If they where involved (Graham, McIllorum and Hardaker) the coach has done the right thing by giving them a one match ban. Huge blow to be missing Graham and McIllorum. I would have loved to see McIllorum start and rough up the Australians and then unleash Roby when the Aussie forwards are tiring. James Graham is a big miss but having George, Sam and Tom Burgess lining up against them doesn't dampen my spirits all too much to be fair.

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall
Widdop
Chase
Hill
Roby
Mossop
Farrell
Westwood
S. Burgess (c)

Bench

Burrow
Ablett
T. Burgess
G. Burgess

That would have been my side to be honest but we all know McNamara will have Sinfield in the halves at the expense of Widdop who will have a watching brief from the bench and will only be brought on with 10 minutes left when the game is dead.

Tomkins
Charnley
Cudjoe
Watkins
Hall
Widdop
Chase
Hill
Roby
Mossop
S Burgess
Westwood
Sinfield

Farrell
Burrow
G Burgess
Ablett

Ferres and Hill to miss out.

Rumour is that Lockers is carrying an injury at the moment so it's the right thing for him to miss out. I really can't fault McNamara for dropping the 'drinkers'.

Hill and burgess will start

He has been carrying an injury for the last 8 to 10 weeks and should have pulled out of the squad after the Grand Final.

The Australian backs will be too destructive.

12 - 36

cant see us scoring with that

Farrell is on the bench. Ferres starting second row

Why is Hill in at 8 then?!

How is Ferres suddenly above Farrell when he wasn't even in the squad to start off with?

I'd leave Ablett and Chase out but I bet he'll leave out Ablett and Burrow. Given the Italy result, the trouble in the camp, the players we'll be without and the fact McNamara's our coach I'll predict:
Australia 52
England 10 (both scored towards the end when the game's effectively over)

You don't have to start with your best 13 then put the next best 4 on the bench you know. Perhaps he wants Farrell running at gaps when the Aussies have tired a bit

Why not?
What's the point of starting a game without your best players (if that's how you deem them), unless they're an impact player (which Farrell is not).

Because certain players might be more effective against tiring defences. Farrell tends to run good lines and hit holes rather than doing the hard graft up the middle. Perhaps the game plan is to just complete our sets and fight for territory in the opening stages, then when fatigue kicks in we bring Burrow and Farrell on and start trying to open them up. I'm not saying it'll work like but that could be the plan.

Ablett on bench as well

. Perhaps he wants Farrell running at gaps when the Aussies have tired a bit'"

Anybody who watched the origin games this year must have seen the destructive power of Miles and Parker, if they dont play we might have a chance. Other than that we only have to worry about Slater, Inglis, Tate, Thurston, Smith, Thaiday, Cronk, Tamou and Gallen. I feel sorry for Farrell he's going to feel pain like he's never felt before, I hope he's bulked up since the GF!

This is going to be a painful watch....

S Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Ablett
Hall
Chase
Sinfield
Hill
Roby
Mossop
Westwood
Ferres
S Burgess

R Burrow
G Burgess
T Burgess
L Farrell

Cudjoe and Widdop to miss out although I'd swap Widdop with Chase.

32-14 and hopefully a confidence boost for when all the unavailable players return.

I'd be impressed if we keep within 20 of them

yep, he confirmed that himself on the BBC preview show earlier tonight, and said he'll be OK for next week.

Lockers only plays in finals now

S Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Ablett
Hall
Chase
Widdop
G.Burgess
Roby
Mossop
Westwood
S Burgess
Sinfield
(Captain From The Stands - Gareth Hock)

R Burrow
B ferres
L Farrell
C Hill

so aint going to play in the world cup then?

Ferres is starting and Ablett is on the bench.