Not a chance in hell.

vodka.

the 1/5 for Australia doesnt interest me but it will the big players, the way they look at it is that they will make more money on their 10k in 80mins than they will with the bank interest rates ...

Just watched a Rugby AM interview with George Burgess who was saying that Sam Burgess can't wait to captain the team on Saturday. It sounded as though Lockers has been all but ruled out. They also spoke about Sam Burgess playing loose forward.

If Lockers is out then I'd want Graham playing 13 as a ball player with Walmsley or Tom Burgess going in to a starting shirt. I'd then bring Scott Taylor on to the bench along with George Williams.

Proper gamblers wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole as there is zero value in the bet. Only people backing Australia are your typical “mug” punters and the bookies will be rubbing their hands with glee when people bet on Australia

Regards

King James

Suggests to me O'L will be playing.

England will win 6-10 points put your mortgage on it

Wow, what a horrendous shout that is. Glad you are not the coach.

When they've been naming the 17 they've announced 4 reserves and last week it was in order

Lomax
Heighington
Percival
Taylor

So can see Lomax being on the bench taking Hodgsons spot and Heighington if O'Loughlin misses out.

Rather then just making noise give some reasons why then.

Graham and O'Loughlin both play in and around the middle, both take it right to the line and both can play with the ball. It seems logical to me but enlighten me with your wisdom.

There's a chance but we're looking at something along the lines of Sheffield beating Wigan in the cup in '98. Although there's a much greater chance it's more like the Leeds vs HKR Cup Final in 2015.

It's a slim chance but at least we're still in it unlike the last few tournaments. If NZ get their act together by the time of the next WC we might have another 2 decade wait for a final appearance.

Bennett doesn't use a ball-handling 13. He wants his full back for that role - for Widdopp see Darius Boyd. Most commentators here have been underwhelmed with O'Loughlin, which to be fair to him is partly down to the fact that Bennett doesn't see him as having any kind of playmaking role. Given the role he has been playing, his loss won't be as massive as it could be.

Sadly I'm with bullseye - we need Australia to be complacent and some major luck on our side in terms of injury and ref's decisions to stand a chance, because basically Australia are 20+ better than us. The only way I can see that changing is if we come up with some attacking plays we haven't used before so far, which given the way Bennett coaches is unlikely.

Because James Graham has started 5 games at lock / loose forward since his St Helens debut in 2003. Logical you say?


Chris Heighington is in the 17. A scapegoat in waiting, and he wouldn't be my choice, but he hasn't let anyone down so far I guess. Roby to play 80 mins then.

Full team
Widdop
McGillvary
Watkins
Bateman
Hall
Brown
Gale
Hill
Roby
Graham
S Burgess
Whitehead
O'Loughlin

Walmsley
T Burgess
Currie
Heighington

Lomax
Taylor
Williams
Percival

You didn't want Widdop at fullback a couple of weeks back, calling people crazy for daring to suggest it.

There isn't a great deal of difference between how Graham plays the prop role and how Lockers plays at loose forward.

For a coach who doesn't want a ball playing loose forward, he's letting Lockers give a fair impression of one. He's organised the side and most of our best work in attack has started with a slick pass in the middle from O'Loughlin to one of the halves.

The commentary must be a fair bit different in Oz also. He's been praised to the hilt over here (by Aussies as well) and a lot of people are starting to notice what we see at Wigan, when Lockers isn't on the field we lose shape and simply aren't as good.

He'd be a huge loss for Saturday if he doesn't pull through. Think back to last years game at Olympic Park against the Aussies if you need a reminder of how unorganised we may look on Saturday if he doesn't make it.

Heighington is about the only one who knows how to consistently beat Melbourne

I feel sorry for Hodgson missing out through injury, but Roby has been great when he's played so I'm not worried from a playing perspective. Likewise I really hope that O'Loughlin is fit, partly because he's been playing well but also because it's realistically his last chance to play in a WC final. It would be a shame if he were to miss out.

People keep going on about there being 4 forwards on the bench but we have played the last few games like that so far.

Heighington recalled?! I can't spake!!!

He certainly wouldn`t be in my 17 that`s for sure.
Not sure what he offers tbh.
But he is pulling on the England jersey and I will support the 17 on the field.

How great is it that the teams are released 4 days before the game btw? None of this 1 hour before kick off bollox we have in SL. Gets people talking about the teams and how they might play with more transparency for fans.

I don't agree with it. We have English options instead of an over the hill Aussie. Only my opinion and I don't expect everyone to agree

heighington has that wealth of experience at the top level in the NRL, plus he will be one of our freshest players, something we are lacking right now

Looking at the team sheets England should win this easily.

None of the Australian team are in super league. Instead they are in a foreign league that's so good sky dropped it. It's on a mad channel Boone has heard of along with Irish hurling and portuguese division two football.

They are reliant on players that can't get in other teams like Tyson frizell who isn't playing for wales even and they are crap.

They've lost their best player in Hayne to Fiji and they can't even keep hold of players of the same calibre as that Fifita to tonga. He can't even keep hold of the ball.

Not 'our' player in my eyes. Born and bred Aussie who has only ever been to England when he's been playing rugby. Not English to me. Before anyone quotes 'heritage' and 'this country/sport does it, that country/sport does it', I couldn't care less. We have English lads who must be shaking their heads wondering what they have to do. Plenty of options available using players already there and in the travelling squad. Bateman to back row (where he belongs) and Percival in the Centre (where he belongs). Scott Taylor/Mike McMeeken sat doing nothing. But, no, Bennet brings in a washed up Aussie. I know some of you might say I'm stupid for thinking like it, but thats my feelings and thoughts and I'm as entitled to them as anyone thinking the other way is entitled to think how they do. It's took a little of the shine off a World Cup Final appearance for me, but I shall still be up and watching it live and shouting England on whether I agree with the selections or not.

Personally never been a fan of a 4 forwards bench especially if you've got some forwards that are likely to do big minutes as the likes of Graham and S.Burgess most likely will. Would always prefer a hooker/hb. Roby can do 80 mins but if he picks up an injury just like Hodgson or one of the HB's then looks pretty awkward that bench. Could shift O'Loughlin but his fitness is questionable, even if he starts how long will we get out of him?