The big surprise for me is that they actually gave the coaches job to McNamara.

In an ideal world all spots would be up for grabs, but the only chance England has of doing anything at all is if ALL of our few genuine class players are at their absolute best. Even then Australia has far too much firepower in the backs to be seriously troubled by England.

I've no idea about how good a coach McNamara is, but really, suggesting that selecting/not selecting the likes of JJB would make any difference at all to chances against Australia is bizarre.

If you ask the players that have worked with McNamara and also other coaches who have worked with him, they all say he is a great coach.
I think that sinfield has proved season after season that he is one of the greatest talents in world rugby (wire fan) and is the first name on the team sheet and rightly so. Anyone who calls McNamara for picking Sinfield should go on the netball forum as you might one day understand that game better.
As for picking Roby, Morley JJB god knows what he was thinking, I can understand Roby as he will be one of the main men in the WC at the end of the season and keeping him involved is a good call even though he shouldn't play next week.
Bring in the youth as well Clarke, Haughton Crooks ect.
I have always had McNamara as a coach biased to the Yorkshire players and teams, but he has proved me wrong this time so at least that is one good point to come out of it.

To be honest I'm a little disappointed at the criticism aimed at Kevin Sinfield just lately and the overall lack of support for the players pulling on the England shirt, for what is seemingly because they play for a team the poster dislikes.

Stability is the key. Rugby League is a team sport and requires familiarities in personnel to be successful. You simply cannot put a team together of in form players and say they will beat Australia. Yes, they had a gift in Darren Lockyer with Thurston they built a team around them. Is Thurston the best at NRL level? There's in form halves but it will be Thurston that plays.

Whether it's on reputation or form, I do hope players are played in their best positions. None of this playing stand-offs on the wing business like we've had in the past.

Too late for that, only one centre picked

I hate Mcnamara and refuse to support him or the England side until player A who plays for our rivals is dropped, it is a disgrace that player B is still in the England side when player C from my club doesn’t even get a look in. Player D is rubbish his team lost this weekend, he shouldn’t be anywhere near an England shirt, especially when Player E from mid-table Club A has had a few good games this year. Id like to see Young Player F from my club get a game he has been really good this year.

Repeat ad nauseum for every thread about England.

Just seen the squad thread now. I'd hazard a guess at Hardaker playing centre but who knows? Could end up with a prop there!

for the exile games the coach needs to be thinking ahead to who will be on form come the end of the season (thats no easy task) he then need to pick a team that he will more than likely go with at the world cup, choosing debutants to play now only to leave them out come world cup is pointless

SM has a much tougher job than you think, whatever he does gets met with criticism