Basically it's a case of who has scored the most tries recently or had a few good games this season or who is flavour of the month,rather than the best players, you could do one of these every month and half the people will have forgotten who they picked a month ago.
It was only a couple of months back that half the team would have been Wakefield and Widnes players, led by Brown and Mellor for instance, yet none of these are "good enough" anymore

Tomkins
Hall
Currie
Watkins
Solomona (if true that he's eligible, otherwise probably McGillvary)
Hodkinson (if he's eligible, otherwise Sneyd)
Gale
Graham
Hodgson
Hill
S.Burgess
Whitehead
O'Loughlin

Roby
Taylor
G.Burgess
Bateman

Personally I wouldn't pick O'Loughlin but it's pointless pretending he isn't gonna be in the side. That leaves S.Burgess, Bateman, Whithead and Currie fighting for three spots in the back row and to be honest I'd quite like to pick all of them. I don't really like picking back rowers in the centres but with the real lack of any quality centres I think it could be the least bad option to go with Currie in there and at least you'd know you had a player who is definitely international class on the field (could easily go with Bateman in the centres instead like the NZ series).

The pack looks fantastic on paper though, fingers crossed it translates onto grass.

If he picks those two overseas players, particularly when we ha e some decent options on those positions I won't be attending any games.

I thought the farce of picking overseas players was over.

Spot on. I think you could make an argument for both Leeds wingers given both their finishing and their excellent work rate bringing the ball back.
Whilst Segeyaro has obviously had a big impact on Leeds, getting both Hall and Briscoe back fit has been a big boost for Leeds too.

Cooper has been as solid as ever this year. He's almost the last player you can blame for the Dragons being awful. Sadly Widdopp is one of the main reasons they can't score.

I bet they wouldn't.

Joel Moon could play for England on residency. Could be a good option at centre, a position where we are weak.

Tomkins
McGilvary
Cudjoe
Watkins
Widdop
Sneyd
Graham
Hodgson
Hill
Whitehead
S Burgess
O'Loughlin

Clark
G Burgess / Taylor
Walmsley
Currie

I wouldn't mind giving Denney Solomona a game if he was available.

Widdop at full-back is not a bad shout; I wouldn't want him in the halves.

Can't believe the claims for Hodkinson. Quite apart from the fact that he an Aussie,

, he is bang average anyway.

Agree, Hodkinson/Widdop would quite literally be my worst nightmare. Our only hope then would be to bore the Aussies into submission.

We'd probably convert all our goals between them, just not sure we'd score many tries for that opportunity.

[uFullback: [/u
Tomkins over Shaul (even though I'm a Hull fan), due to his ability ball in hand. I'd probably have Ratchford in the squad too.

[uWings:[/u
Gutted for Manfredi, he'd have been my first pick. Hall & McGilvray probably. Johnstone or Briscoe in the squad.

[uCentres:[/u


Watkins is pretty much a certainty. The second spot it anyone's guess. Maybe Percival or Atkins.

[uHalfs:[/u
Sneyd and Gale (Williams in the squad)
Who else is there? Matty Smith doesn't bring anything extra that these guys don't. Widdop - really not impressed with him.

[uProps:[/u
Hill and Graham are dead certs.
Probably need 5 or 6 in the squad, so the rest to come from; Taylor, George Burgess, Cooper, Walmsley, Watts, (Tom Burgess?).

[uHooker:[/u
Some serious talent in this position. Hodgson and Roby will be in there.
A spot in the squad for either Houghton or Clark.

[uSecond Row:[/u
All in the squad: Currie, Bateman, Whitehead, Sam Burgess

[uLoose:[/u
O'Loughlin, Westerman in the squad? May be tempted to throw in JJB purely for sheer work rate down the middle to spell the other guys.

Tomkins
McGilvary
Watkins
Percival
Hall

Widdop
Gale

Graham
Hodgson
Hill
Whitehead
S Burgess
SOL

Westwood
Walmsley
G Burgess
T Burgess

In squad - Bateman, Currie, Waterman, Cooper, Roby, Shaul, Clark, Smith, Hardaker (cover all back line).

Westwood??

Yeah, adds the size, grunt and experience in the back row. This will probably be Westwood and SOL's last major series but both will still add a lot imo.

James Roby should be fourth choice hooker. It's a shame we don't have that depth in the centres.

I expect O'Loughlin to be involved and I'd also have Westwood in.

At hooker Roby has to drop down the pecking order for me, Hodgson to start and Clark interchange.

Selection problems really are the back. Centres is a huge issue, I've been hanging on for Reed's availability but looks like he may be crocked for good. Watkins is likely to get a game but was woeful last year for England. Sarginson/Cudjoe/Atkins teh likely other choices. Real shame Shenton is out.

Currie is a good shout to play centre.

Tomkins
Hall
Atkins
Watkins
McGilvary
Williams
Gale/Smith
Graham
Hodgson
Hill
Bateman
S Burgess
SOL

is how I can see the 13 lining up.

Whitehead will get a back row slot. his quality performances in a Canberra side going for the premiership will not have gone unnoticed by Bennett for sure. Its difficult, because all of a sudden we have see real back row options again. unfortunately, and it seems harsh but i don't see a place in the line up right now for Currie or Bateman barring injuries or playing them out of position at centre but they will be in the squad for sure and will be around for many years to come so their turn will come.

I forgot about Whitehead in all honesty. Personally I'd play Sam Burgess at 13 and sack SOL off. But we all know that won't happen.
Whitehead will get a bench spot.

Fair enough. I'm just glad we have finally got some real headaches and some quality players are going to be left out which ever side gets picked if we are picking from near fit squad.

Aye the forwards can really match the Kiwis and Aussies. Shame the backs are seriously lacking in sheer talent.

It is a shame because that's where the points come from. Regardless of who he picks, I'd hope the main change for England under Bennett in the short-term will be attitude against Australia - i.e. not playing scared.

I just don't see that we have the backs to get enough points against Aus (or stop them scoring them).

Based on what?

The Saints pack this year hasnt been great in comparison to others, and even playing on the back of a beaten pack/slow ruck Roby has been outstanding yet again.

Interesting when you compare his season stats with Houghton (for example) who is no doubt higher up your pecking order for the England 9 shirt and touted as a MOS candidate:

Defending:
Houghton 1130/56 misses, 95% tackles made
Roby 962/31 misses, 97% tackles made

Attacking:
Houghton 230 carries, 1448 metres, 6.3m avg gain, 32 tackle busts, 3 clean breaks, 7 tries
Roby 294 carries, 2201 metres, 7.4m avg gain, 41 tackle busts, 7 clean breaks, 4 tries

Whilst Houghton has made more tackles, Roby still managed an impressive amount with less misses on average. With ball in hand, Roby is far better & offers far more than Houghton. When you bear in mind Houghton has played on the back of the best pack in SL (don't really recall seeing Hull's forward pack not on top many times this season) and their go forward I would have expected more with the ball from Houghton. Don't get me wrong I think Houghton is a very good player, but still not ahead of Roby (same opinion currently of Daryl Clark).

Imo the 2 England hookers should still be Hodgson and Roby interchanging

^^^^^^^^

Yeah agree Roby should still be ahead of Houghton who is probaly 3rd in line. THink we should be going with just Hodgson as 80 minute hooker though and a big four man bench. Maybe even three big guys and Bateman or Currie who can cover a few positions.