Future England Internationals : Mon Nov 18, 2013 8:44 am  

Watching the England game at the weekend, it got me thinking.
Saints have fewer representatives in the England than usual, probably on the back of a couple of disappointing seasons.
With a few good signings in the bag, we're hoping that we can perform better as a club next year. If we do, who do we think will be knocking on the door of the England squad for internationals next year?

Johnny Lomax is our star, but plays in the most competitive position for England, with Tomkins, Hardacker (sp) and Ratchford.
However, Hardacker will get negative points for his actions this year and Ratchford will probably move to 6 given Briers retirement.
Lomax should get taken in the squad as minimum 2nd choice full back with added utility value. If we have a good season, he may also be able to convince that, because of his potentially better ability with kicks, he's got a decent case to start (that would take a season free of injuries and a good campaign by saints, though).

Given Eorl Crabtree's omission from the England squad, you'd say prop forward was a very competitive position, but T Burgess and Mossop aren't exactly untouchable. We have Walmsley, Amor and, if he continues his form from the end of the season, LMS who could all make serious claims on a prop forward shirt for England.

Are there any other guys you expect to be challenging in the next year or so?

Re: Future England Internationals : Mon Nov 18, 2013 10:08 am  

Makinson and Swift are unfortunate that there're two very good wingers in front of them in Hall and Charnley. Turner has an outside chance too I think, as Cudjoe and Watkins aren't untouchable in the centres. As you say, Amor, LMS and Walmsley have the best chance of making the squad. I don't think Mossop deserved to be in the squad, his move to Australia got him in the squad, in my opinion.

Re: Future England Internationals : Mon Nov 18, 2013 10:38 am  

Hasn't Walmsley declared for someone else?

Re: Future England Internationals : Mon Nov 18, 2013 11:31 am  

Billinge_Lump wrote:

Hasn't Walmsley declared for someone else?

Walmsley was due to play at this World Cup for Scotland but withdrew because of an injury IIRC, Amor was also due to play for IReland but opted to have surgery on his hand to be ready for start of next season.

However this seems to mean very little when you consider the whole Brough - Scotland, England, Scotland saga, McIlorum has previously played for Ireland before England I believe...players can change especially if an opportunity for England arises over a lesser home nation

Re: Future England Internationals : Mon Nov 18, 2013 11:53 am  

Give it a couple years and I reckon Percival will be challenging for the #4 shirt.

Re: Future England Internationals : Mon Nov 18, 2013 8:21 pm  

If Jordan Turner continues improving at the same rate he will be a shoe in in the next eighteen months.

Re: Future England Internationals : Mon Nov 18, 2013 10:42 pm  

I've thought a little bit over the past few weeks about what sort of team could take us forward after this World Cup and Lomax going in at fullback with Sam Tomkins moving up to 6 is certainly the way I'd go. I think Tomkins has shown in this World Cup that he's developed his game to be a creator for others. We would then retain that attacking threat from 1 by putting Lomax there.

In all honesty I'd say he's the only Saints player not in the squad that is anywhere near ready for the step up at the moment. I'd say Walmsley is next in line if he wants to play for England.

Re: Future England Internationals : Mon Nov 18, 2013 11:07 pm  

I agree. Chase has been disappointing this World Cup, I don't agree with him playing for England anyway but that's another matter. With Lomax, Tomkins and. Brough at 1, 6 and 7, I think we'd be so much better, but that won't happen given Brough's situation with England.

Re: Future England Internationals : Tue Nov 19, 2013 8:04 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

I've thought a little bit over the past few weeks about what sort of team could take us forward after this World Cup and Lomax going in at fullback with Sam Tomkins moving up to 6 is certainly the way I'd go. I think Tomkins has shown in this World Cup that he's developed his game to be a creator for others. We would then retain that attacking threat from 1 by putting Lomax there.

In all honesty I'd say he's the only Saints player not in the squad that is anywhere near ready for the step up at the moment. I'd say Walmsley is next in line if he wants to play for England.

I think most would probably agree with you, which is quite a damning indication of our season last year. We had plenty of players who were good in patches and awful in others (LMS is a prime example) and many who show great potential (like Adam Swift), but on the whole, the season was just a bit of doss about for the majority of the time.

If we're in gear from the off next year, then the above opinion should change and if Walsh has the desired effect, then the likes of Swift and Turner could find themselves really in the spot light.

Re: Future England Internationals : Tue Nov 19, 2013 9:26 am  

We have some very exciting young talents but I think most of them are a couple of years away from international recognition. Been a tough year for our younger players with a lot of injuries to senior players and no halfbacks to speak of and I think they did superbly considering, but IMO there's a very strong England squad already in place (halfbacks excepted) and that's without the likes of Ratchford and Crabtree who somehow missed out this time.

I'd expect Lomax and Walmsley to be in the ETS next year, maybe Turner if he can keep up last years form. Mind you if Ben Cockayne can get into the ETS I'd have no problem making a strong case for all of our younger players.