How excited are we by the the world cup being over here this year?? The way I look at it is there is two sides to the competition, one being the battlefor the title, between Australia, NZ and England. The other being a great opporutinity to spread the game and hopefully develop in a few of these 'minor' countries, so that soon enough there wll be more than three potential winners. One things for sure we can't keep moaning about the lack of national press coverage and spreading of the game etc, if the hardcore fans of the game can't get enthusiastic about having the World Cup in our own country.

Also, if were were playing the World Cup final next weekend, who would be in your 17? At the moment mine is as follows, but I'm sure it will change several times over the course of the season:

1. Tomkins.
2. Charnley.
3. Reed.
4. Atkins.
5. Hall
6. Widdop.
7. Myler.
8. Kopczak
9. Roby
10. Westwood
11. Ellis
12. Hock.
13. Sinfield.
14. Burrow
15. O'loughlin.
16. Hill
17. Crabtree

Ended up really struggling for props!

Coming from a defence wins games mindset, id have goulding over atkins. Seems to make a lot of good defensive decisions. Id keep him and josh together and have reed and hall on other possibly.

Id wait to see some more of the season before deciding on props but id sooner have o'loughlin at 13 again for his defence and strong running.

Kopzcak is Welsh captain.

I'd go-

Tomkins (although I'm open to moving him to 7 if his struggles under the high ball continue)
Charnley
Watkins
Reed
Hall
Sinfield
Widdop
Graham
McIlorum
Burgess
Ellis
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Subs
Crabtree
Mossop
Hock
Roby

We've got some good back up for a change as well.

Backs
1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Watkins
4. Reed
5. Hall
Hardaker, Briscoe, Cudjoe, Atkins

Halves
6. Widdop
7. Sinfield
9. Roby
17. Burrow
Brough (if he doesn't prefer Scotland), McIlorum, Robinson

Forwards
8. Burgess
10. Graham
11. Ellis
12. Westwood
13. O'Loughlin
14. Crabtree
15. Hill
16. Hock
Assorted forwards that are in form, continuity is less important for forwards tbh,yet in the past that's been the only place we've had any. Mossop, Tickle, Kirmond, Fielden, Morley etc whoever might be up there, that isn't lightweight - Sinfield and Wilkin etc shouldn't be in an international pack against any of the better teams.

1. Hardacre/Widdop
2. Briscoe/Charnley
3. Ratchford/Atkins/Watkins
4. Reed
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. Tomkins
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Burgess
11. Ellis
12. Westwood
13. O'Loughlin

14. Burrow
15. Crabtree
16. Hill
17. Hock

Reserves:
FB Widdop/Hardacre
W Briscoe/Charnley
C Ratchford/Atkins/Watkins
HB Brough
P Mossop
H Lunt/McIllorum
SR Jones - Buchanan/Farrell

A lot depends on form hence the /'s, Sam Tomkins is a big worry under the high ball right now and I think Thurston, Smith et al would really exploit that

Some spots are nailed on and some are wide open IMO:

1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Goulding/Watkins/Atkins/Cudjoe
4. Reed
5. Hall
6. Widdop/Sinfield
7. Brough/Smith/Myler
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Burgess
11. Ellis
12. Westwood
13. O'Loughlin

14. Hock
15. McIlorum
16. Crabtree/Hill/Mossop/Heightington
17. Crabtree/Hill/Mossop/Heightington

God no.

1 - Tomkins
2 - Charnley
3 - Goulding
4 - Reed
5 - Hall
6 - Widdop
7 - Lomax
8 - Mossop
9 - Roby
10 - Graham
11 - Burgess
12 - Ellis
13 - O'Loughlin

14 - Westwood
15 - Morley
16 - Crabtree
17 - Farrell

Depends who has a good season and injuries, also added to the squad I'd have Briscoe, Watkins, Hock, Hardaker, Brough, Sinfield, McIllorum, Atkins, Hill and another prop who has a good season whether its Prescot, Fielden, Mason, Amor or even Bailey just to wind the Aussies up.

We need more options at half back as Sinfield isn't the answer at this level. Widdup is a shoe in then we've got a glut of players none of who have shouted loud enough "pick me" - Brough, Myler, Chase, Lomax, Smith, Robinson, McGuire, Price. Burrow I would see as a second hooker fight with Mickey Mac. Beginning to like the idea of Sam at half back, but would it work with Widdup?

Widdop is far from a shoe in with Macca in charge! Hand on heart I believe it'll be Sinfield and Chase but it must be Widdop and one other. If Sam's troubles under the high ball continues I'd seriously consider getting him in alongside Gareth Widdop at 7 with Hardaker coming in at 1.

That would be a really exciting triangle of young players.

Widdop/Hardaker (Sam couldn't catch his dick in his fly)
Hall Reed Watkins Briscoe
Tomkins Sinfield
Burgess McM Morley
Westwood Ellis
Lockers
------------------
Roby Graham Hock Crabtree

Bench with real impact.

IMO we should play players in their position they play for their clubs, that way they can concentrate on the game

Hardaker.
Hall, Reed, Atkins, Briscoe,
Tomkins, Widdop,
Burgess, McIlorum, Graham.
Westwood, Ellis,
O'Loughlin. Bench, Crabtree, Roby, Hock, Sinfield.

Move Sam out of FB and replace with Hardaker
Backs wise we need good attackers but guys that can defend. I think those four are the best combining both aspects of playing v the Aussies and Kiwis.
Widdop a shoe in and also knows how Smith, Cronk and Slater are thinking and what they'll likely do next.
Sam at half back.
The pack more or less sorts itself out. I've put Sinfield in the 17 just for his versaltility. Usually not up to Intl standard.

If everyone is fit and on form:
1. Sam Tomkins
2. Josh Charnley
3. Kallum Watkins
4. Jack Reed
5. Ryan Hall
6. Kevin Sinfield (c)
7. Richie Myler
8. Sam Burgess
9. Michael McIlorum (1st 20 mins - soften them up)
10. James Graham
11. Gareth Ellis
12. Ben Westwood
13. Sean O'loughlin

14. James Roby
15. Gareth Hock
16. Chris Hill
17. Eorl Crabtree

I will just add that if Wilkin, Ablett or Jamie Jones Buchanan are anywhere near a test jersey I am boycotting the entire tournament.

I can't believe so many are suggesting Tomkins at 7. He's played the majority of his first team rugby at 1, he plays at 1 when available for Wigan. To the put him into a pivitol position such as 7 having not played there for at least 2 full seasons and expect him to perform against Australia and NZ is plain crazy.

He either plays at 1 or not at all.

1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Reed
4. Watkins
5. Hall
6. Widdop
7. Brough
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Burgess
11. Westwood
12. Ellis
13. O'Loughlin

14. Crabtree
15. Hill
16. Farrell
17. Burrow

I was one who suggested Sam in the halves.
Last time he played against the Aussies Lockyer bombed all him and Briscoe all game and they couldn't handle it. Thurston or Cronk could easily do that. Hardaker is safer under the bomb and has a bit of pace to get around the field in defence. Should Sam improve under the bomb during the season then obviously he would go to full back. Until that improvement comes, halves for me.

Is that Ablett that continually tore Melbourne to pieces down the right last week playing out of position?

I am not saying that he should be a shoe in, but he was outstanding against the Storm.

I do think he would be an underwhelming choice against the Aussies though. See how he goes through the year.

Ablett is gradually playing himself into contention for the 17. He's a shoe in for the squad IMO.

It'll be interesting who plays left centre. I'm not sold on Reed, Atkins hasn't really shown up well in the few games he's had for England. Cudjoe has done well and improved a lot since the last he last played against the Aussies, and at the moment I think he has the shirt but its by no means guarenteed..

I think if Farrell can carry on the same vein of form he's shown in the early part of the season he will be in with a good shout of being in the 17.

I reckon this is as good as it gets currently, if you assume that Mr Hock is out of the picture.

I'm hoping that some players really burst through this season and demand selection - Myler, McGilvray, The Burgess', Hardacre, Lomax spring to mind.

International standard or not, his goalkicking would be needed in that 17.

Why when Bennie "El masri" Westwood ans Sam "Frano" Tomkins are in the team?

1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Cudjoe/Watkins
4. Atkins
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. Brough
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Burgess
11. Farrell
12. Westwood
13. O'Loughlin

14. Crabtree
15. Ferres
16. Hock
17. Hill