I would keep the 17 the same or possibly just make one change with Farrell coming in for Bateman.

Sarginson didn't have the best game but I don't think Percival would have done any better or offers us anything else.

Well, considering even Wigan fans are saying Percival is a far superior centre...

I actually think this is exactly the time to make changes. In previous 4Ns we've seen the problems caused by having to pick players in the last game who haven't played previously - if anything it makes the incumbents even harder to shift regardless of how they play. Also, Bennett's main aim is the WC next year, and this tournament is really his only opportunity to see how well his players perform. Restricting that to 18 or 19 players in his squad won't help him in that regard.

That we are. I like Sarg, he a 110% player, tries too hard sometimes and ends up forcing it. He doesn't have the rugby brain and natural flair of Percival who I think is a quality centre. Sarg will give you the work rate, he'all take it in all day but we need more than that at international level. If Sarg does play it has to be at FB IMO, though that would be harsh on Lomax who wasn't great either but it was his first proper game at this level.

Especially if a certain number of those aren't performing.

graham out injured so id expect maybe scott taylor to come in as a direct replacement?

other than that cant see much else changing, maybe ratchford in for lomax at full back but sounds like bennett wants to keep changes to a minimum and get more game time for the big one against aussies week after

brierley fit to play for scotland after he took a knock v australia

how many tickets have been sold for this double header game?

Sounds like Williams, Farrell, Ratchford and a couple of others will get some game time. Bennett says two or three spots are up for grabs, so I assume he means maybe centre, one half-back spot and one in the pack...

Bennett said in an interview that he wants everyone bar Ward (who he said is not fit) to get game time. At the same time he said he didn't want to make too many changes so I'm not sure what team we will see against Scotland.

they've been suspiciously quiet with updates even the cheap seats aren't sold out. Can't see many deciding to go to Coventry at last minute with booth games on TV either. Would love to be proved wrong but this experiment doesn't seem to have paid off.

On a more positive note large parts of Anfield are now sold out for the final, with only the new upper tier still to be put on sale.

might be lots of empty seats at the coventry ground then

32500 is the capacity for stadium

not the best idea to give it to coventry, maybe if they had magic weekend there next year but thats going to newcastle again

Got to question what marketing has been done, it was always going to be a struggle to get a football and RU local audiencd to give RL a try on bonfire night. And Coventry isnt the kind of city heartland fans are in a rush to spend a weekend in (and yeah, Hull isnt either!) unlike say Newcastle, London or Liverpool which have great nightlife.

coventry maybe paid the most cash to the rfl stage it ! if it works like magic weekend does

Just looked at the ticket website again and you now can't select what block you want and tickets are on a 'best available' basis, maybe ticket sales have gone up suddenly...but the cynic in me thinks that sales are still flat and they are now allocating seats facing the cameras to make it look better. Not seen them do that for any other recent event.

Magic weekend in Coventry!!!!!!!!!
Have you ever been to the place?
It's as dull as ditch water.
You've got to be a real sad person if you believe that a weekend in Coventry is a highlight in your entertainment calendar.

I went to the Ricoh for a Wigan Athletic game last year and whilst it's ok for a few hours, it wouldn't suit the Magic weekend in any way, shape or form. There isn't enough to do around the ground. There's a casino under the stadium which allows people in for a few drinks but besides that I didn't see a lot.

As for Coventry city centre, well there's not much happening there either! Struggled to find too many pubs/bars/restaurants and it wasn't a place you'd be too excited at spending a weekend in.

i was saying that if the rfl had put the magic weekend in coventry this year then i could see why they would then stage an international game there as they would be trying to spread the game but they have only done one part! maybe they should have had the international game at newcastle, would make more sense

21k i think they have sold tickets wise

I guess I'm one of those who *could* go to Coventry at the last minute: I bought two tickets for Huddersfield and then didn't manage to go. Coventry is *only* about 100 miles away, so closer than most RL destinations for me. But the KO time means I'd be stuck in Coventry for the Sat night. It's a while since I've been in Cov city centre, but I tend to agree with NK that's it's a dump.

Should have had a game in Wigan.

England 19-man squad:

John Bateman (Wigan Warriors, Bradford Dudley Hill)
George Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs, Dewsbury Moor)
Sam Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs, Dewsbury Moor)
Thomas Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs, Dewsbury Moor)
Daryl Clark (Warrington Wolves, Fryston Warriors)
Mike Cooper (Warrington Wolves/St George-Illwarra Dragons, Latchford Albion)
Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)
Luke Gale (Castleford Tigers, Middleton Marauders)
Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos, Oulton Raiders)
Chris Hill (Warrington Wolves, New Spring Lions)
Josh Hodgson (Canberra Raiders, East Hull)
Jonny Lomax (St Helens, Orrell St James)
Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants, Deighton Juniors)
Mark Percival (St Helens, Halton Farnworth Hornets)
Dan Sarginson (Wigan Warriors / Gold Coast Titans, Hemel Stags)
Scott Taylor (Hull FC, Skirlaugh)
Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos, Latchford Albion)
Elliott Whitehead (Canberra Raiders, West Bowling)
George Williams (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)

Graham out with injury - Taylor in.

Widdop dropped - Williams in.

Percival in too.

Got to assume Widdop been given a rest before aussie game then with Gale & Williams in this week to see who ends up playing alongside him

That would be my guess rather then Widdop being dumped.

A straight shoot on between the two halves on Saturday to partner Widdop at Olympic Park.

Thought Gale struggled a bit physically against NZ. Was bumped off a few tackles and looked to be blowing and was a passenger those last 15mins. Not sure that we will learn an awful lot about how he overcomes that by watching him against a far less physical and inferior Scotland side

Personally think we should be picking the 1,6 & 7 that we are looking to play vs Australia for them to get game time together to gel. This however looks like a shootout between Gale and Williams as it would be unlikely that Widdop misses out next week.

I tbought Bennett was quite critical of widdop after the game so not convinced he's a cert for the Aus game.

Interesting to see he"s also brought Percival into the squad.