Does it really matter? Either way England loses and complains.

1. Smith
2. Fox
3. Shenton
4. Eastmond.
5. Hall
6. McGuire
7. Myler

8. Morley
9. Moore
10. Peacock
11. Ellis
12. Westwood
13. O'loughlin

14. Roby
15. Graham
16. Burgess
17. Crabtree

Everyone has their opinions, but i think thats got a good mix of pace in the backline and mobility in the backrow with a lot of grunt and go forward up front.

Cant really drop McGuire or Myler who were good against france (fair enough a poor french team).

Wish people would stop putting Ellis in the centre, totally negates what he is good at and thats work rate, carrying the ball, offloading and defence.

I've got no complaints with the squad.

That pack looks powerful and mobile and should be able to go toe to toe with the Aussies and Kiwis.

We all know we're a country mile behind Australia in the backs, so as League Freak says we might as well give some of these young lads who've shown a bit of potential a go rather than stick with players we already know aren't good enough.

Eastmond's future is as a halfback, but I'd wait until he's got a season under his belt playing first receiver for Saints before throwing him in the deep end, particularly as I think McGuire and Tomkins would make a decent combo, and as Myler is knocking about as well. He'll be useful to have around though and could well figure in the three-quarters.

One thing our backline will have that it's not had for ages is pace, but we'll still be lacking the size and explosive power the antipodeans have in that department.

Should be an interesting series. I just hope we see vast improvements in our organisation in both attack and defence, which was frankly comical in the World Cup.

It's an interesting squad to say the least. The omission of several names is a brave step and I'm glad Smith had the nerve to do it.

Looking at the squad itself, it seems to me that for the first time in a long while a GB/England coach is putting together a team that will play to his system instead of trying to fit a system round the players.

I still don't think England will do anything in this tournament, but hopefully they won't embarrass themselves

Number 2.

Whilst i'm quite happy with the squad picked you have to think we're going to get destroyed outwide. We've alot of lttle uns in that squad who will come up against some powerful centres from Australia and New Zealand.

Sinfield to do the kicking?

Bridge, Eastmond, Myler, Sinfield, Smith, Sykes and Tomkins can all kick goals. Amirite?

"Sam Burgess (Bradford Bulls, Dewsbury Moor)

Kyle Eastmond (St Helens, Oldham St Annes)

James Graham (St Helens, Blackbrook)

Sam Tomkins (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)

interesting....pick a team out of that!"

I did but I don't think 4 men stand a chance to be honest

Why doesnt Matt Diskin ever get a look in, Leeds fans could tell me better but what ive seen this season hes had a great season and in my view probably the best hooker in SL this season, cant believe he didnt get picked, or is there a valid reason for this.

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 282558.stm Something on the BBC website that doesn't seem to have been discussed on this thread yet - the squad for the game against Wales being different to the squad for the 4 Nations. Fine, this gives the Leeds & Saints players a week off after the GF but to me this seems a bit of a gamble by Tony Smith. The lack of cohesion between the players in the World Cup squad (mainly Leeds & Saints!!!) was blatantly obvious and surely it would have been better for England's prospects in the 4 Nations to have the tournament squad using the Wales game as a warm up. Regardless of the quality of individual players in the squad, I think the decision to give the Leeds & Saints players a week off could well come back to bite Tony Smith on the backside. On the brightside I guess that means I'll see what will be a warm-up for the final at The Stoop next weekend!

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 282558.stm Something on the BBC website that doesn't seem to have been discussed on this thread yet - the squad for the game against Wales being different to the squad for the 4 Nations. Fine, this gives the Leeds & Saints players a week off after the GF but to me this seems a bit of a gamble by Tony Smith. The lack of cohesion between the players in the World Cup squad (mainly Leeds & Saints!!!) was blatantly obvious and surely it would have been better for England's prospects in the 4 Nations to have the tournament squad using the Wales game as a warm up. Regardless of the quality of individual players in the squad, I think the decision to give the Leeds & Saints players a week off could well come back to bite Tony Smith on the backside. On the brightside I guess that means I'll see what will be a warm-up for the final at The Stoop next weekend!

Won't they still be training together?

Fair comment, I just don't like the idea of playing a dark side defect

I would suggest that the risks here are somewhat mitigated y the fact that England's first 4 nations game is against France - you can't count your chickens but England surely can't lose to France!!

Think it's more a case of have kicked goals, rather then can kick goals with some of them. Myler for instance has kicked goals for England against France, but missed any that weren't in front of the sticks.

Either way there's three guys who kick on a weekly basis there so it shouldn't be a problem for us.

Stalker alert



Well why pick harrison in the train on squad thus denying him the opportunity to play for Ireland this autumn then not pick him.

Obviously sees him as one for the future, i would love to know the deatils of the discussion between Harrison and Smith and what the irish coaches think of it.

I agree with leaving Pryce and Wellens out but would he have done it if he had been manager of Saints rather than Wire.

Senior had retired so no surprise. Burrow is the only surprise really apart from picking Atkins ( i would have had Gilmour or Lawrence or about 10 other players in ahead of him). But maybe he is in because he is a Warrington player

I will give Smith the benefit of the doubt and we will see how his selection goes over the 4 games.

None of it chganges my view that i do not trust tony Smith being a club coach and national coach at the same time or that he is thinking more about Warrington than the game of RL as a whole

Okay, so what drugs TS is on leaving out Burrow I have no idea, but I would reckon

Briscoe
Fox Eastmond Hall Smith
Tomkins Myler
Sinfield
Ellis Wilkin
Peacock Moore Graham

Bench: Roby, Morley, Burgess, Maguire

With maybe Bridge, Crabtree and Shenton with a look in.

It does mean lots of youth pulling the strings, but Eastmond works in the centres and adds extra creativity, lessening the pressure on Myler and Tomkins.
Roby and Morely work well from the bench, as does Maguire and he could cover the backs for any possible injury. Burgess from the bench can swap for a prop or a second row with impact.

In fact, this is close to the best team available to TS.

With all the forwards available to Smith why start with Sinfield and Wilkin which seriously reduces the size of the pack? (in fact I wouldn't have either in the 17 - maybe Sinfield if Smith was building a team around him)

and has Hall played in the centre this year / at all?

I laughed hard too. He is awful anmd I just don't see what he has done this year to warrant selection? Maybe he has sucked Tony Smith off, who knows?

As for my team, based on that:

S. Briscoe
Fox
Shenton
Eastmond
Hall
McGuire
Tomkins
Graham
Moore
Morley
Peacock
Ellis
O'Loughlin

Roby
Carvell
Burgess
Wilkin

We're badly short in the Centres, so I've had to go with Eastmond and Shenton. Ellis is another possibility at Right Centre, but then I think we lack a bit of grunt in the back row.

Very true sadly. I also thought about Ellis in the centres, as did Leaguefreak

Looks pretty close to the best team from the squad available - I think Myler will keep his place in the team from the French test and I have my doubts over Wilkin but I would be happy with that line up

Full back: Briscoe
Wing: Hall, Fox
Centre: Eastmond, Shenton
Half backs: McGuire, Sinfield

Props: Graham, Peacock
Hooker: Moore
2nd Row: Ellis, Burgess
Loose Forward: O’Loughlin

Subs: Roby, Carvell, Morely, Crabtree

Left out Smith on the basis looking to the future, if we're more concerned about winning though, I'd play him at full back, centre, or wing.

Not sure Myler and Tomkins are ready, depsite impressive years, in what is already going to be a very inexperienced set of backs. Plus I think Sinfield and McGuire work very well together. If one of Tomkins or Myler plays, drop Sinfield to Loose, O'Loughlin to the bench and Crabtree misses out.

Oh dear

Sykes!?



Bet Inglis is ting himself

WTF! Why is someone who is leaving for another code in that squad. An absolute disgrace. Stick Leon Pryce in at centre before giving a place to someone who is defecting. A squad with the 2013 WC in mind; has Tony Smith been told by Lee that he is only going to make a few quid and return in a few years.

No Burrow is the one that really suprised me; although he still can't boss a game in the traditional no 7 style, but isn't that what makes him a great SL player.

That would be a case of cutting your nose of to spite your face.
If Smith (T) thinks Smith (L) is the best avaialble then he's 100% correct in including him.

Having seen that squad i dont think I'll bother making the England v Aus game , it will be embarassing