Hardly played in the World Cup. He did get a shot last year in the four nations and went well.

Currie and Ward will do well to get to (and beyond) Farrells level. If they do then they'll have exceptional careers.

Ward is, IMO, already at Farrell's level. Prior to injury, his workrate and ability marked him out as one of the better back rowers in the competition and a shoe-in for the England squad.

I'm disappointed that Dom Manfredi and Oliver Gildart didn't make the squad.

Farrell was garbage last year for England, as was Joel Tomkins. Our backrow as a unit was incredibly poor compared to Aus/NZ. Farrell I think is just too small for internationals.

As for Sam. Someone asked if anybody had watched him play this year - well I have and he has been hugely disappointing. Last year he looked very good in spells and like a lot of people I hoped he'd improve. As it was he went backwards at a rate of knots. He should be in the team because he's got skills in creating space that nobody else has, but to claim he's been anywhere near Hardaker as a full back THIS year is ridiculous.

In terms of Smith, I don't have a problem if Gale is given first shot. That means you have somebody around who at least has some experience at 7 for England. I'd rather that than two complete tyros.

I thought Farrell did OK, but agree Joel Tomkins was poor. Probably due to just having returned from playing union.
This season though i think Joel Tomkins has done very well.

It's one thing for me. He lies on and has second bites all the time, he's one of the most penalised players in SL where i think he gets away with a lot, at International level with Aussie refs he'll be pinged for everything.

I think he's a good player other than that. Fast runner, good passer, excellent defender...penalty machine.

We only appear to have Aussie refs when we play the Aussies. Funny that.

Picking Matthew Smith ahead of Daniel McGuire is a scandal of the highest proportions. I am compelled to ask: "Did McNamara watch many Super League games this year, or is he just plain incompetent?"

If Matthew Smith is picked as Test scrum half then the series is lost for England.

If Hardaker is fit Tomkins will start at scrum half.

How can you be so sure when the coach has incomprehensibly picked Matthew Smith ahead of Daniel McGuire for the squad?

Because i know these things

He was at the GF! what more evidence does he need to see who is the better option currently?

Well that's such a disappointing post Jean, as I'm still left to wonder whether (Steve) McNamara is a Stephen or a Steven.

think wardle is going in for a pre season op

will we see ferres play at hooker again?

Scottish anyway isn't he?

ha well was expecting him to be picked by scotland but when he wasnt i thought it was because an england call was on its way but he must have pulled out of scotland squad due to an op

After listening to McNamara's interview and looking at his squad selection I can see him going with:

Tomkins, Hall, Hardaker, Watkins, Burgess, Widdop, Smith, Graham, Roby, Hill, Farrell, Westwood, O'Loughlin (c) BENCH: Hodgson, Cooper, Burgess, Bateman

Not the team or squad most would have gone for. Being honest, after the squad selection I'm not as excited about this tour as I previously was. SM spoke about Tomkins and Hardaker being able to play in different positions, as he's picked 4 halves I can't see him playing Tomkins there and I can't see him not playing Tomkins so I expect to see Hardaker at Centre. He spoke about the understanding Smith and Widdop had developed which is why I think he'll put them in the halves. Only 4 props in the squad

suggests they'll all play.

Yeah, I couldn't help nodding away sadly reading that.



Featuring George Williams as Theo Walcott...

Sounds like McNamara's bottled it. There's better Centres about than Hardaker. He should be first choice Fullback. There's no better one-on-one tackler in broken play or anybody safer when fielding kicks.
He should be picked at 1 or not at all, unless he was considered for a wing spot.

I agree.McNamara setting himself up for the axe imo if he goes with this and England flop.

May not be a bad thing in the long run.We are looking to have possibly the best group of English players in a generation over the next few years leading into the WC and i don't fancy Mac leading them much further than this series.

I agree it sounds like McNamara isn't going to drop Tomkins from fullback. I may be and hope I am wrong because I think Hardaker is a significantly better fullback than Tomkins.

Before any Wigan fans get their knickers in a twist, I think Tomkins is a cracking player who's strengths haven't been played to at NZW. The problem is I don't think those strengths will be played to at International level with Tomkins at fullback either. He needs to get the ball in certain situations to thrive, to do that from fullback requires the team to play in a certain way in order to maximise opportunities for the fullback. I don't necessarily that will or should happen with England.
We need to get the ball to the likes of Cudjoe and Watkins and get them running at the Kiwis defence.
I do think Tomkins can be dangerous from stand off where he'll get the ball a lot and can often run and take on the defence but without massively affecting the structure of the attack. Pair him with a half who can distribute and kick and it should be alright.

If I were picking the team I'd go with:
1. Hardaker
2. Burgess
3. Watkins
4. Cudjoe
5. Hall
6. Tomkins
7. Widdop
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Burgess
11. Bateman
12. Whitehead
13. O'Loughlin

14. Hodgson
15. Hill
16. Cooper
17. Farrell

As an aside, I don't know how Matty Smith has made the squad. I think he's had an average year.

SM was at the Grand Final and he must've watched a few Wigan games this year. That being the case, the fact he's picked Matty Smith AND is talking about him like he's first choice should be reason for dismissal alone.



If I hadn't bought my tickets months ago i'd currently be giving serious thought about not bothering with this tour to be honest.

I'd be more interested in his opinion on the colour of snow than any opinion you had on anything - jog on.

Hey, most Wigan fans agree with you! I certainly do. Hardaker at full-back should be the first name on the team sheet. When it comes to partnering Widdop in the halves, for me (and I suspect most people) Smith is way down in the pecking order, below Sam T, Gale, and Williams.

If he goes with Smith despite his mediocre form and he flops , McNamara has nowhere to hide with the in form options he has at his disposal for once.