Yes, I wouldn't put Peacock in my 4 Nations team. I'd like to see the likes of Mossop/Carvell/LMS given a go. Are we going to be relying on 36-year-old props in the WC?

If you think this has anything to do with the colour of Chase's skin, then you really are a muppet. As I already explained, he doesn't have a passport, so how can he be eligible? In any other sport he wouldn't, so why in RL? Don't bring up England cricket, Vainikolo, Hape, Paul, Flutey or Tuilagi either, because they've all got British passports or citizenship and are eligible to play. If he still wants to get a passport and English citizenship, then he can play for England when he's eligible.
I’m actually quite insulted by your racism remark actually, frankly it was uncalled for and resulting to such derogatory claims to make your point is disgusting.

The difference is Oz/NZ don't need to pack their teams with overseas players to compete. We do, which is why it's such a dangerous situation to be in. I don't want to watch an England team made up of the likes of Matt King, Rangi Chase, Michael Monaghan and the dozens of other players we may choose to bring in after three years of living in England.

Of course, that is before I point out that Petero moved to Australia before his first birthday and played all his RL there. Not a great comparison with Chase who has been here barely three years.

Webb, on the other hand, is a very good example and is in a similar position to Chase, but at least he played his first pro RL in NZ.

The issue for me is that as such an underperforming nation, there will be the temptation to bring in Chase this year, someone else next year and before we know it half the side will not be "English". Yes, they may be eligible, but they will have no connection to the country other than having worked here for three years - either because they weren't good enough to play at home or they were offered more money to play in a second tier competition and came for the cash.

It is a misguided whim, because what you want international sport to be does not match the reality.

Did I miss the 24 pages of outrage last year when Willie Manu was called into the England train-on squad for the 2010 four nations? Perhaps my memory is slipping ...

And to reiterate the point Gilder made – we don't have to worry about where we draw the line, it's already been drawn. And it's clear.

This post is pure alarmism. We have too many good players, born in England, to end up with a squad half full of foreign born players. We just lack strength in depth in certain areas.

How would Scotland, Ireland and Wales do, without the ability to recruit non-nationals?

We'd barely have an international scene at all if we followed the ridiculous puritan obsession of some on here.

You're missing the point.

But that's the reality of it, you're right we barely have an international scene!

And you'd like to make it even weaker?

So glad I couldn't give a toss either way on this one

I frankly find that hard to believe.

Nowt do wi me

Nobody gives a sh*t about RL in Scotland anyway, why pretend they've got a team?

But, I'm not ignoring it, I'm pointing out that there are far more factors that will effect the make up of the squad. Yes, the England coach has the ability to pick an all ANZAC squad if he wanted, that does make it is possible, but that doesn't mean it is ever likely to happen.

England isn't Ireland or Scotland or one of the other minnow nations who rely largely on English players. We have a lot of very good talent in this country already and we can build a good squad with this talent. We also have a large and very fickle paying support, which needs to be appeased.

The coach's main role is to pick the strongest side available to him, which he is doing. It is also his role to introduce the best possible competition for places in the squad and starting 17, which he is doing. And, it is role to demostrate some diplomacy in how he picks the squad, which he is doing because he hasn't gone for a full ANZAC squad.

The line you talk of is drawn by the coach, his team and in consultation with the RFL to strike the right balance of a range of factors that include their roles to produce a competitive and strong squad, putting together a squad that people want to watch etc.

And IMO he's close to stepping over that line trying to tap up NRL players (and Rangi Chase to a lesser extent). I think the fact that so many people have a similar opinion proves the point.

Anyway, we'll probably have to agree to disagree on this one!

Of course, I never expected you to see sense anyway

Ah well, let's not bother then. Let's just keep our game rooted entirely within the north of England. Sod international RL, and the money that can come from TV companies for it, so that some deluded fans can see their puritanical fantasy, of what international sport is meant to be, intact.

My view is that that we must make an effort and we have to start somewhere. I guess that is just far too unreasonable for some people to accept.

He has tapped NRL players - Widdop and Reid - but you don't seem to have a problem with those two?

I thought it would be right up your street, what with your Flat Earth ideology

.

It’s a bit like the Expansionist debates, with a fair few Cas fans swapping sides, because it’s about ‘Our Rangi’

.

you can of course back that claim up?

If you want to get offended (and my word what a sheltered life you must lead if you are) then get offended at this.

Your more of a plonker than I thought if you would drop the captain of the national side before a tournament. Moz is obviously OK- even though he will be over the hill for the World Cup.

Read my post a little more carefully you prize tool. Or any of the others I have made. You will see that I don't think your post has anything to do with racism. However when people post utter rot I can see why others might jump to that conclusion. To be honest I'm offended you could be that stupid.

But as with your original comments, why let the facts stand in the way of a good rant.

If its all about playing by the rules then Manu needs to be in the squad!!

Ok then if it wasn't directed at me, then I apologise. I don't really know the reason why the racism word was banded about, because there hasn't been any in this thread and it seemed to be used as a defence tool to support an argument (not by you btw).

I explained my reasons why I was against it - he can't apply for a passport yet, so how can qualify under residency rules (this seems to be an only RL belief, because he couldn't play Union or Cricket (for example) for England under this ruling), the way he said he wanted to play for NZ just a couple of months ago and now he's changed his tune; he's a mercenary same as Heighington, and that the RFL tell our clubs to bring through young players to help the England team, yet they're happy to pick Aussies and Kiwis in the same team.

As for Peacock, he's only played half the SL games this season, so he wouldn't really be my starting pick. He'd be in the squad and on the bench v the Aussies, as he's always wants to smash them, same with Morley really. In the squad and bench v Aussies/Kiwis, but I really think it should be their final tournament and it's time to bring some new faces in and I believe now is the best time to do it, otherwise they simply won't be ready (I disagree that the Knights program brings preparation for the more inexperienced, because playing Scotland in front of say 1,000 just isn't the same scenario). Peacock and Morley should be on the sidelines and coaching team during the WC to help guide the players (like Wiki does for NZ), I think that's an important weapon. Maybe we could use Sculthorpe or someone similar during the Four Nations in this position too.

You're wrong.

Let's have a look at eligibility criteria in the sports you mention:



So – rugby union: three year residency rule same as rugby league, no mention of passports or citizenship.



Cricket - minimum requirement- spent half a year for each of four years in the country you want to play for (don't have to be a citizen or hold a passport)

For those who've used the argument "this is just the way international sport is these days" - and "cricket and union do it" - ask yourself, where are those sports in terms of developing their own homegrown talent?

This isn't about Rangi Chase, it's about the way the England management are trawling the NRL, all in the pursuit of "competion for places" - not seeing that the trade off is you screw yourselves long term. I hope England win the 4 Nations and Rangi scores a bag full of tries, but deep down, I want to see that chance go to a kid we've developed, not somebody who "qualifies" - which, let's face it, could be half the NRL. This opinion is deemed to be narrow minded but what's more narrow minded, and short-sighted than prizing a win in the 4 Nations this year over everything else?!

What's to stop the secret subsidy of Oz/Kiwi players on the edges of National/SOO rep to get them in the country on a 3 year contract and have them playing for England in 2014?