Good post. For me the biggest let down with England is the quality of coaching. The players picked in the squad should be experiencing a level of coaching that is at least as good as what they get at their own club. At the moment they are going from high quality coaching at their club to coaches that have proved not good enough at sl level.

The spine of the team doesn't include the best prop in the country but does include 2 props that could be past it by the time the world cup comes around? Interesting.

I'd agree with Beefy. From Bradford Scruton and Whitehead should push themselves into contention.

Walker & Platt could have an outside chance of a squad place seen as we're not too strong at centre (Tony Clubb got in!)

Tomkins
Graham
Ellis
Burgess
Lockers
Roby

These are the only must players in the England side. All are world class on their day and will all definantly be around for the WC, some of them should be hitting their prime come the WC.

The rest of the places are up for grabs and many depend on the longevity of players like Morley and Peacock.

I wouldn't say o loughlin is a certainty. He can be a very good player but maybe not world class. I fancy Harrison to make a big push for the LF jersey.

Assuming Eastmond stays (optimistic):

1. Tomkins
2. Jones-Bishop
3. Shenton
4. Bridge
5. Briscoe
6. Pryce
7. Eastmond (McGuire if he goes)
8. Peacock
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Ellis
12. Burgess
13. O'Loughlin / Sinfield (Possibly inclined for Sinfield for the specialist goal kicker)

14. Morley
15. Crabtree
16. Sinfield / Harrison
17. Westwood

Harrisons not a touch on Lockers. I see Harrison as a prop playing at LF, definately wouldn't get in ahead of O'loughlin though.

Harrison is a good player who will only get better and compete for England for years to come, Lockers is without doubt a world class 13 and the best we've got. I'd say Harrison and Lee Mossop will both move forward to prop, along with Graham will be the cornerstone of the England pack for years to come.

Whitehead is a year or two away perhaps?


Scruton should be there without doubt.

The best prop in the country in your opinion (as a saints fan). My opinion is that Jamie Peacock is still by far the best prop in the country. The title of the thread is "England team this year", not "England team for 2013". hth.

for me:

Tomkins
Briscoe
Shenton
Cudjoe / Lawrence / Welham
Hall
McGuire / Pryce
Brough / McGuire...I'm sure Brough could get around it though.
Morley / Fielden
Roby
Graham
Ellis
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Burgess
Whitehead / Watts
Crabtree
Sinfield

I just never understand this view on Lockers. He he is one of the best defenders in the whole competition. He has a huge passing range, great organisational skills, he makes the hard yards, he can play more than one position including 6 if desperatly needed. He is a natural leader. He has always performed well on the international stage.

O'loughlin is pretty much head and shoulders above all other 13's at the min... in regards Harrison... he will end up as a prop.

Where is Westwood in that selection? One of the small minority who performed down under, and must be on from the start, IMO.

I would possibly look at 11. Ellis, 12. J.Tomkins and 13. Burgess.

Tomkins showed he is completely and utterly out of his depth at international level, he is also a liability. He doesn't deserve a place in the 17, never mind a start.

If he keeps his current progress up, Liam Watts will be in.

Give the lad a chance FFS, we have stuck with the same players in the past who have failed time and time again and we still carry on doing it. Blood in some youth and build for the future.

He's had his chance and has showed he's not good enough. He's an average second rower. I'd rather say Liam farrell given a chance rather than Joel Tomkins. He outplays him at SL level and may not be out of his depth internationally.

He's a young lad still learning the game. You must have been watching a different Tomkins to me if you thought Farrell out played him in SL last season(and yes he does look promising too).

Nothing like an unbiased view is there



Joel is an excellent player who will be an international for years to come.

Im not saying Tomkins isn't good, because he is. He does a job well. BUT Farrell has much more potential, he does just a great amount of work in defence, is capable of breaking the line and has good discipline. Joel doesn't have much 'spark' for me, he just goes about his game, he is also very ill-disciplined.

I always try to make my decisions without bias. The fact I support Saints and he plays for Wigan has nothing to do with it. I think he's a good player, but I also think there are people who are better or have the potential to be better.

Another one who didn't watch the Four Nations. Looked very much out of his depth.

Unfortunately so are his tackles.