So would I.
Tompkins is better than Ratchford at 1.
Ratchford is better than Tompkins as a bench player.

No sentiment from me...it's how it is.

Drop the Grand Final MoM for the guy that trips and slides in with the knees......watch out Kiwis!

Tomkins or Ratchford is a fairly close call for me, no real complaint if Tomkins gets the nod.

How Lomax gets in to an England shirt is completely beyond me however.

Mom or not....only one of them was influential enough to win the game.

I would think catalans will be playing him in the halves next season. He's been brilliant this season (leading with the knees aside).

Technically he was a half at Wigan.

This one match ban he received he served in the French game although no players from wire or Wigan were selected...can guess from what I'm thinking

Lomax is class and has been all year. He's strong and tough. Not a flashy player but picks his moments and has good vision of the game. Exactly what's needed at test match level.

I have nothing against Lomax but think he really benefited early on from the space Barba created, after his form fell off a cliff I thought Lomax’s effectiveness dissipated.

Along with most Saints players effectiveness. Thompson has been head and shoulders their best player over the entire season and deserves his place. I think that Makinson may be a bit fortunate to gain a place in the 19, but his potential cover at centre/fullback may have swung it for him. I don't think that Tomkins, Clark, Connor, Hodgson and Lomax will all play, and expect to see two of this five not getting a slot in the final 17.

Good, no chance of him picking up a serious injury then.

See when Barbas form disappeared, Saints were still winning and everything either came through or was set up by Lomax. Quite often Lomax making a break and tipping a support runner. Aside from his kicking, Richardson was a passenger for most the season Lomax at times have to play 3 positions at once when Barba decided he couldn't be bothered.

Those four are playing, not sure about Clark.

Tomkins scrum half. Didn’t see that coming!

Interesting, then I assume Wiliams isn't? A link would have been handy.

Quote ="MorePlaymakersNeeded"Interesting, then I assume Wiliams isn't? A link would have been handy.'" Williams and Clark also playing. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/ ... ake-connor

Quote ="MorePlaymakersNeeded"Interesting, then I assume Wiliams isn't? A link would have been handy.'" Williams and Clark also playing. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/ ... ake-connor

Bennett obviously doesn't rate Percival, does he?

Maybe its because connor is twice the player saints fans think percival is. Connor is a class act and should be in the team.

I can't justify Conner's inclusion after so long out. Good back up.

Cheers Rogues, looks like I was barking up wrong trees.
Agree on Tomkins at halfback, not so sure about Connor, but would have started with Thompson.

Tomkins was useless, but his ratty little face fits for some reason.

Well done England.
Some good performances, particularly from both second rowers, and some strong runs by all props

Our halves were beyond ordinary, though. Our two wingers were dying of boredom, so they ended up coming in the middle of the pitch, such was the lack of creativity. Ratchford must've been pee'd off, watching that

Lomax was very good defensively(which is what I want my fullbacks to be!). It's the halves job to create attacking opportunities. Putting ratchford in for lomax today would not have improved the side.

Wayne Bennett may be one of the most successful coaches of the modern era but, goodness me, his team selections and gameplans are dull, dull, [idull[/i.

Josh Hodgson offers zero creativity, Bateman gets shunted to centre ahead of Percical and.McGilvary is used like a battering ram.

Lomax, Tomkins & Connor play in positions they haven't occupied all season and Clarke sits on the bench for 65 mins.

No wonder the crowd was quieter than a monk in a library.

Watching that England side was like watching Warrington this season. Very good at getting up field but clueless on the last tackle or in their 30. Very ordinary.