Fullback and halfback would be the positions I would look at to make the team more solid and at the same time give a bit of pace at halfback.
Against Samoa Sam at times looked a bit dodgy under the high ball and by bringing Hardaker in at fullback Sam could go to halfback thereby bringing much needed pace and guile to the position.
This though would raise a few other problems to be taken into consideration, if Sam was at halfback who would partner him.
Widdop took his goals very well and was steady in attack, Smith had a good kicking game with ball in hand, but as fans have said on here he would be far more effective if he just teased the defence a few times by threatening to go himself.
Does he play Widdop for his goal kicking or play Smith for his better tactical kicking game and let him take the goal kicks as well, another alternative is use Stefan Ratchford who is also in the squad.
As for the forwards Lockers to come back (only if fit) and for me Whitehead in for J Tomkins.
Some interesting decisions to be made.

I thought Ferres was the poorer of the 3 second rowers but he's probably been better than JT this season. The second row does need a shake up though. Maybe Lockers to 13 with Westerman, Whitehead and Farrell as the 3 second rowers. I wouldn't change anything else.

Smith would be so unlucky to miss out on Saturday but I can't help but feel we'd be a stronger team with Hardaker at fullback and Sam Tomkins in the halves.

That change would be one I'd potentially make on top of bringing in Whitehead and O'Loughlin for Westerman and Joel Tomkins. I actually had the other two backrowers down for missing out straight after the game on Saturday but after watching bits of it again Faz was better then I thought and Wrsterman and JT not quite as strong.

I wasn't too impressed with Shenton but I don't think there are any other players in the squad who would do any better at left centre. I also think JT might retain his place in the squad due to his size with Whitehead coming in for Ferres.

I think the team will be:

Sam Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Shenton
Hall
Widdop
Smith
George Burgess
Hodgson
Graham
Farrell
Whitehead
O'Loughlin

Clark
Tom Burgess
Joel Tomkins
Hill

Sorry to be nit picky to the OP but we play on Sunday.

Before the tournament started I'd have preferred Hardaker over Shenton in the centres. Shenton's one of those players who can have good seasons in SL but I don't think he'll ever be international class.

Saturday was poor, but I don't think wholesale changes are needed. Lockers for Westerman would be the only definite. Hardaker for Shenton and Whitehead for Ferres are others but I don't think either of those changes would make the difference between a winning team and a losing one. Tomkins at FB with Widdop and Smith in the halves has to be given more time to build.

Did anyone else think Westerman was poor? I haven't seen too much of him previously but he seemed to get dominated in tackles and made at least one poor error. I'd bring Lockers in for him and Whitehead in for Joel who looked a bit off the pace (to be expected). Other than that I'd go as we are and chalk the poor performance down to the lack of a friendly

Well spotted [uWC[/u, me getting the dates wrong, but if you look at my user name you will see the reason why.

The changes are... none!

O'Loughlin still out injured.

Sounds like he may well play yet, seems daft making him name his squad on Tuesday for a game on Sunday.

I thought western was pretty quiet and struggled to make yards in the tackle. It seems he made a fair number of tackles though at 35, but, if he's being used as a 3 rd prop, which he seemed to be doing that role, then he's not big enough, if he's a direct swap for SoL then he didn't provide any link with the halfbacks.

I Sean is fit it has to be a direct swap.

Debate able on swapping the 2nd rows, Faz provides mobility and great defence in addition to running great lines in attack especially with Sam running behind as an option. I think we need our best defenders on the edges as the Aussies will target us there, as traditionally thats where they do well as we are mot so great at makong correct reads on the edge - so i think we need Faz.

Whitehead has many supporters but there seems to be doubts about his defence , i haven't seen enough of him to say if true, but we need our best defenders at the edges as this is where Aus will target.

One big change for the next game is the referee. The "appointments committee" (i.e. mainly aussies crapping themselves about the possibility of their team being knocked out) have opted for an aussie referee for the England/Australia game. The Kiwis have a NZ referee for their game against Samoa.

So that doesn't make the international game look stupid does it?

Full details here:

[urlhttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/28/england-australia-four-nations-referee[/url

They really are a despicable bunch are the Ockers.

Win at all costs, even if it is to the detriment of the entire international game...

I hope we absolutely murder them.

England should be all over this to the extent it would need attempted murder before he gaves Aus a penalty. We should be questioning their motives and say we are going to be analysing the refs performance (who has been put in a difficult position etc).

If they want to play dirty so should be.

McNamara will come out and back the appointment saying how he's reffed well in the NRL this year. I'd bet my last penny that he won't kick up a fuss, he's too much of a yes man.

Win or lose on Sunday and any further games after that I think McNamara's time should be up after this comp. He's put some good practices in place and served his purpose IMO. The side is now ready for a fresh coaching approach to match it's young players potential. Shaun Wane would be perfect for the job or possibly Daryl Powell. Lads run through brick walls for the pair of them and play well structured, aggressive rugby league.

Apparently there was a debate about the referees for four hours before England were outvoted according to Jon Sharp.

[urlhttp://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-league/news/article/480/9539091/four-nations-england-outvoted-over-australian-referee[/url

In the end, they went with the philosophy of the "best man for the job" instead of neutral refs - which makes no sense because Bentham did nothing wrong last weekend and if the NZ ref (Peranara) is good enough to officiate when the Kiwis play Samoa, why isn't he good enough to ref our game?

This has been going on for decades.
Until we have neutral referees we won't have true International Rugby League.
Time for Nigel Wood to show some Authority and end this ludicrous nonsense.

I fully agree on McNamara (he should really have been sacked between the Italy defeat and the World Cup last year in my opinion).

Without wishing to revisit old ground, I think Ben Flower has probably ruled Shaun Wane out of the running to be his replacement though. The RFL won't want to be exposed in the media as appointing a man who appears to advocate violent play from his players as the national coach.

That's right because Shaun Wane told Ben Flower to go out and punch Hohaia twice in the face after 2 minutes of the most important game of the season. Get a grip and stop making it out to be someone else fault apart from the aggressor (Flower).

Maybe Wane is what England need a coach who can motivate and demands results on the field instead a guy who is at best a water carrier for Sydney Roosters.

I hope so. He's got a job to do at Wigan first.

When they get rid of McNamara if they don't appoint Waney who will they give the England job to?
Saints finished top and their coach was an Aussie who's gone.
We were second,
Hudds third and Anderson/Hudds don't hack it in big games.
Cas fourth and Powell I feel would be Waney's biggest rival although like Hudds didn't do it when it mattered.
Wire were 5th and Tony Smith as an International coach was a disaster.
McDermott at Leeds might be a rival. If Hetherington wants him out then he will get it in front of Waney. That's how Smith got the job.
I think Shaun Wane is the best qualified but if RL politics get in the way then McDermott will get it.

And he would have been replaced by who?


Correct Cruncher, Wane has got a massive job still to do at Wigan,He has had a bit of a revolving door to contend with tbh player wise and has still won some silverware, so its a very good start so far for him thus far, although as he inherits his own squad of players rather than the remnants of Madge's side then IMO his big task is to dominate SL and to actually win "back to back Grand Finals, which is something Wigan haven't been able to do

IMO the next England coach will be Brian McDermott anyway

Regarding Sundays game v the Ozzies
The major change i would make is that i would play Hardaker at Full Back rather than Sam as he doesn't ever appear to ever get near a high kick?
i would shift Hall to Right Wing and Bring Budgie in on the left wing
My concerns are the Back row as i don't believe that we have the answers either in attack or in defense should we stick with last weeks incumbents, We will however be much stronger if our International captain plays and is actually fit,but is he and will he?

I reckon that a 20 point drubbing is on the cards

The team changes aren't what will win or lose the game on Sunday it's the appointment of the Aussie ref.
He will make the important calls that ensure Aus get a convincing win.

Why would you replace Sam because of his perceived liability under the high ball, but take out Josh Charnley - possibly the best winger in the world under the high ball? Seriously, I can't remember the last time Josh dropped a cross field kick or bomb, he's almost perfect at taking those kicks. I also don't thinking bringing Budgie in against the Aussies is the right thing to do, he would be peppered all night. He may pass this test with flying colours, but I feel it's too big a risk to play such a young lad in such a massive game.

Regarding Tomkins; If you take him out because of his perceived lack of ability under the high ball, you lose our most potent and dangerous attacking threat. You know that fella who plays for Australia, lad called Billy Slater? Go back and look at some NRL, SOO and Test matches he's been in, he's no worse than Tomkins under the high ball. Hardaker is a good solid player, but he isn't even in the same league as Sam when it comes to attack.

If you bring him into the halves you lose the organisation and kicking display that Smith & Widdop provided against Samoa. In short, removing or moving Tomkins would be an asinine decision.

Correct