Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Mon Oct 24, 2022 3:59 pm  

Hopie wrote:

I'd like to see someone else at fullback next week, as I'm not impressed at all by Tomkins. Whoever plays next week should be told that they won't play in the quarters if they don't put in quality performance.

I don't rate Sneed that highly but he has the control & kicking at HB that Welsby doesn't & to some extent Williams, though none of the attacking threat. I'd be happy with Welsby at FB & Sneed at HB.

[Bullseye]

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Wed Oct 26, 2022 3:14 pm  

tigertot wrote:

I don't rate Sneed that highly but he has the control & kicking at HB.

He's like a modern day Paul Deacon , don't tell harigeorgeson.

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Wed Oct 26, 2022 6:34 pm  

Big test coming up for Wane. I think it's pretty clear on a few players who should and shouldn't be in the team at the moment. Ryan Hall should not. Despite belly flopping over for two tries, that he'd still be able to do at 60, he isn't anywhere near as good as Makinson or Young. Tomkins is having a bad time of it, unfit and out of form for Catalans for most of the year and non-existent for England. Bateman is another who Wane insisted had to be picked and had to be brought back after his suspension, only for him to be bang average like he's been for Wigan since he returned. He isn't anywhere near as good as Batchelor who lacks the Wigan links to even get in the squad for the France game.

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Wed Oct 26, 2022 8:51 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Big test coming up for Wane. I think it's pretty clear on a few players who should and shouldn't be in the team at the moment. Ryan Hall should not. Despite belly flopping over for two tries, that he'd still be able to do at 60, he isn't anywhere near as good as Makinson or Young. Tomkins is having a bad time of it, unfit and out of form for Catalans for most of the year and non-existent for England. Bateman is another who Wane insisted had to be picked and had to be brought back after his suspension, only for him to be bang average like he's been for Wigan since he returned. He isn't anywhere near as good as Batchelor who lacks the Wigan links to even get in the squad for the France game.

Chances are he’ll keep Bateman in for Greece (so he’s had two games), rest either Whitehead or Radley or both. And play Batchelor/Pierce-Paul either off the bench (Knowles to be LF) or starting SR.

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Wed Oct 26, 2022 9:50 pm  

tigertot wrote:

I don't rate Sneed that highly but he has the control & kicking at HB that Welsby doesn't & to some extent Williams, though none of the attacking threat. I'd be happy with Welsby at FB & Sneed at HB.

No. Just no. Welsby can kick, did you watch the grand final? Welsby was better at age 19 than Sneyd ever was. To win a World Cup you need players with X factor. Sneyd, whilst being a decent mid table half isn’t good enough to help us win the world cup

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Thu Oct 27, 2022 8:30 am  

Sneyd should only be consideredc as a back up to cover injuries. Wane has got it right in using Tomkins, Welsby and Williams as our 1, 6 and 7 spine. As far as kicking goes we have that fully covered, Welsby has a great short kicking game and both Williams and Tomkins can kick short and long.

What was interesting in a recent article in that Williams and Welsby say they are almost telepathic and they know what each other is going to do, that is priceless for an international team when time and space is not always easy to come by. Taking my saints specs off I think Tomkins is doing a great job at full back with his experience and decision making.

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Thu Oct 27, 2022 10:24 am  

TheWarringtonWolve69 wrote:

No. Just no. Welsby can kick, did you watch the grand final?

Yeh, it was great. Penrith are relentless. Welsby's distance kicking is crap.

TheWarringtonWolve69 wrote:

Welsby was better at age 19 than Sneyd ever was. To win a World Cup you need players with X factor. Sneyd, whilst being a decent mid table half isn’t good enough to help us win the world cup

No-one is suggesting Sneyd is anywhere comparable to Welsby as a player. The discussion is whether England would be better with Welsby at FB, than with Tomkins. I don't watch a deal of NRL but from what I see a number of their HBs aren't flash. But they do control the game.

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Thu Oct 27, 2022 12:49 pm  

tigertot wrote:

Yeh, it was great. Penrith are relentless. Welsby's distance kicking is crap.
No-one is suggesting Sneyd is anywhere comparable to Welsby as a player. The discussion is whether England would be better with Welsby at FB, than with Tomkins. I don't watch a deal of NRL but from what I see a number of their HBs aren't flash. But they do control the game.

If you suggest Welsby plays fullback who will play half back knowing Sneyd is not quite good enough.

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Thu Oct 27, 2022 2:17 pm  

Sneyd will be good enough in the halves on Saturday but, there needs to be progress from te game v France when, despite some good moments, England were bang average.
If they defend as they did in that game after the group stages, it will be a swift end to our WC journey.
Much of the euphoria from game 1 was undone in an instant.

Welsby doesn't have a long kicking game but, he does read the game ridiculously well.

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Sun Oct 30, 2022 11:28 am  

Yesterday was such a missed opportunity, England played without discipline, especially in the first half. Forcing passes and kicking too early in the count when it added nothing, it should have been a great opportunity to practice attacking moves and let "2nd choice" players show their worth.

With the lack of enthusiasm and discipline these last two games I really have to question the coaching. What was the plan for the games? How have we benefitted from these group matches?

I reckon he already knows who will be picked for knockout games despite form or performances, Ryan Hall looked like a player who had been told he won't play again barring injuries, despite him being exactly the sort of winger we need in the big games. Really think we should have played Welsby for 80 at fullback, I've seen Tomkins fail enough times at international level to expect it to happen again...

Really concerned our pack looks a bit weak too to be honest.