Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Wed Nov 11, 2015 7:41 am  

BrisbaneRhino wrote:

McNamara has got himself into a bind before in short series, by not making changes after the first game. I'm not talking unnecessary wholesale changes, but one or two where players didn't fire. I understand the temptation to 'stick with a winning team' but in a Test series you have to expect the other side to adapt, especially after a loss. If you don't and lose the middle test, you're then looking at picking players who have yet to play and are by definition rustier than the incumbents. Which for a conservative coach would tend to push even more for sticking with the players already used.

Absolutely correct. Gale and Westwood haven't played since mid-September, Cudjoe not since end of Sept and Smith not since the Grand Final. Playing them now would be a massive gamble - and McNamara isn't a coach to take risks.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Wed Nov 11, 2015 8:23 am  

McNamara says "I thought George defended really well.....he played extremely well in that part of the game.....particularly on our goal-line defence"
I didn't realise we picked our HBs for their defence. He must have missed that pathetic attempt on our goal-line where, after tigging the NZ player who didn't stop, he then didn't chase back but sulk.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Wed Nov 11, 2015 8:55 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

I watched Saturday's game again and have changed my mind on what I'd change.

Bateman was nowhere near as bad as has been made out. His three drops were due to a slip, a high tackle (not penalised) and a ball strip (penalised). I'd still look to move him out of centre but would play him from the bench in the back row.

On the flip side George Williams struggled far more then I noticed on the day. He looked nervous and tired after a long season. It may be better for him to take him out of the firing line. As a Wigan fan I can't say put Matty Smith in because his forms not warrented it this year so Gale should get a shot.

I would also look to replace Whitehead who's been poor over the two games. I agree that Westwood would be a good, aggressive fit and it could possibly be his final appearance in an England shirt so he'll be fired up.

I'd go-

Hardaker
Burgess Watkins Cudjoe Hall
Widdop Gale
Graham Roby Hill
Westwood Farrell O'Loughlin

Subs
Burgess Cooper Ferres Bateman

We'll have a good shot with that team IMO. I'd be looking to ask Roby to do the 80 mins. I think he can cope with that and still make a big impact.

I'd go with that too. Roby can certainly do 80 mins, that frees up others to spell for Westwood (as he hasn't played for weeks) if he needs it.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 1:02 pm  

Haven't all the comments but as usual there seems to be a lot of Wigan players who should be dropped.

Move Burgess to the left wing, Williams likes to run that way and some of the short kicks Williams puts in to Burgess make it look like a telepathic understanding. Added to that u'd have a better understanding of players with Farrell, Bateman and Burgess all together.

The key thing is the forwards though, Ive said it time and again Roby is non existant behing a slow ptb, look at the difference between the 2 matches. Hodgson offers nowt so i'd play Roby for 80 and bring in another forward on the bench because that is where the game will be won.

BTW if Sam Tomkins had offered as little in attack as Zak Hardaker has for 2 games he'd get slaughtered.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 1:32 pm  

Apart from 30 minutes from Williams none of the Wigan players have offered anything in attack in both games. If any other player had performed as badly as Williams in game 2 they would have been slaughtered. He was garbage, but people, me included, have been light on him due to his inexperience. Hardaker's defence has been excellent.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 2:15 pm  

Squad named: McGilvary and Smith in for Cudjoe and Westwood.

Not sure what that means for the team.... smith in for Williams? McGilvary in at centre for Bateman???

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 2:25 pm  

whiston_warrior wrote:

Haven't all the comments but as usual there seems to be a lot of Wigan players who should be dropped.

Move Burgess to the left wing, Williams likes to run that way and some of the short kicks Williams puts in to Burgess make it look like a telepathic understanding. Added to that u'd have a better understanding of players with Farrell, Bateman and Burgess all together.

The key thing is the forwards though, Ive said it time and again Roby is non existant behing a slow ptb, look at the difference between the 2 matches. Hodgson offers nowt so i'd play Roby for 80 and bring in another forward on the bench because that is where the game will be won.

BTW if Sam Tomkins had offered as little in attack as Zak Hardaker has for 2 games he'd get slaughtered.

Wigan.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 2:30 pm  

EHW wrote:

Squad named: McGilvary and Smith in for Cudjoe and Westwood.

Not sure what that means for the team.... smith in for Williams? McGilvary in at centre for Bateman???

Bateman must still be playing centre.

My guess is Smith for Williams in the only change.

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 2:37 pm  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

The dire attacking performance of England requires whole changes in key positions. Steven McNamara must make important changes to the team, and turn to Leeds and a dash of Castleford to turn the tide away from an otherwise inevitable Kiwi win.

Zachary Hardaker

Joseph Burgess, Kallum Watkins, Michael Shenton, Ryan Hall,

Daniel McGuire
Robert Burrow

Sean O'Loughlin,
Liam Farrell, Elliot Whitehead
James Graham, Joshua Hodgson, Christopher Hill

Interchange: Thomas Burgess, Michael Cooper, Carlos Ablett, James Roby

If we're just picking people who aren't actually in the squad, I'd go

Hardaker

Lord Sugar, Hulk Hogan, Jeremy Corbyn, Alan Shearer

Lockyer
Thurston

Dame Edna Everage,
Doctor Who, Len Goodman
James Graham, Joshua Hodgson, Simon Cowell

Interchange: Sam Burgess, Flavor Flav, Carlos Santana, James Roby

Re: Changes for 3rd Test : Thu Nov 12, 2015 3:06 pm  

Hulk Hogan in at prop, and surely have to have Jeremy Corbyn on the left wing.