on TalkSport a moment ago, they started talking about the Union internationals. Bob Mills who is on the show said that he was talking to one of his mates in London on Sunday and he asked if he saw the Rugby. Turns out Bob was talking about the England union game and his mate was talking about the game against Tonga. Danny Murphy then said "England are through the League World Cup Final but we havent even talked about that" Bob Mills then replied to say the reason for that is because James (The producer of that radio show) was a public school boy! Even the media acknowledge the reason for our limited news worthiness

stan james

true

i put my money on england finishing runners up though at 2/1 a few weeks back

If Lockers is fit, we might have a chance. They're going to come out and try to blow us off the park in the first 20. We need to live with them and smash them back. My heart says England, but my head says their 1, 6, 7 and 9 are just too far ahead of ours. Slater's speed worries me, and Roby's great, but he hasn't got Smith's kicking game. If Aus get within 10m they rarely leave without scoring. England on the other hand, have looked less capable of scoring the closer they get to the oppo line. What I do know is that Bennett is settled on his team and no amount of whinging over Bateman etc is going to change anything. It's time to get behind the lads!

Sorry, I meant Bateman! Not on best form since visiting hospital mast week.

We can, but I don't think we will. We need to rough them up IMO, an undisciplined game suits us much more than them. The big difference for me is how well they win the quick ptb in attack, and (legally) slow us down in defense. Then they get close to our line and force repeat set after repeat set, whereas we look for the wonder-ball on 2nd tackle.

I hope they are doing everything they can to help Lockers recover, he would be a massive miss for us. I'm less bothered about Hodgson, I'd have Roby doing 80 and add Taylor to the bench, suspect Bennett will use Williams though.

Good. Get the beer in?

We need them to be underdone or complacent and suffer a bit of a setback e.g. a game ending injury early on to Cronk, Smith or Slater. Then if we're playing out of our skins we can do it. It'll take an upset bigger than any we've had before and if it happens Her Maj should start doling out the knighthoods.

I've only seen three away wins versus the Aussies in the 37 years I've watched the game (88, 92 and 06) so perhaps that suggests we're due one in the next 3 years or so.

Not a chance in hell.

vodka.

the 1/5 for Australia doesnt interest me but it will the big players, the way they look at it is that they will make more money on their 10k in 80mins than they will with the bank interest rates ...

Just watched a Rugby AM interview with George Burgess who was saying that Sam Burgess can't wait to captain the team on Saturday. It sounded as though Lockers has been all but ruled out. They also spoke about Sam Burgess playing loose forward.

If Lockers is out then I'd want Graham playing 13 as a ball player with Walmsley or Tom Burgess going in to a starting shirt. I'd then bring Scott Taylor on to the bench along with George Williams.

Proper gamblers wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole as there is zero value in the bet. Only people backing Australia are your typical “mug” punters and the bookies will be rubbing their hands with glee when people bet on Australia

Regards

King James

Suggests to me O'L will be playing.

England will win 6-10 points put your mortgage on it

Wow, what a horrendous shout that is. Glad you are not the coach.

When they've been naming the 17 they've announced 4 reserves and last week it was in order

Lomax
Heighington
Percival
Taylor

So can see Lomax being on the bench taking Hodgsons spot and Heighington if O'Loughlin misses out.

Rather then just making noise give some reasons why then.

Graham and O'Loughlin both play in and around the middle, both take it right to the line and both can play with the ball. It seems logical to me but enlighten me with your wisdom.

There's a chance but we're looking at something along the lines of Sheffield beating Wigan in the cup in '98. Although there's a much greater chance it's more like the Leeds vs HKR Cup Final in 2015.

It's a slim chance but at least we're still in it unlike the last few tournaments. If NZ get their act together by the time of the next WC we might have another 2 decade wait for a final appearance.

Bennett doesn't use a ball-handling 13. He wants his full back for that role - for Widdopp see Darius Boyd. Most commentators here have been underwhelmed with O'Loughlin, which to be fair to him is partly down to the fact that Bennett doesn't see him as having any kind of playmaking role. Given the role he has been playing, his loss won't be as massive as it could be.

Sadly I'm with bullseye - we need Australia to be complacent and some major luck on our side in terms of injury and ref's decisions to stand a chance, because basically Australia are 20+ better than us. The only way I can see that changing is if we come up with some attacking plays we haven't used before so far, which given the way Bennett coaches is unlikely.

Because James Graham has started 5 games at lock / loose forward since his St Helens debut in 2003. Logical you say?


Chris Heighington is in the 17. A scapegoat in waiting, and he wouldn't be my choice, but he hasn't let anyone down so far I guess. Roby to play 80 mins then.

Full team
Widdop
McGillvary
Watkins
Bateman
Hall
Brown
Gale
Hill
Roby
Graham
S Burgess
Whitehead
O'Loughlin

Walmsley
T Burgess
Currie
Heighington

Lomax
Taylor
Williams
Percival

You didn't want Widdop at fullback a couple of weeks back, calling people crazy for daring to suggest it.

There isn't a great deal of difference between how Graham plays the prop role and how Lockers plays at loose forward.

For a coach who doesn't want a ball playing loose forward, he's letting Lockers give a fair impression of one. He's organised the side and most of our best work in attack has started with a slick pass in the middle from O'Loughlin to one of the halves.

The commentary must be a fair bit different in Oz also. He's been praised to the hilt over here (by Aussies as well) and a lot of people are starting to notice what we see at Wigan, when Lockers isn't on the field we lose shape and simply aren't as good.

He'd be a huge loss for Saturday if he doesn't pull through. Think back to last years game at Olympic Park against the Aussies if you need a reminder of how unorganised we may look on Saturday if he doesn't make it.

Heighington is about the only one who knows how to consistently beat Melbourne

I feel sorry for Hodgson missing out through injury, but Roby has been great when he's played so I'm not worried from a playing perspective. Likewise I really hope that O'Loughlin is fit, partly because he's been playing well but also because it's realistically his last chance to play in a WC final. It would be a shame if he were to miss out.

People keep going on about there being 4 forwards on the bench but we have played the last few games like that so far.