There's only one James Roby : Tue Oct 01, 2013 2:29 pm  

as the sole Saints representatative in the England World Cup Squad. Lean times.....

No place for JL

Re: There's only one James Roby : Tue Oct 01, 2013 2:41 pm  

Kyle Amour should have been called up what a player he is?

Re: There's only one James Roby : Tue Oct 01, 2013 2:47 pm  

We should be able to start well next season. No excuses about tired players for us.

I like the England squad really. Barring Crabtree's omission (Swap him for Farrell who is too small to play against the likes of Aus and NZ) I think it's fair.

Re: There's only one James Roby : Tue Oct 01, 2013 2:51 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Crabtree's omission

Really!? I can't believe that. I'd have definitely had him in.

Is it also true that Tom Burgess has been included after only a handful of games? Eorl must be sorely disappointed.

Re: There's only one James Roby : Tue Oct 01, 2013 3:04 pm  

Really don't understand Crabtree not being there. Lomax is unlucky that he plays the same position as Tomkin, otherwise he'd have been in.

Re: There's only one James Roby : Tue Oct 01, 2013 3:16 pm  

If LMS hadn't have cocked about for the first 2/3s of the season, he may have stood a chance.

If next year is anywhere near successful on the pitch, then we should be looking at Lomax, LMS, Amor, Walmsley and even Swift pushing for spots.

The players have perhaps suffered in respect of selection from being part of a team in transition between coaches.

Re: There's only one James Roby : Tue Oct 01, 2013 5:20 pm  

Crabtree's omission is bewildering. Massive call to put T Burgess in as a replacement - it seems that way. I'm also unsure why McIlorum has got in when Roby and Burrow are also in the squad. Three hookers is a strange move.

The rest of the squad is well balanced and as expected I think.

Re: There's only one James Roby : Tue Oct 01, 2013 6:51 pm  

A few surprises in there. No Crabtree but he's picked mossop who's been average and injured all year. He's also picked Tom Burgess over him which IMO is a kick in the teeth to Crabtree.

No Richie Myler which must be down to him having injuries this year but the is also places for mossop, o'loughlin who hand missed large parts of the season.

Higham must be gutted, he's been the best 9 in hrs comp this year (that includes Roby). I really feel for higham and Lunt who have been much better than Roby and Micky Mac this year.

The seems to be a lot of players picked that have missed large parts of the season and other players that have been outstanding that hasn't been picked.

Re: There's only one James Roby : Tue Oct 01, 2013 8:46 pm  

St pete wrote:

A few surprises in there. No Crabtree but he's picked mossop who's been average and injured all year. He's also picked Tom Burgess over him which IMO is a kick in the teeth to Crabtree.

No Richie Myler which must be down to him having injuries this year but the is also places for mossop, o'loughlin who hand missed large parts of the season.

Higham must be gutted, he's been the best 9 in hrs comp this year (that includes Roby). I really feel for higham and Lunt who have been much better than Roby and Micky Mac this year.

The seems to be a lot of players picked that have missed large parts of the season and other players that have been outstanding that hasn't been picked.

Maybe he wants a different style of hooker available rather than Higham, Roby and Burrow who are essentially scooters from dummy half?

Re: There's only one James Roby : Tue Oct 01, 2013 9:08 pm  

Pity we have no international class scrum halves or centres (since Reed is injured) but aside from that I think the squad looks as good as we could possibly make it.

Crabtree IMO is too much like present day TP: big and strong but never runs his weight when up against aggressive/enthusiastic opposition. It looks to me like McNamara has gone for mongrel/aggression in the pack and that's a good thing. We will need it. If they play to their potential then that should give Robes the chance to do what he does best.

Amor is injured and he would have played for Ireland anyway.