Before the game my concern wasn't how good the Aussies are, we know how good they are, I was concerned our pack would be dominated and we'd be clueless with ball in hand. After today I feel confident the ability is there, the pack when back to full strength is more than a match for any team. We just need some belief, keep playing with ball in hand and cut out the silly errors. Do that and we have a chance.

Sam and George had poor games by their high standards.

Sure they drop a ball or two in the NRL , but that was a level below what I was expecting.

Glad they got that out of their systems and will be a much bigger threat next time.

Strong Running game as expected. PLeased to see the fear on Gallens Face after Big George had been pounding their line.

On their game the Aussies don't have a player as destructive as George.

If they bring their NRL form of this season next time ( Tom was unusually very quiet ) they will put the fear of God into the other packs in the manner only those Giants can.

Expecting a lot more from them next hit out.

They're better than that.

Sinfield had a hand in England's first two tries , did you not notice this

From that pack - I would bring back Lockers and Graham and drop Ablett and Mossop.
Widdop or Chase to play alongside Sinfield. Widdop on the bench is a waste of a bench spot. Burrow on the bench gives us enough to cover 7 and 9 and adds something different to the team.

Good day out yesterday. Enjoyed the Italians - they were excellent value, and played a good expansive game. There is no guarantee that NZ would beat them in the QF from what I have seen so far.

He may be a fans favorite down at the Pie Dome but can anybody really suggest that Charnley is a better winger than Briscoe? I am not saying that Charnley had a bad game and is not top winger but come on.

Just to show I am not completely biased in any way, Benny let himself down again giving away too many stupid penalties.
I just don't get Chase, looks great in a poor Cas side but doesn't do enough at the top level, we need Widdop in the halves, I actually prefer Sinfield at loose putting Lockers in the second row instead of Benny for the next outing.

Finally, where was Beep Beep?

Yes they can. What exactly were people expecting Charnley to do? He was basically the same as Hall in that game. Dealt with kicks, worked tirelessly from dummy half and trying to make the most of opportunities. Hall did seem to get the ball in a bit more space than Charnley. Both England wingers were better than Brett Morris.

Josh took his try very well, so for that alone - he justified his place. Neither of the wingers really got the ball much, but both scored when they had the opportunity.
I would keep Benny in, but play him off the bench with Lockers at loose and Burgess in the 2nd row (Lockers is a genuine 13 and playing him at 11/12 would be a waste). Benny has more positives than Ablett and I dont believe that Faz would add anything extra, as he wouldnt get the space/angles created by our halves.
Chase I agree didnt add much.

I am not saying Charnley isn't a good winger and yes he took his opportunity well as he has done all season. It is just that most people I chat to including wiganners (some not all) think Briscoe is a better winger.

Ablett, once again ...... what criteria are employed when picking the team. If it is the ability to niggle and frustrate the opposition then fair enough but other than that .....

Lockers at 13, cannot really disagree about that and he is a fantastic leader on the pitch as well.

Overall I was pleasantly surprised by the England performance, some of the stand-outs for me were the Burgess Brothers and Hill, Jimmy Roby, and I have to say for me I thought Ferres did a lot of good hard work. One of the game changing times was that slightly forward pass to Sam because I think he would have probably made it to the whitewash, but it must be said that the weakest part of his game was shown again when he suffered under the high bomb when Inglis got the better of him, but his pass to Hall for Hall’s try was a peach. I’m still yet to be convinced about Cudjoe, his when to and not to pass seems to be lacking to me, and Ablett is just too much of a liability. When Widdop came on he looked to have a bit of a should I should I not kind of game, but all in all not a bad show at all and with Lockers and Graham to come in we can improve, but then so can Oz too. Interesting!

what cheap shot if having a go at Fafita for trying to Turn Tomkins Knees the Wrong way round is cheap then I pity you.....! O'Loughlin would have stood up for his former team mate just the same if he was on....

bearing in Mind Westwood and Tomkins had a handbags session last year at the Halliwell jones i'm pleased to see westwood standing up for his team mate it shows a bit of unity .....and some mongrel which is whats needed against the Aussies...

The surprising inclusion of Ferres to start worked well, Westwood has too many pens in him, at international level he is a liability. Mossop lacked impact Hill and Burgess should stay as starting props, next week

Tomkins
Charnley
Cudjoe
Watkins
Hall
Chase
Sinfield
Burgess
Roby
Hill
Ferres
Burgess
OLoughlin

Burgess, Farrell, Graham, Burrow

Sam Burges and Graham to start for me with George off the bench.

I'd take a gamble in the backs and get Sam at #6. At the end of the day he's better than the current option in Chase and is our only true world class back. Get his hands on the ball as much as we can and see where we go from there!

At the end of the day apart from Sam our backs aren't good enough and won't create the extra space Sam needs to be effective. At least with Sam at HB he's going to cause the defence questions.

I can see the temptation to move Tompkins to stand off, it's been called for with Wigan.

The game against Ireland is the perfect time to try it, they are the weakest team in the group.

You could make a case for Widdop as that's his chosen position but with him only just coming back from injury there has to be question marks over him.

Sam for me would just give us something different and a bit of x-factor that's needed to take the game to the Australians. He has the potential to be a mercurial talent on the lines of a Benji Marshall at the last world cup.

Agree with regard to Tomkins he just wasn't getting any kind of service, which is a shame because he looked dangerous whenever he touched the ball. I do prefer S.Burgess at prop because he seems to get far more involved from there but I'd like to keep the other 2 Burgess', Hill and Graham in there so I'd go:

1. Widdop
2. Charnley
3. Watkins
4. Cudjoe
5. Hall
6. Tomkins
7. Sinfield
8. Graham
9. McIlorum
10. Hill
11. S.Burgess
12. Westwood
13. O'Loughlin

14. G.Burgess
15. T.Burgess
16. Farrell
17. Roby

McIlorum to batter them about for the first 10-15 of each half then Roby to send people through the spaces their tired legs can't cover. One can dream anyway! If Tomkins at 6 and Widdop at 1 isn't working swap them around, keep them guessing

Briscoe may be better (in your opinion) but Charnley's main strength is finishing and scoring try's. He's like how Jimmy Greaves used to play in footie in the early 1960's.

I know of not one Wigan fan who would have Briscoe in our team over Charnley, and i'd confidently say you made that up

I don't think there's a full back in world rugby league who Inglis wouldn't have out jumped for that try. England need to learn to pressure the kickers better.

I don't think Mossop had his best game but for me he was better than Tom Burgess. I'd start Graham and Hill with Sam Burgess in the 2nd row and Lockers at loose. Widdop should be at 6 with consistent halves for 80 minutes. Roby is an 80 minute hooker, I'd use mcilorum and burrow in games against lesser nations but against oz and NZ it should be Widdop and Sinfield at 6 and 7 with roby at 9 and 4 forwards on the bench.

Did,nt westwood hit one of aussie forwards high early on in the first half? Can,t which player he hit though.

Can,t remember which player he hit high though.

My Team for Ireland

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall
Widdop
Chase
Hill
McIllorum
Graham
Farrell
Westwood
O'Loughlin (c)

Bench

Roby
Ferres
G. Burgess
T. Burgess

Got to agree with this.

Westwood was spot on in sticking up for Tomkins.

Not for the first time either. He belted someone a few years back in the Exiles game after Sam caught a cheap one

Anyone moaning that a British forward tried to smack an Antipodean needs their head looking at.

Agreed, we need a few lads who will stick it to them and do abit of housing just like Greg Bird does for them.

I like that side of Westwoods game, he just need to be a little more astute and sly when he's doing it so he doesn't give any penalties away.

That is a great team selection but I can not see him leaving Sinfield out.

Do any of them qualify for Ireland?