England Squad : Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:12 am  

Widdop
Goulding
Gleeson
Atkins
Hall
Tomkins
Eastmond
Graham
Sinfield
Morley (capt)
Ellis
Burgess
O'Loughlin

Bench

Roby
J.Tomkins
Fielden
Westwood

Dependant on weather you want two props or to backrowers on the bench. It really would be harsh on Westwood if he doesnt play for England at the end of the year as he has had an outstanding season for Warrington this year. I personally think we will have 3 props rotating due to the fact Graham, Morley and Fielden can play long minutes and Burgess can allways do a stint in the front row if required. Darrell Goulding has got the nod for me because he has been in great try scoring from for Wigan this year and has had a good partnership with Martin Gleeson. The only positional change I would make is Sinfield starting at 9 with Robes coming of the bench when the Aussie/Kiwi forwards are tiring. IMO we have the best set of forwards in the world that should be able to dominate Australia and New Zealand. The backs are a totally different kettle of fish because with the exception of Eastmond, Tomkins, Hall and Gleeson I doubt Australia/New Zealand will be quaking in there boots at facing Atkins, Goulding and Widdop but unfortunatley they are the best in Super League that we have to offer in the present time. Weather Eastmond will be fit for the Four Nations is another matter because I have heard that he is out for the season with Saints which would be a blow for us.

Re: England Squad : Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:21 pm  

Not bad, i'd have Fox over Goulding, and obviously Kyle would have to be 100% fit or take Myler and Matty Smith. I'd have Coley before fielden as well and would our new boy LMS be worth a squad place?

Re: England Squad : Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:25 pm  

foz11 wrote:

Dependant on weather you want two props or to backrowers on the bench. It really would be harsh on Westwood if he doesnt play for England at the end of the year as he has had an outstanding season for Warrington this year. I personally think we will have 3 props rotating due to the fact Graham, Morley and Fielden can play long minutes and Burgess can allways do a stint in the front row if required.

I wonder whether Lynch would be a better bet than Fielden in that plan. If you had both Westwood and Burgess in the 17 you may well be able to get away with 3 props or Liam Watts can play both from and back row.

Re: England Squad : Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:40 pm  

We can't go throwing in wingers because they score a lot of tries in a top team. We have been down that road with Gardner, steady just simply isn't good enough at that level.

I'd go for Briscoe or Fox over Goulding.

Re: England Squad : Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:53 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

I wonder whether Lynch would be a better bet than Fielden in that plan.

Fielden has been outstanding for Wigan this year and fully deserbes his place in the England team imo. I would take Lynch over Scruton and some other names mentioned thou.

Re: England Squad : Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:54 pm  

Smurf wrote:

We can't go throwing in wingers because they score a lot of tries in a top team. We have been down that road with Gardner, steady just simply isn't good enough at that level.

I'd go for Briscoe or Fox over Goulding.

Goulding has been in fine form this season and fully deserves ago at International Level. And isnt it the job of a winger to score tries???? He is the top English scoring winger in Super League and deserves his place.

Re: England Squad : Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:59 pm  

Smurf wrote:

We can't go throwing in wingers because they score a lot of tries in a top team. We have been down that road with Gardner, steady just simply isn't good enough at that level.

There's a couple of videos of Saints floating about on youtube (12 great SL victories is one) that reminded me of what good form Ade Gardner was in in the 2006 period. He was absolutely superb at times (oh how those times have changed).

Re: England Squad : Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:08 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

There's a couple of videos of Saints floating about on youtube (12 great SL victories is one) that reminded me of what good form Ade Gardner was in in the 2006 period. He was absolutely superb at times (oh how those times have changed).

Gardner had a purple patch this season where he was absolutely outstanding before he picked up an injury.

Re: England Squad : Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:10 pm  

FearTheVee wrote:

Gardner had a purple patch this season where he was absolutely outstanding before he picked up an injury.

He got 4 in the last game before his injury, IIRC.

He's always retained his strength in finishing, but its odd (or demonstrates the fine line between sucess and failure) how his ability to field kicks has yo-yoed through out his career.

Re: England Squad : Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:12 pm  

foz11 wrote:

Goulding has been in fine form this season and fully deserves ago at International Level. And isnt it the job of a winger to score tries???? He is the top English scoring winger in Super League and deserves his place.

Paul Sykes has kicked a lot of goals, does that mean he deserves his place? If I played on the wing for a team top of the league, chances are I'd have a chance of being top try scorer as well, all I need to do is not drop the ball every time I am gifted a walk-in.

Goulding is steady, and that's all he will ever be.