Waney’s Tough Selection Choices : Sat Oct 29, 2022 4:37 pm  

It will be interesting to see who Waney thinks his strongest 17 is.

I think he showed his hand a little bit with today’s selection and substitutions. If he has a fully fit squad then I expect Farnworth, Watkins, Tomkins, Whitehead and Thompson to return. Makinson is nailed on to be one of our wingers and I expect Young to get the vote over Hall. Welsby is an obvious choice to partner Williams. Burgess and Hill have been our best props and are certainties to make the team. Micky Mac I think will get the nod with Bateman and Radley making up the backrow. Knowles has to be in the 17. The other two substitutes are up for grabs.

Tomkins
Young
Farnworth
Watkins
Makinson
Welsby
Williams
Burgess
McIlorium
Hill
Whitehead
Bateman
Radley
Thompson
Knowles
Cooper/Lee
McMeeken

Re: Waney’s Tough Selection Choices : Sat Oct 29, 2022 5:26 pm  

I suspect it will be same as the Samoa game - ony difference might be the subs bench and I think Wane wiill wait until it is absolutely confirmed who the opponents will be but it it is PNG then I would expect 4 forwards on the bench.

Re: Waney’s Tough Selection Choices : Sun Oct 30, 2022 9:57 am  

I think swap Knowles for Batchelor on the bench.

As good as Knowles is, I think Radley is a better version and Batchelor offers something different to Knowles/Radley.

Wingers should be Dom and Tommy.

Sam at 1, Welsby and Williams in halves

Re: Waney’s Tough Selection Choices : Sun Oct 30, 2022 10:14 am  

From the opening week I’m expecting just Bateman for McMeekan in the starting 13 and Wane to then choose between McMeekan and Cooper for the last bench spot. Guys like Hall, Sneyd, Ackers, KPP have had good minutes in the last two weeks but that could be their World Cups done now.

Re: Waney’s Tough Selection Choices : Sun Oct 30, 2022 10:32 am  

Big Steve wrote:

I think swap Knowles for Batchelor on the bench.

As good as Knowles is, I think Radley is a better version and Batchelor offers something different to Knowles/Radley.

Wingers should be Dom and Tommy.

Sam at 1, Welsby and Williams in halves

Batchelor? I thought he was poor yesterday. Not just the try he totally bombed just his all around game showed why hes not been chosen before yesterday.

Re: Waney’s Tough Selection Choices : Sun Oct 30, 2022 11:16 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

From the opening week I’m expecting just Bateman for McMeekan in the starting 13 and Wane to then choose between McMeekan and Cooper for the last bench spot. Guys like Hall, Sneyd, Ackers, KPP have had good minutes in the last two weeks but that could be their World Cups done now.

Agreed.

Re: Waney’s Tough Selection Choices : Tue Nov 01, 2022 8:22 am  

Zig wrote:

It will be interesting to see who Waney thinks his strongest 17 is.

I think he showed his hand a little bit with today’s selection and substitutions. If he has a fully fit squad then I expect Farnworth, Watkins, Tomkins, Whitehead and Thompson to return. Makinson is nailed on to be one of our wingers and I expect Young to get the vote over Hall. Welsby is an obvious choice to partner Williams. Burgess and Hill have been our best props and are certainties to make the team. Micky Mac I think will get the nod with Bateman and Radley making up the backrow. Knowles has to be in the 17. The other two substitutes are up for grabs.

Tomkins
Young
Farnworth
Watkins
Makinson
Welsby
Williams
Burgess
McIlorium
Hill
Whitehead
Bateman
Radley
Thompson
Knowles
Cooper/Lee
McMeeken

Thats the team I would pick,Would pick Cooper over Lees.

Re: Waney’s Tough Selection Choices : Tue Nov 01, 2022 12:47 pm  

Who would have imagined six months ago that Watkins would be a starting centre for England? But considering the available options, and his form, it's actually fair enough.

Re: Waney’s Tough Selection Choices : Tue Nov 01, 2022 4:30 pm  

moto748 wrote:

Who would have imagined six months ago that Watkins would be a starting centre for England? But considering the available options, and his form, it's actually fair enough.

You just couldnt drop him at the min,I think playing second row a bit has given him a better defensive attitude and he takes the ball in like a second row and still is a classy centre.