I think he means when Roby came on for Tomkins in the second half. Roby went to Hooker and Robinson moved to 7. So really it was when Robinson replaced Tomkins (even though Robinson was already on the pitch)

That's why I was confused by the previous poster's statement. Roby came back on early because we were a player down and Robinson moved to 7, with Roby playing his usual hooker role, which is a totally different proposition from what was suggested: that Roby replaced Tomkins (not even McBanana would play Roby at 7!!!). Roby had a great game. Was rock solid in defence, was everywhere, took the ball forward, distributed well, didn't make a mistake or drop a ball. But we need Tomkins to be fit for next week or else we are royally screwed. Oh, and we need Hall and Atkins to remember how to defend and our kickers how to kick!

I remember people a few months ago on this site wanting Kevin Brown back...........................

I know, crazy isnt it

Only watched the 2nd half but I thought the whole teams defence was shirt grabbing half hearted tackles, we had zero go forward (bar Sam) and the team didn't look like they'd ever met before.

Why oh why isn't Gleeson and Goulding on our right hand side, they have formed a partnership over the season and would slot straight in alongside Joel, O'Loughlin and Sam with our right flank being entirely Wigan therefore our defence and attack would be the same coached at Wigan.

We are going to get flogged off both NZ and Aus and maybe PNG if we play like that.

Now that was a 'game of two halves'.
England definitely looked tired in the second and started falling off tackles. Could be woeful in the games that matter.

btw what is the maori for Jeremy Smith?

I thought first half we did well, much better than I imagined to be honest. I expected the Maori's to start aggressively and take a lead and have us chasing back in the second half.

We lacked direction and attacking flair when Sam was off the field but judging off the second half alone its definately going to be a tough tough month or so for the English team.

I would. We would not play him as a 6 just let him play his natural game. The halves other than Tomkins are shocking and offer nothing.

Better play with 8 effective forward than waste a selection on a totally useless 6 who cant defend and offers nothing going forward. Let Sam rove round the field and call the plays. Its not ideal but what choice do we have?

I see were your coming from but for Sam to be at his best he needs to get the ball 2nd or 3rd man out, so even if brown is just used as first receiver to get Sam a little more space then i would do that pure and simply to get the best out of Sam Tomkins who I see as our one and only hope tbh.

Widdop - Good kick positioning and ran the right lines but was a bit slow and looked a weak tackler
Briscoe - Good try saving tackle but never seemed to touch the ball
Shenton - Average
Atkins - Strong runner, weak defender, not sure if he was getting caught in two minds between protecting stumpy and sliding to help Hall
Hall - Good game from him, our best back for my money
Brown - Did sod all, but didn't completely embarrass himself like I expected him too
Sam - motm, our only attacking threat
Morley - barely played
Roby - not as bad as folk are saying, though he got stuck in quite well in the first half
Griffin - average
Ellis - Good as usual
Burgess - what an anonymous game from last year's best player
O'Loughlin - worked hard, didn't deserve to be on the losing side really

Joel - fairly weak, especially compared to his SL efforts
Crabtree - looked a handful but he needs to hone that coach killing offload. Can't be skimming it 5 metres back on the floor against aus or they'll be straight on it
Westwood - his best ever game in an England shirt. Well in Ben
Robinson - Poor defender, dull attacker, go get married mate

Robinson - Poor defender, dull attacker, go get married mate.have u been drinking are r u still tired from getting up early to watch the game didnt he set up 2 of englands tries.

I don't have the highlights to hand to see whether he had a hand in two but overall I didn't think he looked that threatening, they were hardly wonder tries.

The names in white on the back of their shirts were the names of their iwi (tribe). Nearest analogy over here in the UK would be what clan you belong to in Scotland.

If Sam is out for next week we may as well pull the plug because we will get our s handed to us on a plate.

It was his break that set up Sam's try, from nothing on inside our own half. He then set up Lockers with a similar break just before half time.



Can't agree with that - Hall had a nightmare, especially in defence. Mainly responsible for their first two tries, (outpaced by their hooker, FFS!), and put us under pressure near the end failing to pick up that loose ball. Goulding has to come in in his place for the next games, IMO.

Hall might as well of sat on the front row of the stand for me because he did feck all right imo as well!

I only saw the replay from 10am onwards. We looked knackered and the Maori were making hundreds of metres from dummy half. I forgot what that was like having watched Wigan shut that down all season.

That Lockers break was just him running a great line, I remember stumpy and Atkins conceeding at least one try through bad communication. To be honest off that performance there were loads I'd want to drop but we don't have a whole lot of options.

Next week I'd roll with:

1 Widdop
2 Briscoe
3 Shenton
4 Atkins
5 Hall
6 O'Loughlin
7 S.Tomkins
8 Graham
9 Roby
10 Westwood
11 Ellis
12 Harrison
13 Burgess

14 Fielden
15 Lunt
16 Crabtree
17 J.Tomkins

If O'Loughlin at Stand Off clearly isn't working put Lunt at hooker, Roby at stand off and Lockers in the back row. I've given up on the idea of Brown and Robinson causing them problems so we might as well put a steady player there in Lockers who you at least know will run and tackle hard all day, as someone already said I don't think I'd tell him he's playing stand off. That might put a lot of pressure on Sam Tomkins but that's what happens when you're a great player in an average team.

edited after hearing about Morley, we're getting more screwed by the day! >.<

Problem lies with the coach. Terrible at Bradford and no doubt will be terrible for England.

Looking at our backs we've got no chance of beating Aus or NZ.

I would have probably gone for:

Tomkins
Goulding Gleeson Atkins Hall
Smith (Matty) Burrow
Morley Sinfield Graham
Burgess Ellis
Lockers
---------
Roby/Tomkins/Carvell/Crabtree

Play split halves, Sam as a 2nd receiver. Difficult to pick a winning side with so many injuries.

Sinfield is out injured

So is Morley now

Lockers for skipper?

Why not.

Can't really see anyone else who jumps out.

Between him, Ellis and Graham IMO.