Just been announced - no Rangi Chase!

Injury or scared he will be targeted by Issac Luke and co??

Or dropped? Interesting choice give that McNamara has been planning a Sinfield / Chase halfback pairing for 2 years +.

Hope chase has been dropt for me I do not like the guy and no its not because he is not English you can predict what he is going to do all the time good choice widdop

Well I don't think anyone saw that coming!

while he has been iffy, it would be a very bold move to drop Chase at this late stage. Widdop has played about 40-50 mins in this tournament, and from memory has never played in the halves with Sinfield.

No Chase or MM in the team and Widdop back makes me feel a little more positive.

Maybe SM has finally seen sense on RC. Then again why wait till now to do it? GW has hardly played.

Except those of us who were told on Tuesday through contacts that both were in McNamara's bad books and wouldn't be playing in either the semi or final if England make it.

very interesting, id have to assume either injury or McNamara had this switch in mind the whole time!

Big risk to switch half-backs mid comp

Dont understand this at all. Having spent 3 years priming Sinfield and Chase for the halfbacks, he drops one of them for the "biggest game in a generation"

Widdop will be going in completely undercooked, having had just 2 lots of 20 mins since September.

If that is true why didn't you say something earlier in the week?

I think we all prayed for it, and the team will benefit from it. Well done whoever made that call

Tomkins

Hall cudjoe Watkins Charnley

Sinfield Widdop

Hill Roby Graham
Westwood Ferres
Burgess

Burrow Burgess O'Loughlin Mossop/Farrell

Dont understand this at all. Having spent 3 years priming Sinfield and Chase for the halfbacks, he drops one of them for the "biggest game in a generation"

Widdop will be going in completely undercooked, having had just 2 lots of 20 mins since September.

I don't think Chase is the right kind of player for England anyway, Too ball greedy and not enough of a team player. But I'd assumed he would be picked anyway because it was too late to change anything at such a late stage. so as much as it's what I'd imagine a lot of us wanted, it's happened so late now that it will probably only have a detrimental effect.


However I get the impression this is more about something that has happened in the background rather than the form of players otherwise Chase would no doubt still be in.

Sounds interesting; tell us more please!

I fear this could be a huge mistake. Widdop was out June-September and has only played a handful of minutes for England the last few years. The only benefit I can see is that New Zealand will have spent all week studying Rangi Chase in video sessions.

I suppose we might even see Burrow and Widdop together at some point too.

I am not happy that Charnley is still in but we cannot have it all i suppose.

Burrow to partner Sinfield anyone?

You would presume its Widdop for Chase but nothing can be assumed with McNamara. After all, as already mentioned Widdop is under cooked, Burrow could well be in the halves with Widdop having time on the bench at some point.

The squad has been training together more or less every day for weeks. Minimal actual game time doesn't really matter.

I'd like to see all three Burgess' in the 17 & Burrow for the semi with Farell & McIlorum coming back into the 17 in place of Burrow & T Burgess for the final.

Im sure Widdop will be fine, im sure he's been training hard and knows the drills, but this is a very strange call from McNamara at this stage of the tournament.

Don't really like Mossop being in there either.

Pleased McIlorum's out and Burrow's in though.

Well it will be interesting for sure!, I would have liked to have seen Widdop play the full 80 before this game, but I do rate him and with Sinfield calling the shots it will be more like the role he plays for the Storm.

Hes OK anyway, if we fail to get to the final, Sinfield has already been lined up as the scapegoat so the pressures off Widdop

Could be and to be honest i would rather have that then RC & KS. I wish Widdop had been given more game time though.
I would love to see Burrow and Widdop having a stab at em..

You've got to have Sinfield in the halves, his kicking game is so important in Test matches.

Its a gamble but one worth taking IMO. He should have given him more of a run before now though if he planned to play him in the big games. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't though I suppose.

As for the team I'd leave out Ablett and Farrell and go-

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

Subs
G Burgess Mossop Westwood Burrow

Some really strong impact from that bench and I think we need that. I think Ferres has earned a starting spot as has Chris Hill.

I hate these 'in the know' people who love to dangle tit bits to try and show off about their 'insider' info without really giving anything away. Either come out and say it or shut up and respect the fact that you were told whatever it is in confidence!

I think this could be a master stroke from McNamara. England have so many options and the Kiwis can simply not plan for them. Its a mix bag:

GW & KS
KS & RB
RB & GW

With three possible hookers in Roby, Burrow & Sinfield. Personally any of the three possible half back combos, with at least 2 been used, I'm really looking forward to seeing.

But surely if the plan was to fool NZ we'd have still named Chase in the 19, as now they have 2 days to watch video's of Widopp instead.