Quote ="DILLIGAF"Except it wouldn't be Hodgson over Widdop. It would be Hodgson over Tomkins I would think? Sam Tomkins has been playing fullback for Wigan and Widdop has been playing 6 for Melbourne. Granted, McNamara is probably stupid enough to play them the other way around, but common sense would have Sam Tomkins as fullback for England.'"
That's what I was getting at, McBanana has swpped Tomkins/Widdop around a lot! Granted I would give Tomkins the place over Hodgson, but he the former MOS is no player to be sniffed at.
Quote ="DILLIGAF"While Fitzgibbon is no doubt a great player (and I picked him in my Exiles side), the one position England are blessed with plenty of quality is the back row, so I'd have no problem with him not being picked if he was eligible.
As well as that, in both cases you need to look at the age too. Hodgson & Fitzgibbon are coming to the back end of their careers now, whereas the likes of Tomkins, Widdop and other backrow options are younger and are likely to be in the team for longer, so better options long term.'"
True about their ages, probably one thing which goes in the England players' favour, but by no stretch would Fitz ''struggle'' to get into England. However, Burgess and Ellis are ripping it up over there and I would choose Sinfield over O'Loughlin for 13 anyway!
