England Side

1. Briscoe
2. Briscoe
3. Smith
4. Shenton
5. Hall
6. McGuire
7. Tomkins
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Morley
11. Peacock
12. Ellis
13. Sinfield

14. Burgess
15. Crabtree
16. Westwood
17. Eastmond

i know that smith is a good player,but expecting him to play in 2 positions at the same time?

Glad Tomkins is back in!!

That should read Hall. There are only two changes Tomkins for Myler and Crabtree for Moore. Looks like we are going for a bit more beef in the pack instead of two hookers. Peacock is moving to second row to give Graham a start with Burgess dropping to the bench.

Why Graham didn't start last week is a mystery, the answer to which, only Tony Smith has the key.

Maybe because Morley hadn't played for a month, so Smith thought it best to give him a start, and to give the overworked Graham a break and start him from the bench.

Ahh! if only we could unlock his mind.

I'm guessing that Kyle will be used as the second hooker to give Roby a break. Hopefully he will get more game time, and when Roby returns, he could move into the backs, with any luck.

No thanks!

It's a big pack and there is plenty of pace out wide. I hope Sinfield can step up and direct play like he does at Leeds, otherwise creatively we are screwed.

Sinfield isn't international class IMO, but with O'Loughlin injured, we don't really have any other options. Also, i don't see what everyone see's in Briscoe on the wing? He looks to have some potential, although i haven't seen much of him, what i have seen hes never really stood out to me, would have liked to see Fox given the chance, i rate him quite highly. Also, i can't see Crabtree causing many problems, don't really rate him myself, Carvell should have been ahead of him. Westwood is another i don't think is good enough.

I'd like to have seen:

Briscoe
Fox
Eastmond (No doubting Smith has ability, but we're building for the future, right?)
Shenton
Hall
Tomkins
McGuire
Graham
Moore
Peacock
Ellis
Burgess
Sinfield

Roby
Carvell
Morley
Wilkin

I do think Smith can cause a few problems, but i don't think he should be playing now he is off to Union, otherwise with him playing, i would move Eastmond to either full back and drop Briscoe, or move him to the bench in place of Wilkin, few options available.

Either way, its not to be and the team is what Smith has chosen, lets just hope they do us proud and show some heart and passion, its about time they did. Theres no questions the pack is good enough, but as we all know there isn't much in the backs IMO. We need someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck, like Longy did in 2006.

i have a feeling that this is going to be a bit embarrassing.

I know some will mention his inexperience there but i'd have Eastmond in the centres,Shenton looked like a rabbit in headlights last week.And Eastmond was arguably the best centre on display in our last 2 games.Seeing as Wilkin has turned into a more defencive player this year i'd have him in before Westwood,much more in attack and less likely to give needless pens away.

Whoever plays centre had better have some heart - the Aussie centres are not exactly small, or slow, or unskillful they will need to be tackled every time they have the call - look what happened against the Kiwis when they got loose

Speaking as a Hull fan who sees him every week he has been (other than reaching Wembley) probably the only success story of our last two seasons. He came from nowhere to make his debut at 17 against Warrington and has been a revelation since. He's imo, stronger and as quick if not quicker than Fox and generally looks alot more assured in attack and defence. If you havn't seen alot of him then I don't blame you for not rating him particularly highly but take it from me he is a very good player already, and when you consider he only turned 19 in March he has to potential to be great. He's just a natural try scorer and only needs half a chance and he's away, whether it's a full lengther against Rovers or picking it up off the back of his legs and squeezing in at the corner against Bradford.

What gives you that idea, is it the fecking shyt England team that has been announced ? Just focus on teh cider mate and think about that haloween party on the evening, it will be a great day.

That reminds me, I must get my cottoms hotpots ordered ready to pick up saturday morning.

that team is quite depressing, i smell a record defeat, and i have to work saturday afternoon

Thats fair enough, like i say, i haven't seen a lot of him. I do rate Fox highly though and would like to have seen him come to Saints before he signed a new deal with Hull KR. If hes as fast (or faster) than Fox then he must be lightening quick, as Fox is very fast, hes up there with the fastest in the league, if he isn't the fastest.

Crabtree?

















I bet the Aussies are packing it...

It's easy to criticise but I think we need to at least give them a chance before we laugh. The Aussie team selection and their paranoia in the press this week about our team selection against NZ does hint at them being a little worried.

They'll no doubt comfortably beat us, but then again they always did with the previous teams, which were all full of the established stars.

fox finished behind tom's 17 year old younger brother jack in the fastest man is super league race at headingley earlier this year.

Did he finish 2nd?

Hes still one of the fastest in Super League, and i doubt anyone could turn and catch him from behind, once he is clear.

I could do him from behind

9th out of 10, and was quite a way off the front runners. Video [url=http://www.sporthull.co.uk/multimedia/video.htmlhere[/url

fwiw I reckon him and Briscoe are very similar for speed, but Briscoe seems more evasive. I don't know if you seen [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UlYWCB-Flgthis[/url try before but it shows how hard he is to tackle.

I haven't seen much of young Briscoe to assess him but what I did like about him last weekend was the way in which he timed himself for Eastmond's grubber kick. That shows an awareness of the game as a whole as well as his own positioning and for a player who has not yet reached 20, that's a very good sign. Personally, I'm happy to give him a go. There is no way we are going to win the match on Saturday so IMO if we have young talent raring to get on the pitch then all power to them. If they aren't on the winning side this year then the experience will surely prepare them better for next year and, ultimately, the world cup.