Re: England team to take on the Exiles? : Wed May 18, 2011 3:54 pm  

Dnats Ynnepeerht wrote:

Tomkins
McGilvray
Bridge/Shenton
Yeaman
Briscoe
McGuire
Brough
Graham
Roby
Morley
Tomkins
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Lunt
Peacock
Mossop
Harrison

Agree with this team for the Exiles game although I would give the left centre berth to Welham (he is in the senior squad after all)

For the 4 Nations, I would add Widdop at 6 and Burgess & Ellis to the second row and move Tomkins and Westwood to the bench and probably add Crabtree for extra size (would have no complaints with Harrison though as he is a quality forward)

Can’t make my mind up between Bridge and Shenton and they will both do a job (I expect Watkins to be in contention at the end of the year too)

Finally, I think the interchange hooker spot will go to Robinson – I like Lunt but I think Robinson adds more options with his ability to cover the halves

4 Nations Team

S Tomkins
McGilvray
Bridge/Shenton
Welham
Briscoe
Widdop
Brough
Graham
Roby
Morley
Burgess
Ellis
O'Loughlin

Robinson
Peacock
J Tomkins
Westwood

Re: England team to take on the Exiles? : Wed May 18, 2011 4:03 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Is it just me who doesn't like Tomkins as a fullback?

For once, I agree with you "Saddened!". I don't think that Tomkins' defence is good enough to be at full back. In attack he is a great player to bring in on the pivot, but his defence isn't up to scratch. His poor tackling has been shown in the WCC, which shows us that he won't be able to defend against the Aussies. And in the SL, in many games his poor technique has led him to be putting in sly little foul play (tackling with the knees first etc.). I think he's a great player in the half back role and that's where we should play him IMO.

Re: England team to take on the Exiles? : Wed May 18, 2011 4:03 pm  

FearTheVee wrote:

Sean Long, for the vast majority of his international career, was poor; his main problem was his extremely erratic kicking game.

Brough's kicking game is top drawer. In that facet, Brough has indeed done something to suggest he will be a better international half than Long - and that's from a Saints fan.

Well no, he has done more to show he has a better kicking game than Long. The rest of his game wasnt up to Long's standard, and I think we would agree overall, Long was the better player.

Why this would change at international level i dont know.

Re: England team to take on the Exiles? : Wed May 18, 2011 4:06 pm  

Ronnie Neale wrote:

Why do people keep choosing people who have been proven to be no where near good enough to face the aussies or people who haven't been tested yet and are already past there age limit to try and develop and get better.

Players like: Sinfield, O Loughlin, Westwood, Morley ect shouldn't be playing, yes they are playing well but they arnt good enough to beat the aussies and get better. Young talent is the way forward because the current youngsters which are coming through have beaten the aussies at youth level and they should be tried instead of waiting until they are 25 and playing against the same people they were playing 7 years ago who they beat, but this time the aussies have played decent international rugby.

If there was a young loose forward, regularly playing SL with the potential to be as good as Sinfield then stick him in. Im not sure who he is but stick him in.

Similarly, who is this young prop with the potential to be as good as Morley but isnt getting a chance?

Re: England team to take on the Exiles? : Wed May 18, 2011 4:09 pm  

Anyone have any idea on ticket sales for this game?

Re: England team to take on the Exiles? : Wed May 18, 2011 4:22 pm  

Ronnie Neale wrote:

Why do people keep choosing people who have been proven to be no where near good enough to face the aussies or people who haven't been tested yet and are already past there age limit to try and develop and get better.

Players like: Sinfield, O Loughlin, Westwood, Morley ect shouldn't be playing, yes they are playing well but they arnt good enough to beat the aussies and get better. Young talent is the way forward because the current youngsters which are coming through have beaten the aussies at youth level and they should be tried instead of waiting until they are 25 and playing against the same people they were playing 7 years ago who they beat, but this time the aussies have played decent international rugby.

But if the likes of Sinfield, O'Loughlin, Morley, and Westwood continue to be among the best players in their positions surley they should still be selected?

Its alright saying give the youngters a chance, but does anybody really believe the likes of Welham, Cudjoe, Watts, Foster, Lee Smith, Joel Tomkins will ever be good enough to beat the Aussies?? A couple of them have been given a chance and have failed, and the likes of Sam T, and Tom Briscoe .

I hope the likes of Lawrence, Charnley, Watkins, Broughton, and Mossop all get the chance to test themselves at test level, but they have to prove themselves over the SL (or NRL) season first.

Re: England team to take on the Exiles? : Wed May 18, 2011 4:35 pm  

Picking on form - team picks itself IMO

1. Widdop
2. Briscoe
3. Yeaman
4. Joel Tomkins
5. Cudjoe / Hall
6. Brough
7. Tomkins
8. Graham
9. Sinfield
10. Peacock
11. Harrison / Westwood
12. L. Farrell
13. O'Loughlin
-------------------
14. Morley
15. Robinson
16. Mossop
17. Whitehead

Re: England team to take on the Exiles? : Wed May 18, 2011 4:36 pm  

oli30045 wrote:

For once, I agree with you "Saddened!". I don't think that Tomkins' defence is good enough to be at full back. In attack he is a great player to bring in on the pivot, but his defence isn't up to scratch. His poor tackling has been shown in the WCC, which shows us that he won't be able to defend against the Aussies. And in the SL, in many games his poor technique has led him to be putting in sly little foul play (tackling with the knees first etc.). I think he's a great player in the half back role and that's where we should play him IMO.

While I agree that good defence is a nice addition to a full back’s armoury, in the modern game attack is a far more important consideration – this is one position where we have been well behind the Aussies in recent times and Tomkins can become a very good full back if he plays there internationally for a season or two

Re: England team to take on the Exiles? : Wed May 18, 2011 4:37 pm  

gerr'emonside wrote:

Picking on form - team picks itself IMO

1. Widdop
2. Briscoe
3. Yeaman
4. Joel Tomkins
5. Cudjoe / Hall
6. Brough
7. Tomkins
8. Graham
9. Sinfield
10. Peacock
11. Harrison / Westwood
12. L. Farrell
13. O'Loughlin
-------------------
14. Morley
15. Robinson
16. Mossop
17. Whitehead

How can a 'form' team have Widdop at 1 and Tomkins at 7 when neither has played in those positions all season?

Re: England team to take on the Exiles? : Wed May 18, 2011 4:39 pm  

SmokeyTA wrote:

and I think we would agree overall, Long was the better player

Actually no - I think that overall Brough is better than Long and now he is in a top 4 team (and he has sorted his attitude out somewhat) he is proving it