You mean the England style of play where it's more of a forward battle than exciting, freedom of play. Sorry but our forward pack can compete with anyone but having people who understand each other's games and play together is vitally important.

No use having players who see each other for 3 times a season for a catch-up, and then training for 3 weeks ahead of a tournament.

Yes, the England style of play which is much more focused on playing percentage rugby through the middle, which Hall and McGillvary are much more suited for than Eden. They're also both proven at international level and generally just all round better players than Eden.

I dont think they do struggle to look good.

Because you arent going to pick all the players from one team. Cas don't have enough english players to do so and there are better players out there.

Powell has created the best squad he can under the constraints of the salary cap and who has become available, those arent restrictions Bennett faces, If you think given the option Powell wouldnt jettison McShane for Roby or Hodgson or Clark in a heartbeat or swap Eden for Burgess you are nuts.

Houghton is the best tackling hooker alongside Roby, not just the number but the quality. He's made half the errors Mcshane has, he makes over a metre more per carry than McShane, he misses far fewer tackles than McShane and doesn't go missing when the chips are down.
mcshane should be nowhere near the England squad, he's simply not good enough, if he gets in front of Houghton who IMO has being short changed it's ludicrous.
So far who has played at hooker the last couple of years hasn't impressed, Clarke or Hodgson for that matter haven't done anything of note in an England jersey. Clarke is a glorified scoot merchant, misses too many tackles and makes too many errors.

Houghton would at least take some of the work load off the forwards in the tackling stakes for his spell and I think he should be used as a starter. Roby or Hodgson coming on to spell him.

It should be pointed out that Hodgson isn't playing anywhere near as well as he was last year.

It should also be pointed out that the much-vaunted English forwards generally get smashed by Australia's 'weaker' pack when it matters.

You've conveniently ignored other stats that don't suit. McShane has more clean breaks, nearly 4 times as many assists, more offloads, twice as many tackle busts. The day the Aussies pick a hooker just because he is a tackling machine is the day we might stand a chance. A hooker is an extra half back these days. Houghton is a head down workhorse. Great SL mind.

Based on those stats I'd have McShane over houghton every single time

Regards

King James

Luckily nobody is interested in what you think.

Madness. I'm not a fan of Houghton but McShane is so overrated it's unreal.

Is he heck overrated

I agree.
McShane playes very well in a very good Cas team and has some excellent utility value for them (covering SH if needed) but, he's not as good as Houghton or Clarke.
Hodgson has looked nothing more than steady for England and seem to be one of those who gets the nod because he plays down under.
Clarke is a bit better than a "scoot merchant" and can score out of nothing if he gets quick ptb or tha defence is lazy. IMO he's better at this than Houghton.

Your judgement is gash. He's probably been our best player this season. His defence isn't brilliant but ball in hand he's a class player. Not starting England quality but squad material.

Eden back in about four weeks.
Surely a certainty for left wing?
A left edge of Gale, Hardaker, Shenton and Eden gives England the best chance of success. I'd also be tempted to run McMeekan in that side (he plays on the right edge for Cas).
They might not be the best individually (though they might be) but the advantage of playing together successfully all season surely counts for something?

I'm not convinced it works. I can't remember the Aussies ever picking a bunch of players because they play together? They just pick the best players in their relative position. In the opener of 2013 WC the 17 Aussie players came from 9 different clubs!

We also tried it in 2008 with Leeds players and failed massively.

4. Senior
5. Calderwood/Smith
6. McGuire
7. Burrow
12. Ellis

Anyone who thinks Eden should be picked over Ryan Hall is mental.

The australians have SOO though, giving many players the opportunity to develop combinations.
I suspect Australia's spine this year will be Slater, Cronk, Munster and Smith (all Melbourne).
Im not advocating picking players simply because they play together, but it has to be an advantage.

Over McGilvary though, any day of the week.

Also why should Ryan Hall be picked? Because he's experienced? You need to move on from players who are regular failures but get picked just because of their name and/or club affiliation.

Hall isn't beating anyone down the left edge and he isn't chasing anyone down if they get past him. He also only has 9 tries (according to the SL website) that hardly screams "pick me!" when it comes to international selection, does it?

England aren't winning the World Cup picking the tried & tested failures of the last decade, time to give some new blood a chance.

Tries: Eden 34; Hall 9.
Tackle Busts: Eden 56; Hall 34.
Average gain: Eden 8.41; Hall 7.99
Clean Breaks: Eden 40; Hall 11.

Picking players because they used to be good is mental. Hall has been an excellent winger over the years, but his form in 2016 and 2017 doesn't warrant international selection.
On the other hand, Eden's time in Australia has clearly improved him massively as a player. At the moment, he's the best English winger and far better than Ryan Hall.

I'd pick Hardaker at FB and McShane at 9. Wingers, I'm not too fussed who gets the nod.

Only concern with Eden is he still has that odd concentration lapse where he has his elbows far too wide apart when fielding a kick which leads to the knock on under no pressure.

I'll never be described as a Whino cheerleader but Ryan Hall is the one England player that has consistently performed to a high standard for the team in the last few years - no one else is even close. Until there is clear evidence that he has lost it at international level then its his spot to lose. Eden's "massive" improvement as a player wasn't good enough to secure him future employment in the NRL. Yes he's going well in a team on an impressive winning streak but all that means is there has so far been little opportunity for him to be tested and see if he really has improved his pathetic tackling and dodgy handling under pressure which used to be a stand out feature of his game. Apart from Hall, McGillvray and Burgess are much better qualified for internationals.

Eden has improved his defence, I wouldn't say his tackling is much of a problem. The technique lapses under the high ball when there's no pressure is what needs fully ironing out and it is becoming less frequent. This world cup might be a bit early for him but the next year or 2? He should be a first choice winger if he continues his upward trend.

eden has had problems scoring past fcs' big wingers in 3 games, no tries i believe!

he would face bigger and better wingers v aus and the kiwis, for that reason, ryan hall for me over eden by a mile

He's scored some great try's for Cas but so has every other player on Cas' left wing.
They (Cas) are very good at making space out there and I'm not certain that that necessarily makes Eden a top winger.
Time will tell.

There is evidence has declined at SL level though, given his stats compared to other wingers. Waiting until a player fails at international level is a recipe for defeat, when it is clear there are better options available.
As for his "pathetic tackling", Eden has missed 9 tackles this year. Hall has missed 20.
I agree that a winger's success is heavily influenced by the quality of the centre he plays alongside and many if Eden's tries are down the Shenton, who should be playing left centre at the World Cup.