Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 5:50 pm  

EHW wrote:

The thing most clearly lacking last week was any form of attacking flair and creativity. Smith is probably the most conservative and risk averse half back in the league. It makes no absolutely no sense to pick him.

The only performance McNamara has seen this season was the grand final, where Smith was so ineffective that Tony Clubb had to take over the kicking duties.

What England really need is the impetus that Tony Clubb's adventurous, daring and creative kicking game brings to the occasion.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 5:56 pm  

EHW wrote:

This series has me questioning whether McNamara is trying to get sacked on purpose. He probably feels like he can't walk away from the job, but if he gets sacked he can fully focus on his training cone duties in Sydney.

I was just about to write the same thing.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 8:04 pm  

Him wrote:

I can't defend McNamara anymore. If we win the Series it will be because of poor NZ performances and despite McNamara not because of him.

His selections make no sense and his stubbornness in this series has seriously affected the team.
He was obviously dead-set on Tomkins at full back, regardless of his form or even his physical condition. He's now dead set on Bateman at centre when it's obvious it's not working and frankly wasn't a clever choice in the first place. He was dead set on having Smith regardless of his form. He's also obviously dead set on a very conservative game plan.
What exactly do the likes of Gale and Cudjoe have to do to get in the team?.

It's a stupidly chosen 19 but from it I'd have to go with:
1. Hardaker
2. McGilvary
3. Watkins
4. Bateman
5. Hall
6. Smith
7. Widdop
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Hill
11. Farrell
12. Ferres
13. O'Loughlin

14. Hodgson
15. Burgess
16. Cooper
17. Whitehead

If I had a choice I wouldn't have Bateman at centre. I'd have him at second row in place of Whitehead. But the coach has bizarrely dropped Cudjoe from the 19. I'd also rather have Gale in for Smith, but again, bizarrely, the coach has chosen Smith over Gale.

Or perhaps, as everyone says Roby can play the 80 anyway, have Williams at 14 instead of Hodgson as an option off the bench?

But (and I say this purely cos the game is at Wigan), McNamara may be thinking Smith and Williams in the halves, rather than Smith and Widdop.
Who knows?

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 9:00 pm  

Widdop will probably keep his place but we're desperate for him to produce something. He's been ordinary so far this series and is playing with little control. I thought he'd form a balanced pairing with Williams but they've both looked like they want the other to take the lead.

Smith has been bang average for us this year but he should (hopefully) bring a bit more stability. He'll get earlier ball to his outside and if his kicking is on it could be useful. The weather is forecast to be horrendous on Saturday and he's produced some very strong displays in wet conditions in the past.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 9:07 pm  

moto748 wrote:

Or perhaps, as everyone says Roby can play the 80 anyway, have Williams at 14 instead of Hodgson as an option off the bench?

But (and I say this purely cos the game is at Wigan), McNamara may be thinking Smith and Williams in the halves, rather than Smith and Widdop.
Who knows?

I really don't think the game being played at the DW is a good enough reason to go with Williams and Smith as a starting pair.

Williams has had a good year but he's not yet that good a player that you just accommodate his disappointing season HB partner in the hope that it makes Williams play better.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 9:46 pm  

as much as i think we should be moving away from the likes of westwood, there is still a series to win, and i would have thought westwood should be in for his experience if nothing else,
picking smith over gale, makes no sense at all, if gale played for wigan he's be a shoe in!

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 9:49 pm  

And some people go mental when you refer to the coach as McBanana. These are the reasons why. The guy is absolutely clueless.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 10:15 pm  

Why move away from players like Westwood? If there's a test match to be won the best 17 should play despite of age

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 10:36 pm  

Exactly. Never understand this planning for the future rubbish. You play in the present and to win.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 10:41 pm  

CommanderShepard wrote:

And some people go mental when you refer to the coach as McBanana. These are the reasons why. The guy is absolutely clueless.

I'm one of those people, I think McNamoron is more appropriate.