield

Widdop
Heighington
Bailey
Morley

1.tomkins
2.hall
3.reed
4.yeamen
5.briscoe
6.widdop
7.chase
8.graham
9.roby
10.peacock
11.ellis
12.highington
13.sinfield
subs
14.morley
15.carvell
16.westwood
17.ablett

tomkins
hall
reed
yeaman
briscoe
chase
mcguire
peacock
roby
morley
westwood
ellis
sinfield (goal kicker)

graham
carvell
heighington
mcollorum

tomkins
briscoe
reed
ablett
hall
widdop
chase
morley
roby
peacock
ellis
heightington
sinfield

westwood
carvell
graham
bailey