Do Great Britain/England seem to love to have no goal kicker. A good goal kicker can be worth in a tight game a good six points if you keep scoring out wide. It was awful in the Tri Nations to see McGuire having to kick. In the new squad there is not a recognised, first choice goal kicker. Who will be doing it? I just can't believe that a competent goal kicker is not first on the team sheet.

strange choice isn't it not to have one - maybe Smith thinks we'll score enough tries without need ing to kick goals - let Eorl Crabtree do it

i watched james roby's debut against salford and he kicked 6 goals that night,

sam burgess is a pretty good kicker

Myler can kick can't he??

Sam Tomkins can kick goals

he won't be playing

Not really going to be crucal against France though is it?!

I hope not

With Goulding as France coach I reckon UFC skills will be more important.

I wouldn't worry we don't have a 'recognised first teamer who can kick goals'.

I'd be more worried if a 'recognised first teamer who can kick goals' cant push their way into the England team, come the four nations.

That wasn't Roby, that was Carl Forber.

i stand corrected then sir

how do you know unless you are tony smith

Never kicked goals before for us, but he did say at the last forever reds meeting that hes been practising goal kicking in training.

Sam tomkins used to kick well playing in the reserves.

McGuire must surely be a rarity having kicked an International goal before kicking one in 1st grade club rugby.

It's a strange situation to be in isn't it.

We haven't really got many if any players good enough for the England 17 that kicks goals for his club.

Just about the best option i can think of would be Danny Tickle replacing Westwood/Clubb.

Of course we have, Smithy just hasn't picked any of them, choosing instead to select a team made up of those who should be breaking through and making the step up to rep rugby.

If we need to pick a kicker just because he's a kicker then we really are in trouble.



See above

Like Mozza?

Question is did an injury to LMS create a space for him?

cos Mozza has been pants this season

Much as I will be cheering on the French, I don't see it being a tight match and England might as well not waste their time practicing goal kicks. They should look to develop other areas of their game and worry about a top notch kicker once they have tested out the other positions.

No doubt I'll get shot down in flames for this, but when it comes to goalkicking and kicking to touch Paul Cooke's as good as anyone. He's been decent this year for us, he's creative and has a good kicking game, can play 6 or 13 and his defence has improved tenfold. I'm biassed obviously, but I'd have given him a go in this one.

Burgess can kick really well. He kicked against Leeds when Deacon was out last year.