i am guessing that he is in for versatility value more than anything.

as well as predominantly being 2nd row or loose forward - he has played half back for Saints this year, so if any of the outside backs get injured, Eastmond can move and he can cover at 7. He can also cover dummy half if required.

Eastmond has been on the bench as he can cover multiple positions, and Wilkin is just taking that role on.

Also, who else is there?? No point in having a winger on the bench, and we already are overloaded with props on the field and on the bench.

Ok then as a England Fan who by the way was at the game last week thinks McGuire and Smith should be dropped because they where s**t. THAT BETTER.

Ah, so you're saying my mistake was looking for a plan where there is none. He's just been picked to allow us to play it by ear.

You're right there isn't anyone else. Normally you'd have an impact hooker on the bench but he's starting.

Jon Wilkin is a perfect utility player. He could cover all positions on the field 'well' I reckon.

Would anyone be overly concerned if we had to throw him on at centre, half, hooker, second row or loose? I bet there aren't too many who could do that.

Did you write that because that's how you genuinely feel or are you a little embarrassed now having earlier nailed your club colours to the England flag?

Me for one. He's not big enough or fast enough. I thought exactly the same about Sinfield until last week. Jack of all trades, master of none. He has been ragged around like a doll down under already.

Apparently not well enough. Also, despite recent form I guess many Wiganers would class O'Loughlin, Hock, Tomkins and Fielding at least as 'superstars'.

Standee would be equally disgusted with that appointment also. He used to play for Rovers, so he would be another no, no.

Wilkin is not good enough to play aussies or kiwis

Best 17 he could pick IMO

The best side Tony Smith has so far put out. I'm reasonably happy with his selections this time round.

Kiwi's name their team:

Hohaia; Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Foran (Manly), Sau (Newcastle), Goodwin (Canterbury Bulldogs); Marshall (Wests Tigers, capt), Fien (St George Illawarra); Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters), Leuluai (Wigan), Moimoi (Parramatta), Soliola (Sydney Roosters), Pritchard (Penrith), Blair (Melbourne).

Substitutes: Luke (South Sydney), Lima (Melbourne), Matulino, Waerea-Hargreaves (Manly).

[url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/09/11/05/RUGBYL_New_Zealand_Nightlead.htmlLink.[/url

Shaun Briscoe
Peter Fox
Chris Bridge
Michael Shenton
Ryan Hall
Sam Tomkins
Kyle Eastmond
=redAdrian Morley
=redJames Roby
James Graham
=redJamie Peacock
Gareth Ellis
=redKevin Sinfield

Bench:
Sam Burgess
Eorl Crabtree
Ben Westwood
=redJon Wilkin


5 out of 17 of the "tried trusted and failed" still there, but looking promising the rest.

Sadly, unlike Austrlian options of several players for each position, I would really struggle to find obvious replacements for those highlighted in Red.

If this team decides to play rugby then maybe they can win it.

If they play Sooooperdooooper league style they wont!

My thoughts exactly.

However it does not fill me with confidence in Tony Smith that after 2 years in the job, dozens of training sessions, watching the players all season he does not know what is his best team, best players or best tactics.

At this rate any of us could be a national coach. Just keep making changes until the team win a game and then stick with them.



My only issue is having Peacock in the second row other than that it is a fair team.

That is exactly what i would have done. it gives you a bigger team on the pitch at the begining and definitely plays to Robys strength of scooting and going through gaps left by tired forwards.

The current team looks like i will try this team and if it does not go well we will wing it. ( Which appears to be exactly what Burgess said in League express this week about the game against Australia.).

If it was the Aussies again im not sure Peacock would be starting in the 2nd row but against the bigger less mobile kiwi's i dont think it will be as much of a problem.
Still not sure on Chris Bridge, but as has been stated many times what options do we have??? I know he has done ok for Wire this year but there is a big difference between doing ok in SL and playing against the big boys, but i suppose that could be said about all of them!
Massive game required from Sinfield.

Has anyone considered that Peacock may actually start in the front-row and Morley in the second-row defending inside Bridge? - something that they've done this year if Wire fans can confirm

thats what it smacks of,

which is crazy, because strength in depth isnt the area we are going to beat the Aussies in

Totally agree. The one shame about Jon is he could have become a world class (well, better than Sculthorpe...) mobile 13 / occasional 6 or 7 if he'd been given more game time there earlier in his career. See the Saints cup win at Leeds for an example of his potential. Why he has been pigeon-holed as a ball playing second row is beyond me.

Expect Sinfield to rotate with Roby, and Wilkin will fill in at Lock.

www.therfl.co.uk/superleague/new ... p?id=15873 No McGuire, Smith or T Briscoe. Eastmond-Tomkins at half back. Bridge-Fox on right flank.

www.therfl.co.uk/superleague/new ... p?id=15873 No McGuire, Smith or T Briscoe. Eastmond-Tomkins at half back. Bridge-Fox on right flank.

Seems the coach either watched the last match or has bowed to fan pressure.

Fan pressure obviously.......



Can't really disagree with what Smith's done, and when you look at his selections over the whole series you cannot challenge his boldness. Not one of the back division against the Kiwis will have played against Oz/NZ before this year.

I feel for Tom Briscoe - Smith obviously feels he was out of his depth. I guess that's the sort of selection that could only have a great/awful outcome, and the lad is young so should have plenty of time to get back in there. At least Fox is a genuine right wing with some pace.

As for Lee Smith and McGuire - I didn't want Lee Smith in the squad in the first place, and McGuire needs to have a look at why he's been dropped and do something about it. IMO he needs to have a long hard look at what he does for Leeds and what improvements he needs to make in his game. He does have all the skills, but is far too inconsistent, in part because of how he plays for Leeds as one of up to four 'playmakers'. When he comes to play for England he's asked to play a more complete role and he really struggles. He also needs to learn to calm the heck down when playing for England, and learn to make far better decisions with the ball than he does under pressure.

Anyway, I wish England all the best. I hope these kids all play blinders. I suspect even if they do it won't be enough, but a good showing against the Kiwis would put this group into a good mindset ahead of future campaigns. All we need then is for them to be joined by a lot more quality youngsters and maybe the future would not seem so bleak. As it is, I hate to say it but unless they were really competitive against Aus in the final it would be better if they didn't get there. Better a glorious failure at this stage than a scrambled win against NZ and a disaster against Aus.

Quote ="nottinghamtiger"www.therfl.co.uk/superleague/news_item.php?id=15873 No McGuire, Smith or T Briscoe. Eastmond-Tomkins at half back. Bridge-Fox on right flank.'" viewtopic.php?t=435931 Not been on much today?

Quote ="nottinghamtiger"www.therfl.co.uk/superleague/news_item.php?id=15873 No McGuire, Smith or T Briscoe. Eastmond-Tomkins at half back. Bridge-Fox on right flank.'" viewtopic.php?t=435931 Not been on much today?

Wilkin's main problem so far at international level has been that he's been played as a running forward, and if he does again he'll get exactly the same result - he will be smashed all over the field, as he's simply not big enough. If he can play a more intelligent role for England - covering in defence and adding to the attacking line he would be far more effective. England have plenty of biff and barge merchants already.