England v Australia @ DW Stadium, Wigan

[ME SO HORNBY!]

The problem was our forwards not our backs.

Exactly right. I mean geez, how the f**k was Poore left behind when he was close to the best forward all year yet Brett White makes the team?

 

[Chook Norris]

"'Close' to a sell out" apparently.. over 21,000 tickets have probably sold by now (in a 25k seat stadium)

http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyle...=rleague/09/10/29/RUGBYL_England_Peacock.html

More than 20,000 tickets have already been snapped up and England second rower Gareth Ellis, who has spent this year playing for Wests Tigers in Australia's NRL, is anticipating a passionate atmosphere.
"One thing I've missed about Super League is the noise an English crowd makes," he said.
"The atmosphere was good at Doncaster but the noise level is going to be cranked up even higher on Saturday.
"As an English player you are lifted when the crowd gets behind you. The atmosphere over here can be unsettling for the Australian players and I hope all our fans get behind us

 

[roughyedspud]

england team just announced

England: S Briscoe (Hull KR); T Briscoe (Hull), Smith (Leeds), Shenton (Castleford), Hall (Leeds); McGuire (Leeds), Tomkins (Wigan); Morley (Warrington), Roby (St Helens), Graham (St Helens), Ellis (Wests Tigers), Peacock (Leeds, captain), Sinfield (Leeds).
Substitutes: Burgess (Bradford), Crabtree (Huddersfield), Eastmond (St Helens), Westwood (Warrington).

 

[roughyedspud]

morley,peacock,graham,ellis,burgess,crabtree and westwood...


that pack is massive!!!:shock:

 

[roughyedspud]

just noticed no carvell??

should be there instead of westwood

 

[Marshall_magic]

Only people with half a brain are complaining about Lockyer's selection. How did Shillington come into calculations? He didn't even play!

Thaiday wasn't used properly, Hoffman and White are benefactors of playing for a succesful club brimming with superstars, there are better players infront of them and Kidley is Mr. Congeniality.

The major complaints were the amount of backrowers, backs and utilities chosen.

It's a Tim Sheens coached side, what did you expect. This is a bloke who coached a whole season (2008) with a lock/5-8 (Fulton) at lock, with a bench containing a hooker/half/lock (Morris) and a lock/hooker/centre (Halatau), and when he realised it didn't work, he punted his f**kin halfback to accomodate them all.

He's gone into games against Monster packs with no props on the bench, with ex centres (Harrison and Galea) at prop, shifted key players out of position to accomodate the spastic he bought (Moving Farah and Marshall to halfback to accomodate Morris).

When his experiments fail, he sends his gnome of a wingman in Royce Simmons, who wouldn't know the difference between his elbow and his arse, to explain why they've made the change, which is always some bs excuse (my personal favourite was that there is no difference between a halfback and a 5/8, so we're shifting Marshall back to 5/8).

I am not even remotely surprised that he's gone into a big series with 4 props in his squad, 3 of which are debutons, causing him to play his back rowers out of position to cover for it, and I can bet you 99% of Tigers fans aren't surprised either.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Hmmm, going by this squad, I think Watmough will be defending next to Lockyer? That is the most f**ked decision that Sheens has made with this selection.
Which Englishman is on that side of the field? Peacock I believe?

I really hope Lewis gets the nod, he is a hard player.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

morley,peacock,graham,ellis,burgess,crabtree and westwood...


that pack is massive!!!:shock:

That pack is slow;-)

 

[nadera78]

england team just announced

England: S Briscoe (Hull KR); T Briscoe (Hull), Smith (Leeds), Shenton (Castleford), Hall (Leeds); McGuire (Leeds), Tomkins (Wigan); Morley (Warrington), Roby (St Helens), Graham (St Helens), Ellis (Wests Tigers), Peacock (Leeds, captain), Sinfield (Leeds).
Substitutes: Burgess (Bradford), Crabtree (Huddersfield), Eastmond (St Helens), Westwood (Warrington).

Taking into account the initial 24 man squad that Smith picked, that team is probably the best we've got, except for Carvell in for Westwood and even that is debatable.

Looks like they're gonna play it hard, straight down the middle. Can't wait for some fireworks.

 

[Brutus]

Burgess will start from the bench hey. MMM...interesting.

That's the best Pommy pack I have seen in ages.

Just need Hanley, Schofield and Jason Robinson in the backline and they'll be sweet.

 

[JasonE]

just noticed no carvell??

should be there instead of westwood

He could've had Carvell and Westwood, should have dropped Shaun Briscoe, put Kyle to fullback and added Carvell to bench.

 

[The Clan]

I've no real complaints about the team T Smiths picked here.

Nit picking, I would have had Carvel on the bench for Westwood but considering Peacock is already in the back row maybe Smith has gone for slightly more mobility in Westwood.

Eastmond would have been a good shout at full back but in all honesty S. Briscoe deserves a chance to show what he's got.

Burgess off the bench might be a trump card, he'll be itching to get on the field and rip into Australia.

Its no secret that I would have had Danny Brough and Sam Tomkins as the halfbacks as with that pack in front of them they could have gone beserk. Thats not to be so roll on Saturday.

 

[JB]

Strong looking forward pack.

Problem is. Even if they dominate or at best gain parity, dont think they have the backs to take advantage of it.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

It's a Tim Sheens coached side, what did you expect. This is a bloke who coached a whole season (2008) with a lock/5-8 (Fulton) at lock, with a bench containing a hooker/half/lock (Morris) and a lock/hooker/centre (Halatau), and when he realised it didn't work, he punted his f**kin halfback to accomodate them all.

He's gone into games against Monster packs with no props on the bench, with ex centres (Harrison and Galea) at prop, shifted key players out of position to accomodate the spastic he bought (Moving Farah and Marshall to halfback to accomodate Morris).

When his experiments fail, he sends his gnome of a wingman in Royce Simmons, who wouldn't know the difference between his elbow and his arse, to explain why they've made the change, which is always some bs excuse (my personal favourite was that there is no difference between a halfback and a 5/8, so we're shifting Marshall back to 5/8).

I am not even remotely surprised that he's gone into a big series with 4 props in his squad, 3 of which are debutons, causing him to play his back rowers out of position to cover for it, and I can bet you 99% of Tigers fans aren't surprised either.

Spot on. We've been whinging for years about Sheens' team selections, now everyone else can enjoy them too. :lol:

 

[user_nat]

Both Farah and Lewis on the bench. Clearly 1 utility wasn't enough in the first game.

Atleast Lewis has use besides being a utility.

 

[mozza91]

England are a great chance of winning , there pack is way better then ours plus our bench is easily the worst ever assembled for a Test match in history

 

[aussies1st]

Now that is a great forward pack by the English. Can't believe we left behind guys that could counter them.

 

[Marshall_magic]

Both Farah and Lewis on the bench. Clearly 1 utility wasn't enough in the first game.

Atleast Lewis has use besides being a utility.

A Tim Sheens bench is 2 utilities and 2 back rowers. Look to see Shillo and White drop off.

 

[Chook Norris]

looks like a very strong forward pack, looks like they'll be looking to take in the same game plan as the Kiwis

JB:
Problem is. Even if they dominate or at best gain parity, dont think they have the backs to take advantage of it.

I was thinking the same thing with the Kiwis, their backline was diminished imo; look where it got them

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

Exciting team from England. It will interesting to see how young Tomkins performs, I'm looking forward to it. I'm not sure about Crabtree, but we'll see.

Either way, c'mon England!