Has Eastwood improved/lost weight since he was at Leeds? Decent player but certainly not in Westwood or Hocks league when they're on top form. I've not seen enough of the other two to comment tbh.

I'm loathed to blow too much smoke up the Kiwi's or Aussies backsides. They're both fantastic teams and we have that mental barrier to get over with the Aussies but we have some extremely talented players of our own. We're third favourites and rightfully so but we've got a good side and we'll have some huge crowds cheering us on.

Third favourites and rightfully so? Do you not think we should be joints with NZ? Our side is more than a match for NZ. We seem to do ourselves a disservice. Australia is a whole other ball-game, but there isn't much between us and the Kiwis.

england v nz final.

I'd have us as third favourites on the basis of the Kiwis record in big tournaments compared to ours. I don't think Theres a great deal between the sides on paper.

That crowd I mentioned could really make a difference though. If we get 60k plus cheering us on at Wembley we'll stand a real chance (that's assuming we'd play the kiwis).

Interesting set of forwards, let’s take a look at them

Kasiano and Pritchard were pretty average in an average Bulldogs pack this year which only looked anywhere near its 2012 form when James Graham returned to the team (its telling that Graham was voted Bulldogs player of the year for 2013 despite receiving a 12 game ban in the last game of 2012)

Sam Moa wouldn’t get anywhere near the England 17 and isn’t as good as Crabtree who didn’t make the England squad

Waerea-Hargreaves is world class and would make any world 17 (although he is always on a knife edge disciplinary wise and can be wound up)

Isaac Luke is a good 9, not in the same class as Smith but probably on a par with Roby and McIlorum

Taylor, Nu'uasala and Bromwich are good NRL first graders, that’s about it really

Which leaves Sonny Bill Williams. Clearly a hugely talented and athletic Rugby League player but will he have the luxury of playing his Roosters game with the Kiwi’s – namely play in the centres for 60 minutes on the back of a dominant pack throwing off-loads and then take a few drives in the last 20 minutes so the commentators cream themselves about his stamina and work-rate

All in all, an average international pack for me

Sam Moa would get into the England squad.

I guess it’s all about opinions but personally I wouldn’t swap him for any of the English front rowers who I think offer more go forward (and I do think Crabtree is a better front rower than Moa – although I would have had Crabtree in the England squad as he has always done well internationally)

I agree that Moa would get in the England squad given his fantastic form this season. I think Warea-Hargreaves is getting a bit too much praise and I fancy the Burgess props to sort him out and leave Sam to sort out Sonny Bill. I think their halves/hooker combo is better than ours with Foran, Johnson, Luke and Leuluai and I wouldn't rule out RTS to play at fullback and play Vatuvei and Nightingale as the wingers as he has stated plenty that it is his preferred position. Can't believe anybody realistically reckons Micky Mac is even in Lunt's league nevermind that of Luke, Roby or Smith.

I really rate Lunt and he unlucky that hooker is one of our most competitive positions. As for McIlloram I wasn't a big fan but he's been very good in the second half of the season and in the play off's in particular. Plus he has a real competitive streak and that bit of mongrel in him that I want in the England team

I agree with you regarding Crabtree. I think he is a glaring omission from the England squad. He had a wonderful season, as did Moa. So I think going on the past year, Moa would have been included.

Eastwood would walk into the England side. On form he's better than any other England 2nd rower.

Disagree with this, especially "on form" as I think he has played OK this season but hardly anything special.

If Vatuvai plays, we put Hall and Watkins up against him. Two big strong players who are best placed to negate Vatuvai’s physicality, and two players who could have an absolute field day against him in the air. Mannering and Nightingale aren’t going to strike fear in to many back partnerships.

Upfront I’d take Roby over Luke, but that is a very big pack which could get on top of any in the world. Kasiano, Moa, the wrecking ball all three are huge men. Warea-Hargreaves can be massive in defence. The 2nd row has great handling skills. The halves are good but no Australia, Hoffman or Locke are two poor mens Tomkins.

Should be an absolutely great game, if NZ’s huge pack gets on top and their offloads stick England are in serious trouble. If that huge weighty pack doesn’t, it will tire and England will get plenty of space. If Burgess, Burgess and Graham can bend that line and get a few offloads away and get the Kiwis going backwards, the likes of Burrow, Tomkins, Chase and Roby can have a field day, if we can get some decent field position I fancy Hall and Watkins to be able to get through Inu, Vatuvai, Goodwin, Whare Tuivasa-Scheck in any combination. If, however that huge kiwi pack gets a trundle on we are in a bad spot.

England vs New Zealand are 2 very well matched teams across the park.
Personally I don't think Kasiano will play as he seems to be a bit of a liability to me and I think Matulino will be in the 17.

Don't underestimate the physicality of the NZ centres (I don't include Mannering in this) both Inu and Whare (and Goodwin) are really strong guys and defensively sound (although Inu can have a brain-fart). Also don't under-estimate Vatuvei under the high ball, he is really good at this and I can't see us having "a field day" against him at all.

Plus NZ have 2 really good halves this time round (plus Tommy L as back up) whereas in previous years they have relied on Benji with someone like Fien alongside, who isn't really international class. Johnson and Foran should make a very good combination.

Vatuvei is awful under the bomb, absolutely terrible. He is also very heavy and stuggles to get much height on his jumps. Watkins especially is a great athlete and very good attacking the high ball, Hall can get his hands on most kicks. Vatuvei can go to pieces under the bomb, his decision making isn’t all that great either.

Our biggest issue is in the halves and back row - we are no match for either NZ or Australia. Would Sinfield or Chase get into either the NZ or Aussie side?

Roby is a match for Luke but he is not in Smith's class, I worry about the impact Tomkins will make - both Leeds and Warrington had little issue in keeping him quiet and with the best will in the world neither defence is comparable to Aus or NZ

He has had some shockers but he has improved a lot in recent times.
He takes a couple of Bombs in attack towards the end of this clip.


[urlhttp://youtu.be/n-HWFsteR9U[/url

You are right Sal, the English Halves are not up to it. Chase is Club level quality and Sinfield would not be a Stand off in the NRL, not saying he would not command a spot in a team but not at 5/8th IMO.

The other issue against Australia is the athleticism of the Oz backs and their ability to read a game in attack and defense.

He must be a fitter and much better player then the lad who played for Leeds then if that's the case. He certainly showed little in his time at Leeds to suggest he's better then Westwood, Farrell or Hock and that's before we even get on to the possibility of Sam Burgess or Sean O'Loughlin playing in the second row.

Is this a case of another player being over egged because they're playing in the NRL? I expect so.

Not at all. I don't like Eastwood, but there's no doubting his class. He's fat but he's as mobile as any back rower. He's got great hands, great footwork, and he hits hard.

For all the praise the England forwards receive they've rairly lived up to the hype.

Eastwood showed some real glimpses of class at leeds, it's just he was unsettled and homesick. He looks unfit but it's just the way he's built, he's a player that will blow up big style once he retires.

Eastwood had an altercation didn't he in Leeds? Damaged his hand, that didn't help why he wanted to go back to Oz.

But he wouldn't be in my Kiwis 17.

I don't think he was consistently good, but I remember him totally dominating a play off game against (i'm pretty sure) Wigan.

Every Dog has his day, but if that's what he's capable of,then he a very good player.

I like Eastwood, he is a very solid forward with good hands but im not sure i would put him in our back three of Burgess,Westwood and O'Loughlin.Would be a good bench option though.

[uIf[/u you base anything on this weekend's performances, New Zealand will make mince meat of England.