should be:

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Josh Charnley
3. Kallum Watkins
4. Leroy Cudjoe
5. Ryan Hall
6. Kevin Sinfield (C)
7. Rangi Chase
8. George Burgess
9. James Roby
10. James Graham
11. Sam Burgess
12. Ben Westwood
13. Sean O'Loughlin

14. Rob Burrow
15. Chris Hill
16. Tom Burgess
17. Brett Ferres

For me Ferris keeps his place.
Burgess will probably get a ban so O'loughlin can replace him but if not Westwood should be on the bench

Chase can't be involved again IMO. He isn't offering enough and looks out if his depth.

Its a different thing picking a team I want to what it actually will be. I'd move Tomkins up to 6 and put Hardaker in at 1 but it won't happen. If it was up to me I'd go-

Hardaker
Charnley
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall
Tomkins
Sinfield
G Burgess
Roby
Hill
Ferres
Burgess
O'Loughlin

Subs
Graham
Westwood
Farrell
Burrow

That teams our best hope of winning the competition IMO but I don't expect to see it anytime soon.

In a way it should not matter who turns out.


Just a pity that the players who needed to drink, excluded themselves out of the key game in the group.

You honestly expect Sam Burgess to be available for this game after he nearly took Thaiday's head off? We'll be lucky to have him back for the Fiji match.

I'd line up like this

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall
Widdop
Sinfield
Graham
Roby
Hill
Ferres
Westwood
O' Loughlin

McIlorum
G Burgess
T Burgess
Farrell

I would bring in Hardaker at No 1 bringing Tomkins at No 6 alongside (last chance) Chase at No 7.
Sinfield operating at No 13, Graham replaces Mossop and starting prop with Hill.

Burrow on the bench to play at 7 or 9.

Ideally props from the bench should have been G Burgess and Crabtree, so it looks as though T Burgess could get anther gig.

if Burgess is suspended, I'd start Ferres alongside Westwood and bring Carl Ablett onto the bench.

O'loughlin's fitness permitting i would expect all seven that were not involved against Aus to play in this one. That is quite important for squad harmony. After that every player will have had a chance. I am sure everyone will get a run against Ireland or Fiji

not sure which game people who thought Sinfield played poorly were watching. On yesterdays form the England players who should be nervous about selection for the quarters would be T Burgess, Mossop, Widdop and surprisingly Westwood. They should though all get another chance to impress.

I have to say despite pre-tournament criticism both centres played very well and both Ferres and Ablett in the second row performed very well also. That said the quarter final selection should be made on tournament form after the next two games, plenty opportunities for all to impress.

I’m not sure I would have selected Chase in the squad but to be fair he is a man of steel winner (and one of those players who people would say ‘if only Chase was English’ if we wasn’t with us)

Anyway, now the squad has been selected I think McNamara needs to develop some continuity and get us playing together as a team both in attack and defence. This means don’t shuffle the team around as they won’t get a chance to gel

We have two more group games and a quarter final which ‘should’ be reasonably straight forward so we can develop this continuity over the next 3 weeks ready for the semi which is looming against New Zealand

This means…

The backline of Tomkins, Hall, Cudjoe, Watkins and Charnley is the best we can put out, let’s fill them full of confidence by running in a few tries

Sinfield and Chase now have a chance to work together for a month and get some real understanding

Some rotation in the forwards for the next few games may be more sensible (and enforced with S. Burgess) but from what we saw yesterday a front row rotation of Sam Burgess, George Burgess, Graham and Hill would provide 80 minutes of go forward

Ferres was very good and has some size so I think he keeps his spot and while Westwood gave away a few dumb penalties, he has enough credit built up for another shot, O’Loughlin back to lock the scrum would add another dimension

Not for the Ireland necessarily but as we move towards the back end of the tournament

Tomkins

Hall
Cudjoe
Watkins
Charnley

Chase
Sinfield
Roby

Front row rotation of G Burgess, S. Burgess, Graham & Hill

Westwood
Ferres
O’Loughlin

Interchange

The two front rowers not starting plus
Michael McIlorum
Carl Ablett

Is it possible to bring Crabtree into the England squad or not? Regardless of whether he would or not

Like yesterday then?

Sinfield is still the biggest liability IMO.
He is not a half back for a start.

It would seem that those in the NRL disagree.

With Sam Burgess

1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Watkins
4. Cudjoe
5. Hall
6. Widdop
7. Chase
8. G Burgess
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Westwood
12. Sam Burgess/Ferres
13. Sinfield

14. O'Loughlin
15. Hill
16. Ferres/Farrell
17. Burrow

If no Sam Burgess then Ferres starting with Farrell on bench.

Change the record, its getting boring.

Sinfield did alright yesterday. He just went about his business with little fuss but the balance is right in that half back pairing unless Chase decides to start testing the line more.

What a waste of a bench spot having Widdop on there is as well. Get Rob Burrow in to add some impact.

1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Watkins
4. Cudjoe
5. Hall
6. Widdop
7. Sinfield

8. Hill
9. Roby
10. G Burgess
11. Ferres
12. Westwood
13. O'Loughlin - on the basis S Burgess out

14. Burrow/McIlorum
15. Graham
16. T Burgess
17. Ablett/Farrell

I don't see the point in changing the starting front row from yesterday, as they started superbly. Graham can come on and do big mins.

I'd try Widdop for this match, then make the decision of who to go with for the rest of the tournament.

Tomkins
Charnley/Briscoe
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall
Widdop
Sinfield
Hill
Roby
G Burgess
Ferres
Westwood
O'Loughlin

McIlorum
Ablett
Graham
Mossop

I'm forgiving a couple of poor performances, could easily have Farrell in for Ablett and both Mossop or T Burgess would be lucky to keep their places. Would like to see Widdop being given more of a run, it's a waste of a bench space.

I'm also assuming Sam will be banned.

100% spot on for me.

I agree, Sinfield did okay yesterday, better than Chase anyway.
Why people want to put a full back at 6 when he's not played there in years and Sinfield at Loose Forward when he's not played there in years I can't understand.
The World Cup has started, this isn't the time to start chopping the team around and playing players out of position.
I'd bring O'Loughlin in for the probably banned Sam Burgess and Graham in for one of Tom Burgess or Mossop and then bring Sam Burgess in for the Fiji game.

My rationale is simple - I believe he could win us matches from that position and even with lack of experience could offer alot more threat and better defence than chase. Hardaker is a good full back. Overall I feel the TEAM (after all its a team sport and when the going gets tough you're only as good as your weakest link - which to me is Chase) would be stronger. It shouldn't be about individuals and preferred positions but the team. If Sam is as talented rugby player as people say he should be able to excel anywhere in the back line.

The great German football striker Gerd Muller once played full back and was man of the match. If you've got you can play.

I recall Widnes having to put prop Mike O'Neill on the wing because of injuries in a televised match. Alex Murphy joked he'd like to see him go the full length. A minute later the ball went across and he whizzed in (Albeit from about 25 yards). Likewise, Kurt Sorensen once. That's because they were both deceptively quick and good players.

With Burgess...

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall
Chase
Sinfield
Hill
McLlorum
G Burgess
Ferres
S Burgess
O'Loughlin

Roby (On after 20 for the remainder)
Graham (Used like at the Bulldogs on after 20 for remainder)
Westwood (Brought on for a prop and S Burgess pushed to front row)
Farrell

Without Sam Burgess start Westwood and play Mossop or Tom Burgess off the bench.

I don't think Sam Burgess should be banned - he committed himself but the guy's head was low.

I'd go with the lads with some thing to prove and the lads needing to force their way in. So

Hardaker
Briscoe
Ablett
Cudjoe
Charnley
Widdop
Sinfield
Graham
Mcilorum
Tom Burgess
Westwood
Ferres
O'loughlin

Burrow
Mossop
Farrell
G Burgess

O'Loughlin Sinfield, Roby Tomkins, hall and S Burgess all own their shirts, But I've kept Sinfield in as we need to see how Widdop plays with Sinfield and OLoughlin needs games. The others wont be harmed by a rest and it gives those fighting for or to hold on to a shirt to push for it

Given that most would go with a 2 prop and 1 back rower bench then it's a question of how you use that last bench spot.

Personally would go straight swap at hooker and have McIlorum there, but.....

If you wanted something different, I'd ignore having Widdop or Burrow there. For the latter's style to work we need quick PTB's, won't happen against the Aussies without a natural hooker leading the forwards around.

As I've suggested before this year I'd use a ploy Leeds used back in the late 90's. Iestyn Harris (very similar to Tomkins in being the wow player of his day) would start at FB at Leeds with Powell at 6. Halfway through the match we would bring St. Hilaire off the bench for Powell, slot him in at FB and move Harris up to 6.
I reckon you could go that route with Hardaker coming off the bench.
Tomkins gets more hands on the ball and you introduced another exciting runner at FB. You could do it straight forward with Tomkins then moving out to defend wide like most halves or you could defensively leave him at FB with Hardaker out there as he has decent experience of defending around that area from his time at centre.