Got to love RLFANS, critical of having Chase in the squad and not selecting Widdop and now that happens assuming that there were problems in the camp and looking to dish out blame

I was thinking more end of handle that one pulls or twists

Chase not being included has to be either disciplinary or because of an injury. As much as I'm not a fan of Chase playing for England, it would be dumb to just change the halfback combination we've been practicing with for any other reason.

For the team out of that 19 man squad I'd go with:

Tomkins,
Charnley, Cudjoe, Watkins, Hall,
Widdop, Sinfield
Hill, Roby, Graham,
S. Burgess, Ferres, O'Loughlin.

Burrow, G. Burgess, Westwood, Ablett/Mossop.

I think I'd pick Ablett over Mossop or Farrell for the last bench spot. He offers cover for the backs if needed.
That only leaves 3 props - Graham, Hill, G. Burgess - but Graham always plays big minutes and Sam Burgess can always move up to prop if required.

I don't do optimism.

Assuming there are no discipline issues, which is just a rumor.

I can see the logic in trying something different. IMHO Chase has had several games to impress and really apart from half a game at Hull he has done very little to impress. I know the French game was knockout rugby, but really Graham could play standoff against the French and we should still win.

Now it's do or die and in a way the coach has little to lose. He's tried Chase and waited and waited for it to come good. He got 30 minutes from him in a game we had took control of. If he goes out with the same players, why would the result differ.

The coach is also up for a new contract. He can see what we have so far is not enough possible to get the job done against the Champions. So on a risk basis, if he feels 'his man' is not going to get the job done, then drop him.

I've no issue with dropping MM. I thought from his work in the season he earned a chance and he was given a chance for England, but I was far from thinking he was putting up a challenge to either Burrow or Roby.

Some times the best players in one team do not shine in another. I remember Danny Ore Being a god at Cas, but put him in the Wigan outfit and he faded.
I think the same applies for MM and Chase. Chase has games where he looks untouchable, but this set up has not worked for him. MM deserved a shot, but did not shine.

Others eg Sinfield pre tournement I thought he was a bad choice, but actually I've been impressed with what I've seen.

It's easy to always bag the team, in the end if you back them to lose, then it's a risk free bet. If they win, no one will care. If they lose, you can declare some great wisdom.

What I will say is that the halfbacks are thin on the ground so booting anyone out would be impossible. If we progress and Sinfield or Widdop get an injury, we'd be looking at hookers to cover halfback.

Does not what what the team is if we lose it will all be Sinfields fault

WOW, you're all completely forgetting who's the coach !!!!

We'll probably see Tomkins and Sinfield in the halfs and Widdop put as full back.

Only if he does a Billy Slater

Me!

Exactly - much as thoughI like Chase, he has been unimpressive, especially last weekend where he was almost anonymous.

New Zealand will be without winger Manu Vatuvei for Saturday's World Cup semi-final against England at Wembley.

We have a great in form pack that needs the halves to move the team around, Widdop can do that far better than Chase who seems to get in the way most times.

I'd go with that as well, but I'm not sure about that Gurgess bloke on the bench.

Good News.Charnley will be happy!

Losing Vatuvai is a massive loss for them, as it means their outside backs are far less dangerous. Which puts the focus on the forwards, where I think we'll grind them down. I think we have looked very fit, indeed the fittest team in the competition. We have sustained our efforts very well (leaving aside execution) and have finished every game strongly.
NZ remind me of Wigan under Maguire. Blitz the opposition, and end the game early as a contest. From bitter experience, on the few occasions plan A didn't work, plan B was rarely forthcoming.
There are some big lads in that Kiwi side, who have been in the cold north for a long time now. They won't be as fit as our lads, especially with the altitude benfits from SA.

Yes, Ablett is underrated, I'd be happy if Bellamy signed him for the might Storm.

Absolutely, if anyone knows Widdop's game it's Ivan Cleary, I bet he knows every Storm/ex-Storm player inside out. So they would have planned to play against both Chase and Widdop.

Didn't think we were there long enough to gain any altitude benefits and if we did they would certainly have worn off by now.

This has made you look like the most annoying person ever.
Either say what you have heard or don't say anything.

Did not see that coming.
Not sure what I think about this. Hopefully Widdop has been on too of his game in training and will go well.
Micky Mac had to be dropped. Everyone could see that.
Chase has not been great so hopefully this will prove to be the right decision.
Burrow given a stint in the halves with sinfield would not be a bad idea either.
Looking forward to this one.

COME ON ENGLAND

Ps.
Ablett in for Watkins.

Farrell has not had a great deal of opportunity but he just doesn't have anything extra to give than a steady tackling stint. Mossop doesn't play to his size, so it has to be Ablett for the bench spot, though I would have gone for Turgess at the start of the tournament. Quite impressed otherwise.

Incredible decision really, considering that it's a SEMI FINAL. That's what makes me believe that there is some truth in those rumours. Doesn't add up to me.

I still reckon it comes down to the coach not liking what he's seen from Chase. No point trying the same thing again if you believe it will fail.

If brown had been in charge of GB, we'd have gone through 28 combinations at half till he found the right one.

Assuming this is accurate it could explain it... t.co/tCLLc4AkWn Oh, and Ablett ahead of Mossop and Farrel for me - size, versatility and experience

Assuming this is accurate it could explain it... t.co/tCLLc4AkWn Oh, and Ablett ahead of Mossop and Farrel for me - size, versatility and experience

In fact I did - and suggested on here a few days ago that might be the coach's big surprise.

Chase can be good against weak opposition but in my opinion risky against better opposition (and especially NZ). Also his play in the last couple of matches was poor and I would strongly guess contradicted the coaches wishes. For those reasons I expected this.