Your 24 man England squad - Back Row : Fri Oct 03, 2014 1:32 pm  

With the 24 man squad announcement for the Four Nations coming up, I thought we'd see what team we put together as a board. I'll be putting on different positions every so often with a shortlist to pick from. The squad will have 2 Full Backs, 3 Wingers, 3 Centres, 3 Halves, 2 Hookers, 6 props and 5 back rowers. If any players you'd like to pick aren't on the shortlist than please say.

For today we will do backrow, you have five votes on the poll and please indicate your order of playing preference in a post.

Preference 1 and 2 will be starting second rowers, 3 will be starting loose forward, 4 will be bench option and 5 will be reserve.

Re: Your 24 man England squad - Back Row : Fri Oct 03, 2014 1:37 pm  

1. Elliot Whitehead
2. Liam Farrell
3. Joe Westerman
4. Sean O'Loughlin
5. Liam Farrell

Re: Your 24 man England squad - Back Row : Fri Oct 03, 2014 1:57 pm  

There's a Sam Burgess sized-hole we need to fill and I think we will struggle most in this position.

Ferres
Westwood (is he going to be fit?)
O'Loughlin

Whitehead

Again unsure about the rest:
LMS: No, there are better options than him.
Farrell: I like him but not physical enough with the ball and won't break the line like he does in SL
Joel: Haven't seen enough of him since he came back to be fair, probably too soon for him.
Harrison: Good bench option, but he's a middle player and might struggle on the edge. May have picked him in the prop poll.
Ablett: Can cope at this level but is that enough? Good utility value, wouldn't surprise me if he's picked.
Tickle: No
Westerman: Another who's had a good year albeit in a poor team. I'm swaying towards him for 5th choice.
Heighington: No

Re: Your 24 man England squad - Back Row : Fri Oct 03, 2014 2:19 pm  

Real Head Scratcher for me

1. O'Loughlin. A must for me - big game player, tough, skilful
2. Westwood. Loves Bashing the Aussies
3. Westerman. For me, a good allrounder and tough enough for test rugby
4. Whitehead. Reward for a great attacking season. his missed tackle count is concern though.
5. Ablett. I want to not rate him, but he's always a pain in the booty when you play Leeds.

That means me leaving out Ferres, who I've liked for Englnd in the past, and Harrison, whom I really like, but a)see him more of a middle player and b)thought he was irish.

Re: Your 24 man England squad - Back Row : Fri Oct 03, 2014 2:36 pm  

Whitehead
Farrell
O'Loughlin
Harrison
LMS

Re: Your 24 man England squad - Back Row : Fri Oct 03, 2014 2:47 pm  

O'Loughlin
Farrell
Ferres
Whitehead
Westwood

Toughie, as people have said. LMS has been great over the last few weeks, but I don't think he's demonstrated enough consistency to claim an England shirt yet (although I suspect next year he may, if he gets a regular 2nd row spot). Westwood, on the other hand, hasn't been tip-top this year when I've seen him, but he's proven himself to be a good, aggressive test player in the past so scrapes in ahead of Ablett and Westerman for me.

Re: Your 24 man England squad - Back Row : Fri Oct 03, 2014 2:49 pm  

Note: I think Farrell is excellent, but I always favour size in the pack when it comes to picking an international team.

Re: Your 24 man England squad - Back Row : Fri Oct 03, 2014 3:21 pm  

Whitehead & Farrell
O'Loughlin
Ferres
Westwood

Re: Your 24 man England squad - Back Row : Fri Oct 03, 2014 4:48 pm  

Ferres and Westwood
O'Loughlin
Whitehead
Farrell

As a Wigan fan I'd be tempted to give Bateman a shot ahead of Farrell in both the starting line up at club level and in the England squad. I don't think Farrells form has been great for a couple of months now but he's a cracking player and I expect we'll see him back to his best soon. His knack of being in the right place at the right time in attack could be a real weapon.

Re: Your 24 man England squad - Back Row : Fri Oct 03, 2014 5:54 pm  

Whitehead
Farrell
Ferres
Westwood
Lockers