I Always knew he had it in him. He just needed to be more agressive. He is too much of a gentle giant. When he has the fire in his belly there is no better impact prop in the league IMO.

They need to make him angry IMO. Physically he's better than the Aussies, we just need to provide the motivation.

Well he certainly made me eat my own words today. When i saw the team i actually said 'what the hell are crabtree and westwood doing in an england shirt' but i was definately proved wrong. Westwood had a very good game but Crabtree was immense IMO

Yes !

I had to read the newspapers teamsheets too. I actually thought he hadn't played.

JP was very poor as well.

Pleasently surprised by Crabtree, Graham and Westwood.

Can imagine him chasing back after Junio Sau and players like that



See what you are saying mate, but keep him in the pack, he was very good yesterday.

Morley and Peacock have been outstanding players for GB and England over the last 10 years but maybe they don't have the belief they can beat Australia after so many defeats... the younger generation don't seem to have that fear

It's a big call but what about this for the next game

4 rotating props in Carvell, Graham, Burgess & Crabtree

Second Row - Ellis & Westwood

Loose Sinfield

Morley & JP have both been in GB sides that have beaten the Aussies and JP has been on the losing side many times when he has been the only one giving it his all. So it's a bit harsh to dump them on the back of one anonymous performance.

I see your point though and if they were unavailable, that side could possibly compete. I don't know why Sinfield is playing anything apart from LF in the first place.

He played very well and looked very dangerous. I'd start him next week as the game was lost by the time him, Eastmond and Burgess got on the field.

Pleased he got a shot and took it as I've always rated him as something out of the norm for a forward.

Fully agree. I said much the same in another thread, thankfully big Eorl made me eat my words yesterday.

He'll need to step up another level (as they all will) to match a fired-up NZ pack.

Eorl is an impact player. he never looks as good when he starts a game for the Giants as when he comes off the bench.

Same is true of ROBY IMHO . he should never start a game should be an interchange hooker.

Tremendous performance from Crabtree, some great carries and offloads to get us on the front foot.

Peacock never performs well as Second Row IMO.

I agree with most comments on here ive never really rated Crabtree and though it was a bad decision to include him but he certainly changed my opinion.

Like most on here never really rated Crabtree as I thought he never played his weight. He did yesterday and was excellent.
He was able to step up his performance from club to International level something a lot our players recently have failed to do.
A certainty for England for next week.
If the Kiwis think they are big lads wait 'till they see Crabtree!

crabtree had a good game - didnt look out of place and should certainly be in the team next week !!!

Been playing like that for the past couple of seasons really

someone needs to tell him Big Daddy was just a fat annoying bell end

Are you going to volunteer

He's not mobile enough anymore to play in the second row and we got caught out on his side at times because he was struggling to cover accross to help McGuire and Smith(and christ did they need help).

I'm not slamming Peacock because he's an unbelievable prop forward but thats the only position he should be playing.

Agree that Peacock isn't really suited at 2nd row anymore, he is however a fantastic prop.

Crabtree was excellent imo, i'd like to see him get more game time off the back of that performance.

If Smith wanted to pick a big side and have one of his props running in the backrow he should have gone for one of his most mobile and those are Burgess and Crabtree.

He can't afford to keep making these massive selection errors.

Agreed, why you wouldn't have Burgess at 2nd row for most of the game and Peacock at prop is beyond me!

People who are slating Morley should really look at the stats for the game and he wasn't as bad as people are making out Morley only made 6 runs in the second half and made the same metres as Crabtree. I think we are over reacting a little here.

They were GOOD in the first half and went round the pack completely. It would have been hard for any player. I'd imagine we would be saying the exact reverse now if Eorl had started and Morley came off the bench.

I agree he didnt do much but what he did he did well I.e only one offload but one that was good.

Peacock's finished at that level, whether it's at front row or prop.

Years of playing 65-70 minutes a game have taken the little speed he did have out of his legs.

Still a good player at SL level, but for his own sake he needs to do what Senior has done and quit the international arena.

I agree. He was being dominated when taking the ball up and looked ponderous and slow. In defence, especially when in the second row, this makes him a liability. At times it was a little like watching Fielden.

Either way it is definately time for a new captain as he now seems to have that Andy Farrell look about him when captaining England/GB.