England watch

[geordie_saint]

I just couldn't disagree more, I cant see one coach who I really believe would be a step up from Bennett unless your only measure was him being English.

Spud thought Bennett took England backwards last year from the McNamara era. I personally thought Bennett used the Four Nations as a test event to scope his squad strengths and weaknesses rather than trying to win it. He’s been recruited to win this World Cup, not the Four Nations so guess we’ll see by 2 Dec if he’s the right man or not.

 

[Pommy]

Spud thought Bennett took England backwards last year from the McNamara era. I personally thought Bennett used the Four Nations as a test event to scope his squad strengths and weaknesses rather than trying to win it. He’s been recruited to win this World Cup, not the Four Nations so guess we’ll see by 2 Dec if he’s the right man or not.

Yeah I’m inclined to think the same. Whilst I’m very happy to have him as coach I think he could have handled himself in a better manner. There was no need to make a show of himself in the media.

 

[roughyedspud]

That's what I figured. Just posting what my mate said! For all I know George may have been over here for moral support..!

Dude..he has a twin! Your mate probably saw tom burgess lol

 

[titoelcolombiano]

I've been on here 10 years now,I love post season internationals,I ramp up the banter,annoy everyone more than normal and always firmly believed that "this year is our year"...but I just can't get excited about this team ,we have the wrong coaches and wrong scrumhalf! Yeah we'll walk through everyone ...except the 2 teams we need to beat to win the damn thing..and most of us all know it...it's torture

Which changes would you make spud? What do you think is your strongest starting 13?

- I was surprised about Tomkins (not sure if injured but he has the experience)
- Bateman is obviously a defensive move which I'm ok with because Bennett knows that defense will win this WC
- The best English half I've seen at international level recently was Matty Smith, really good player
- Is there a reason why McGuire doesn't get picked anymore?

 

[roughyedspud]

The actual starting 13 isn't a million miles away...I'd have picked Ben Currie over Bateman at center and Matty Smith...or mark sneyd...over gale at 7.....at 7 we need a organiser & kicker and leave widdop/Williams at 6 and ratchford or Tomkins at 1 to do the running and razzle dazzle as 2nd receiver..

I'd have been happy if Danny Maguire was selected,even as back up to gale..Danny is and always has been a special talent...even at 34

I selected this squad a couple of weeks ago

Squad

1.ratchford / Tomkins or lomax
2.j Mac / makinson
3. Watkins / bateman center - 2nd row cover
4. Percival / Currie - center - 2nd row cover
5. Hall
6. Widdop / Williams
7. Gale / Smith or sneyd or Maguire
9. Hodgson / Roby

8. Graham
10.hill
11.s.burgess - prop cover
12 Whitehead
13. O'Loughlin

14.taylor
15.walmsley
16. Mcmeeken
17. T.Burgess = 24 players

 

[Emu01]

What’s happened with George Burgess? Is he injured or just out of favour.

 

[adamkungl]

What’s happened with George Burgess? Is he injured or just out of favour.

He's a fat plodder who can't catch

 

[titoelcolombiano]

The actual starting 13 isn't a million miles away...I'd have picked Ben Currie over Bateman at center and Matty Smith...or mark sneyd...over gale at 7.....at 7 we need a organiser & kicker and leave widdop/Williams at 6 and ratchford or Tomkins at 1 to do the running and razzle dazzle as 2nd receiver..

I'd have been happy if Danny Maguire was selected,even as back up to gale..Danny is and always has been a special talent...even at 34

I selected this squad a couple of weeks ago

Squad

1.ratchford / Tomkins or lomax
2.j Mac / makinson
3. Watkins / bateman center - 2nd row cover
4. Percival / Currie - center - 2nd row cover
5. Hall
6. Widdop / Williams
7. Gale / Smith or sneyd or Maguire
9. Hodgson / Roby

8. Graham
10.hill
11.s.burgess - prop cover
12 Whitehead
13. O'Loughlin

14.taylor
15.walmsley
16. Mcmeeken
17. T.Burgess = 24 players

Yeah Tomkins, McGuire / Williams, Matty Smith and Hodgson sound like a pretty good spine to me.

 

[adamkungl]

Mine would be Tomkins Williams Gale Hodgson with Roby on the bench

 

[LeedsStorm]

Last big game Luke Gale played he was thoroughly outplayed. Thankfully no one in the Australia team will have watched it

 

[morningstar]

Last big game Luke Gale played he was thoroughly outplayed. Thankfully no one in the Australia team will have watched it

Behind a team who dropped the ball 10+ times early in the tackle count in their own half. Hard for anyone to shine with that kind of platform.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Was there a reason given for Tomkins' omission? Is he injured? I would have thought with Hardaker out he would have been an auto-selection.

 

[adamkungl]

Last big game Luke Gale played he was thoroughly outplayed. Thankfully no one in the Australia team will have watched it

And the week before that he killed it

 

[LeedsStorm]

And the week before that he killed it

You reckon? I thought they were lucky to win that game, at home. Am I the only one to question Gale's big game temperament? I'd also have gone with Smith or Mags

 

[geordie_saint]

I'd also have gone with Smith or Mags

Smith has been awful for the past two years and had a serious injury in that time. He really isn’t the answer.

 

[roughyedspud]

He's not the answer no...but his game will afford someone else to be the answer

 

[Perth Red]

Good to see the British PM wish England luck in the parliament question time.

 

[roughyedspud]

Sour faced merkin..

 

[Pommy]

He's a fat plodder who can't catch

Never mind catching he can’t even keep hold of it.

 

[Irish-bulldog]

2 very soft tries in the first half. But other then that the poms were right in that game. To me the kicking game was the difference, that gale had a shocker for the first 60 with the boot. I was very impressed with englands back 3 and the replacement hooker .