England 22-man squad: Ryan Atkins (Warrington Wolves), Chris Bridge (Warrington Wolves), Tom Briscoe (Hull FC), Danny Brough (Huddersfield Giants), Garreth Carvell (Warrington Wolves), Eorl Crabtree (Huddersfield Giants), Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield Giants), James Graham (St Helens), Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos), Jamie Jones-Buchanan (Leeds Rhinos), Adrian Morley (Warrington Wolves), Richard Myler (Warrington Wolves), Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan Warriors), Jamie Peacock (Leeds Rhinos), Luke Robinson (Huddersfield Giants), James Roby (St Helens), Michael Shenton (St Helens), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds Rhinos), Joel Tomkins (Wigan Warriors), Sam Tomkins (Wigan Warriors), Ben Westwood (Warrington Wolves), Jon Wilkin (St Helens)

Shows how much we need the NRL players if those are the options we have in the back row and at stand off at the moment.



Should be a good fight against the exiles though

No team picked by McBanana can be used as an idicator of which players are available.

While I agree with the squad in the majority, I thought it was going to be picked on form? JJB/Peacock, how are they playing this year? Also Bridge/Atkins haven't scored as many tries combined as either Yeaman or Welham.

Exactly my point. Every England coach makes the same "picked on form" noises.

Then bails and picks mostly the usual suspects with one or two concessions that usually don't play.

Nice to see we've got some young props in there



Is that possibly the oldest set of them England have chosen?

Quick question who is going to play Standoff? If Sam T plays fullback does that mean we will have Sinfield as standoff. Dont get me wrong I like Sinfield as a player but he is not a standoff

That's what I'm assuming. Which leaves us with O'Loughlin and Westwood at loose and second row, then the choice between Tomkins who is turning into a centre, JJB, Wilkin or a prop?

Mental.

Yeaman and Welham must be wondering what they have to do, if this squad is picked on form I don't see how at least one of them is not in the squad.

If picked on form alone peacock probably should not be in there, not played alot this year. He has come back really well especially after major injury and had a huge defencive effort on friday against wolves.

Jjb didn't start year well but he is playing some good form and over last 8 games has been trying his heart out and coming up with some big defence.

Agree not a lot more either could have done to try and earn selection

To be fair, Welham does seem to have an issue in defence (not as bad as it was) which is probably holding him back internationally, he was bumped off by a 19 year old winger multiple times on Monday for example - however nobody will dispute that he is clearly a natural born try scorer.

Yeaman and Wellham are ridiculous exclusions. Bovrick mentions his defense, but Michael Shenton is included as his defense has been shocking for Saints. Look at his grope on Gilmour when they scored 'that' try at Huddersfield. About time we called time on Kevin Sinfield as well.

As already pointed out with reference to Kevin Sinfield. He is NOT an international standard stand off, no way.

Looked strong in defence whenever he has played for England, hope your lot haven't coached that out of him

Agreed – there could be an argument that Yeaman isn’t in the elite squad so hasn’t been part of the team sessions etc but Welham is in the senior squad and having a great season. Atkins has been found out at international level so surely Welham should be given the chance

How Kevin Brown has not been included in the squad is beyond me. Him and Danny Brough have really been clicking this year.

In this fixture your probably right, however with everyone fit and the aus based players can't see him getting game come end of the year

It's now farcical to state that this squad has been selected on form as there are clearly players included and excluded who make a mockery of that.

Atkins has played OK with ball in hand but not as well as Yeaman and defensively is no where near as good.

Shenton has been anonymous but solid with Sts and in no way has he been better than Welham, you can only surmise that McNamara knows he's going to pick Shenton for the 4Ns and sees no place for Welham no matter how well he plays from here on.

JJB has done OK at Leeds but Ferguson, for example, has outperformed him, we also know from past experience that JJB isn't good enough when it comes to playing the big 2.

The Sinfield issue has been discussed to death, He's not a stand off absolutely not at international level! He's superb at Leeds no matter where you play him but other than a couple of good performances at hooker he's been a huge let down for England and Great Britain. Where's the logic in picking him for this game which is supposedly being staged to give our international hopefuls a match which steps up in intensity to prepare them for games against NZ & Australia?

Hall over McGillevray?
Myler over Lomax?
Wilkin over Mossop

It looks as though were setting ourselves up to enter the 4Ns with a squad which includes a number players who can't cut it against the very best opposition. The Exiles game will be a wasted opportunity to test the readiness of some of our younger in form players.

JJB is just a ridiculous, clueless inclusion. I was reading a thread on the Leeds board the other day and their fans were arguing that he is bearly SL standard.

Welhams a defensive liability. period.
Potential yes but he's nowhere near ready.
I disagree with Atkins before Yeaman but Bridge is twice the player of both. A couple of strange forward selections imo too

Regarding the sinfield thing mentioned above, he has had far few good games internationally as not been allowed to play the way he does best.

Probably why brown has been in the press as well hoping brough is allowed to express himself

Not the team I'd have picked but
From the squad selected:

Sam Tomkins
Tom Briscoe
Ryan Atkins
Michael Shenton
Ryan Hall
Kevin Sinfield
Danny Brough
Jamie Peacock
James Roby
James Graham
Ben Westwood
Joel Tomkins
Sean O'Loughlin

Richard Myler
JJB
Gareth Carvell
Adrian Morley

I agree on Hall, he's anonymous at international level. Give one or two of the Huddersfield backs a chance. McGilvray, Lawrence and Cudjoe all deserve a look. I know Cudjoe is in the squad, but given the higher reputations of those around him I can't see him being given a chance.

I don't rate Myler at all. He's made to look good by Lee Briers and will never be good enough at that level. Lomax is a future star and has been amazing since he moved to the halves.

Wilkin is having a good year for Saints but I don't think he's got the size or physical presence you need to be an international backrower these days. Is Ben Harrison not fit? He's the kind of player we should have in the 13 spot.

If Atkins, JJB, Sinfield and Wilkin are the best we can do we might aswell forget international RL.