A really good call with Widdop IMO. Obviously a talent who is held in high regard with a club who have brought some quite simply outstanding players through the ranks lately.

Melbourne have to lose some of their star players very soon to fall under the salary cap for the start of the next NRL season. Slater could quite easily be one of the players to go which would mean Widdop will be potentially playing first grade for Melbourne next year. If this did happen it is almost inevitable he will be in the England team.

Playing him next week also rules him out from turning out in green and gold. Which probably will not bother the Aussies as they have plenty of quality full backs.

As for Wigan players McNamara has it spot on. I can see all three turning out for Wigan on the same weekend too, injuries permitting of course.

I really dont see who else he could have brought into the squad, Eastmond being out presents a different challenge, would like to see Ratchford called up in his place.

This game really doesnt matter though, because we will win it easily.

Whats important is come year end, he picks on form, not just by name.

Is Eastmond definitely ruled out? If so I'm with you on Ratchford. Danny McGuire may be a more established player and a try machine but he never seems to take his game to international level. It's weird how things change when we come up against Aus and NZ with some big names like McGuire and Sinfield (well, when he plays loose) coming up short and some less hyped players like Bridge and Crabtree getting the job done.

Isn't Ratchford out for a month?

Ratchford has been struggling to get a start at Salford. How is he worth a place for England?

If Eastmond is still available I would have played him at Centre.

There is no point playing him there if he can't play there agaist the aussies. He would get steamrolled by Inglis and co.

Always looked good when I've seen him, his kicking game was vital when they turned Saints over.

True, but we are playing France. When we play Australia we can cross that bridge when we get to it.

Surely this should be a practice for playing Aus and NZ.

If he will not play in that position against Aus and NZ he should not play there against France IMO.

I though he was a late substitution

play our best half back out of position, why?

He was.


It was Matty Smiths kicking that caused all the problems

McRae has been on record as saying he doesn't want to over burden him with responsibilty and too many games (something I don't really understand but I've never won the Challenge cup or Super League so what would I know?). Injuries have also limited his first team opportunities this year.

Interview with Gareth Widdop >>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=l27tYdv_8_U [don't know if i'm allowed to link to it but if not just type in "Gareth Widdop Chosen in England Squad" if it gets removed Comes across like it was quite a suprise for him, obviously wasn't expecting it.

Interview with Gareth Widdop >>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=l27tYdv_8_U [don't know if i'm allowed to link to it but if not just type in "Gareth Widdop Chosen in England Squad" if it gets removed Comes across like it was quite a suprise for him, obviously wasn't expecting it.

I like how he slips into his aussie accent sometimes!

I didn't say Coley hadn't been good for Wigan - Probably your best front rower. But, threre're a few players infront of him. Leeds and Saints have won a lot over the last few years, but do you think Bryn Hargreaves, or Ian Kirke were anywhere near an England call up?

[urlhttp://viewtopic.php?f=21&t=458766[/url

Quote ="jinkin jimmy"Isn't Ratchford out for a month?'" news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 715255.stm

Quote ="jinkin jimmy"Isn't Ratchford out for a month?'" news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 715255.stm

famous amos appears to be a bit of an obsessed buffoon. I'm sure he isn't representative of Wigan fans in general though.

I think it's hilairous that they all keep saying

"This will be a big test"
"This will be a big test"
"This will be a big test"

Etc.

15 of the players are from Catalans so it's basically England v a team bottom of Super League by four points.

They point to France giving England a test in the four nations but a, Catalans were in good form going into that and b, England were truly dreadful more than France playing well.

If it's not a big walk over McNamara should be sacked straight away!

I'm looking forward to it as I imagine the bookies will price it up as England -40.

He wasn't my first choice but thats silly

Widdop's being picked for his potential and to mark him as English for the future. Exactly the right thing to do. I'm sorry but the quality of English SL full backs is so absolutely dire when compared to the best Australians this selection makes a lot of sense. I just wish we had a couple of NRL centres who could play for England as well, as again lets be honest Shenton/Bridge is not exactly a combination to make anyone's defence worry.

BTW if Flanagan continues to make progress he'll probably be in the mix by the end of the year too. Having half your pack (Ellis, Burgess, Morley and Flanagan) with NRL experience would enable England to play a half-decent defensive line. I'm not suggesting that Burgess ball in hand will be much different to now, but his ability to read the play will be a heck of a lot better.

When people bagged individuals last year they were half right - the real problem (apart from some odd positional choices by Smith) is that our players simply don't face the quality of attack the best in the NRL can offer. As a result they really struggle to read it. Part of the reason we were solid down Shenton/Hall's wing was because that was where Ellis was stationed. If we could be as solid on both flanks we might at least be defensively sound.