I do think he's over rated end of. Typical Wigan arrogance demanding other fans worship there idol - I don't, oh dear me a heresy has been spoken.

Oh well I won't lose any sleep over it.

Quote ="caslad75"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.'" Will Wales RU fans be in uproar about this selection? No, because it happens in every sport and every country. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42172246

Quote ="caslad75"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.'" Will Wales RU fans be in uproar about this selection? No, because it happens in every sport and every country. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42172246

We have been far better with SoL on the field and he would be a big miss. If someone can't see that that's their opinion/problem in not being able to understand the game.

No worship needed, just some sense! The bloke has been brillliant for England and GB over the years. I think the NZ series in 2015 was the third time he'd won a man of the series award against them and the Aussies (I seem to recall the Aussie one was as just our player of the series though).

He's been the glue to hold the side together in the tournament so far. He's not as eye catching as a Sam Burgess or Alex Walmsley and he's got going to be breaking teams open like McGillvary or Widdop with individual runs but he just gels the team and covers a variety of roles. If you want a tough carry, a big tackle or a man to take it to the line and get an accurate pass away to your halves then he's the man. He's a leader and a cool head.

We probably won't win with him but we sure as hell won't without him.

Lets be honest Heighington hasn't been anything more than average every time he's played for England unless someone can correct me of a game where he's stood out. I've nothing against him because he comes across as a decent guy when I've seen him interviewed over the years.

I'm also personally not bothered if he's from Aus, as long as he qualified on decent grounds like he has having an English parent. Anyway, for me he shouldn't have been picked anyway, he's not the player he once was, not that he's ever been anything other than a decent solid player and the season he's just had in the NRL didn't warrant getting picked.

The fact is he's got so many appearances is a bit of a red herring in my opinion. It's been mostly down to him having a relatively injury free career, in turn playing for plenty of years without missing many games and has been picked over the years for Wests and Cronulla for his utility value.

Like others have said the biggest asset he has is that he doesn't make many errors, but then again, he doesn't make that many meters, doesn't burst tackles & generally doesn't run good lines like international backrowers should. Yes, he has experience but for me, he's well past his sell-by date.
Also if there are any forward injuries he'll be doing much more than any cameo appearance.

Saying that hopefully he proves me completely wrong and has the game of his life in the Final.

That's a surprise - thought SOL only turned up for the big games - like Lazarus rising from the sick bed to lead his team to defeat. Him not playing will the first big final he has ever missed - one year the only games he played at the end of the season were the CC final and the GF.

No we haven't, that's unless you're either a Wigan fan? Or someone blinded by undeserved reputation.

Still we'll see come the weekend. If England lose you'll be able to kid yourself that it was bacause SOL was missing. If England win you're in bother.

For me and I'm happy to say it over and over again. Don't rate him and never did and now he's well past it, don't be sad you can still dream.

As far as I see not one person has agreed with you (Probably just as you like it) including fans of Rival clubs.

O’Loughlin has been ruled out with an injury

...or wanting to argue the toss with everyone.

I agree he is a loss.

I follow Leeds, not that it would matter as i make a judgement using my own eyes.
Hes linked the line very well and provided the direction that a good half back pairing otherwise should.

I dont give a toss whos 'right' i just want to see england compete at the very least and hopefully get the result. England should now have a better chance as im putting my faith in your judgement.

I would love to see this inspire Sam Burgess to a performance akin to his heroic NRL Grand Final with Souths as thats the level that will be needed.

That's akin to the statements usually reserved for crap half backs being organisers who guide the team around the field. My view is that we are a weaker team with SOL not playing as they've brought likkle Jonny into the team & he is not of the required standard.

Disappointing for SOL to miss out, but we've at least now got the option of bringing on Lomax to FB and putting Widdop back in the halves if things aren't working out.

I'm not sure how bringing in Lomax actually improves us in any way. Unless Widdop, Brown or Gale is carrying an injury I'd be putting a forward on the bench. We need as much power up front as possible so we can get some momentum in the middle - if we don't do that we'll be kicking on our own 40m line again and never get to apply any pressure.

Gutted for Sean O'Loughlin. He's a great player and we really could have done with his services tomorrow. Such a shame for him to miss out.

Been a great servant to England and gutted for him to miss the last opportunity for him to play in a final. I expect he's played his last game to be honest.

What does this mean for England. Well Burgess goes to 13 and so we lose a decent pair of hands, a good attacking rugby brain and an excelent link player. Burgess will do the job that's required no doubt but I think we will lose structure and ability to get the ball moving faster and find gaps. Great opportunity for Currie too.

I personally would have brought in Williams over Lomax if you have to bring a non forward onto the bench but to me, our 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/9 should be playing 80 minutes anyway. Go big on the bench and pummel them. Scott Taylor would have got the nod over either. Reckon he'd run his blood to water too and cause them problems.

According to Betts it was O'Loughlin who ruled himself out knowing he wasn't right. Fair play to the guy to make such a tough decision, many others may have tried to risk it and let the side down.

Big loss - O'Loughlin has been our most creative player in midfield. Where is the creativity going to come from now? Think we will need to play a completely different way now to have any chance.

Can Lomax play at Hooker?

Lomax is a good utility player and can play anywhere in the backs or 9 really.

They will use him I think to rest Roby for a period and hope that he can make a difference. I am certain that losing O'Loughlin is a big loss but ultimately at this level we need to make sure we can survive even by losing 1 or 2 players.

Anyone know what the ticket sales are like?

Someone posted it is sold out.

33k I heard.

I see us having no chance, I thought we wouldn't even make the final. But one more day of hoping...

"I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand"

He rates Grix as the number 1 full back in SL. That shows the depth of Vastmans "knowledge"

Regards

King James