Our 3/4s are poor. We have the worst set of wingers and centres since the early 80s.

I wouldn't be confident either. We are going to get hammered by the Aussies. Even if we picked the right players though we'd still struggle - we'd have a decent pack but our 3/4s are awful.

another masterstroke from McHaventgotaclue

Tom Briscoe is a brilliant winger IMO, and is in good form at the moment.

I'd take that 1-5 over the 2000 world cup team (Radlinski, Walker, Naylor, Senior, Wellens). Walker and Wellens on the wings and Scott Naylor at centre!!!

A back 5 of:

Tomkins
Briscoe
Shenton
Pryce
Hall

isn't as shambolic as some suggest IMO.

Bridge in for Shenton and its even better. I agree btw, I'd consider Pryce at centre if he can keep fit.

Yes true, forgot about Bridge. Definitely a better bet than Shenton on form.

Bridge and Atkins / yeamon would be my centres out that squad. Maybe it's just me but I would put Pryce anywhere near it!

The Aussies will be shi..ing bricks when they see this squad!

I dont rate Shenton at all. I'd go with Tomkins and Bridge in the centres because they are the best defensively. Greg Inglis would be absolutely destroy Welham.

Tomkins misses a lot more tackles than Shenton and makes a lot more errors. Shenton has also shown up well in an England shirt in the past.

I do rate Tomkins highly though - he could well seal himself a spot if he proves he can hack it in the big games coming up.

How has mossop not got into that team? He's been head and shoulders above many props this year. Shambolic coaching setup for england god only knows why they didnt ask waney to be an assistant.

Very average, although i agree with your selections. It is what it is, but we are in for a pasting come the four nations.



Its a joke, building for the future he says!

Tomkins misses tackles? Must be a different Tomkins than I'm watching? Tomkins is miles better than Shenton already and it's only his first season in that position. He's not giving the pens away out there either!

S.Tomkins
T.Briscoe
C.Bridge
L.Pryce
R.Hall
G.Widdop
D.Brough
J.Graham
J.Roby
G.Carvell
G.Ellis
B.Westwood
S.O'loughlin

Bench...

L.Robinson
A.Morley
A.Lynch
G.Hock

Thats what i'd go with at the moment aslong as Pryce and Hock improve and both stay fit.

I suppose he must be, yes.

Shenton: Tackles 526, Missed Tackles 20 (0.038% of tackles missed).
Tomkins: Tackles 336, Missed Tackles 19 (0.057% of tackles missed).

So for every two tackles Shenton misses, Tomkins misses three.

I'm not saying Shenton is a better bet than Tomkins, just questioning the rationale that Tomkins should be in based upon his better defence.

We're missing a vital point here - whilst we debate the mertis/flaws of Shenton and Tomkins, McNamara is planning a team without either of them...

To be fair, neither would be centre in my team - if SM goes with Pryce/Bridge, he's probably picked the most talented players available to him.

With regard to Bridge, hasn't he been playing loose for Warrington this year? Or was that just last week?

Think Mossop and Hock might have another reason to have a big game on Saturday after they've seen that list.

(Not suggesting Hock should be there on form as he's only played 4 times btw, just think he'll fancy his chances of getting in the 4N squad)

Pryce was good 3 years ago but has been an injury prone also ran since then. I like bridge and I like Atkins to a point.

I tend to think a good big un is better than a good little un against the Aussies with the emphasis on them being good!

I've enjoyed this thread though. Some very different opinions but most agreeing that the manager is pants!

Frankly, this is just nonsense

To be honest it makes me wonder what the point is in the England squad/team. Players aren't being picked on form, so why are they being picked? Because they used to be good, because they might come back well from an injury, because they have a big reputation? The longer McNamara is in charge the more I wonder if I'd rather that Wigan players weren't picked in the England squad. What's the point in them being "coached" by a coach that is clearly poor in comparison to our club coach, and playing in a team full of players who either don't seem to care they are playing for their country or quite frankly are going to be embarassed at the highest level as they simply aren't good enough. Don't get me wrong, I want England to win and be the best, but quite frankly, we have no hope with the likes of McNohope and his band of merry past-its.

The only way we will get anywere near the Aussies is if we appoint a young Australian coach. Nota chance with a plank like Mcnamara.

I agree, but I just don't see it happening. Hiring McNoHope showed there is no forward thinking or aspirations, I can't fathom why he was given the job after failing miserably at Bradford.

Bridge's position is centre, he has moved to 13 before as a trial to get him more involved. He's playing 6 for us while Briers was out. He will be back at right centre which i think is his best position.

The elite squad is based on a players history rather than how good they are now. Inclusion of Peacock and Crabtree or even Prescott shows how much SL games Mcnamara watches. Mossop is far better now then the 3 above and will develop into a truly world class prop in the next year or two. Its obvious that Englamd will again go with a damage limitation side in an International competition. That squad will not beat NZ or Australia not this year and the way hes missing out on giving young players a chance it will struggle for a very long time to come.

Englands props should be: Carvell, Mossop, Morley (If fit and playing well) Coley.

Can anyone tell me if his picking Peacock why the hell Coley is not in the squad. If Mcnamara was Wigan's coach there is no chance players like Charnley would get a game instead of Goulding. You pick your best players on this seasons performance not the previous 10 years some have been playing. Thats the weakness of almost all British Coaches they never take a risk whilst an Australian will. Noble was a safety first coach when Maguire and Tony Smith will give a player a chance to develop.

Or lets put it this way would we want Mcnamara coaching Wigan.