No it won't be. Australia have many injuries as well, despite the fact that they have more depth the replacements are not the quality of those they will be replacing; no matter how afraid everyone will be of them anyway.



Also, Brian Smith will be helping England out in this tournament, he is a fantastic coach with an excellent reputation (despite the lack of a grand final victory).

Id like to see something like



Widdop

T.Briscoe

Gleeson

Atkins

Cudjoe

Tomkins

Brough

Graham

Sinfield

Morley

Ellis

Burgess

O'Loughlin



Roby

J.Tomkins

Fielden

Westwood



We need a good kicker and Brough is the best imo. Burgess to play the 80 and moving up to prop when needed.

Australia will be without Greg Inglis, Jamie Lyon, Michael Jennings, Timana Tahu, who all would've been considered at centre. Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston, Scott Prince are all in doubt for the halves. England could be facing a backline mostly featuring players they've never played against before. You're not the only team with injuries.

Has Brough actually declared himself for England again or is he still Scottish?

Scottish last we heard

he declared himself Scottish again not long back

www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... tland.html

www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... tland.html

I'd be happy to see Cudjoe on the wing for England (maybe even potential fullback in longer term), has always impressed me, not sure about Lawrence yet as he hasn't stood out as much as Cudjoe. I also think Brown could be a very useful option playing at centre, offering a bit of creativity in that position. I'm not convinced Robinson is really international class though, tries hard, but I wouldn't have him in my squad.

He plays standoff in the NSW Cup, I'm not convinced that should put him ahead of any of the other choices for fullback in the England squad.

If we have such GOOD players eligible for England and fighting for positions in the national team then why do clubs insist on signing overseas players?



Or is it, as I and loads of others have figured out, we just don't have the players or systems in place to create this scenario where there is a fight for places.



The "truth" AGAIN will come out in the 4 nations but still the relevant heads will be stuck up their collective backsides spouting forth that everything is lovely and working well!

I agree! The problem we have is players playing in positions that don't match their club! Is tomkins going to play 1? When did sinfield last play 9 for Leeds? Eastmond isn't fit, myler and gardner have been left out of their teams play off match therefore not first choice for their clubs!

brough is back in the scotland squad now.

i dont think we are lacking in players,it's just that some of the players we have got aren't world class but with the right coaching and attitude then it's not always about individuals but a team thing



people say we are struggling in the halves? i dont agree personally, obviously tomkins and eastmond would be first choice 6+7 but tomkins has proved he is equally adept at full back,whether he has the stature to take that onto the international stage,we dont know,but i think he has.after those 2, then kev brown and burrow would be the 2nd choice, both are experienced,although not necessarily at international level, both have decent kicking games,then we have the likes of myler,robinson who can also cover at 9,sinfield who can cover at SO,matty smith who has had a good season and has an excellent kicking game,danny orr,luke gale,scott moore who can play in the halves also,maybe not brilliant individual players but still they are options.

as for centre's, well i would say shenton and atkins would be probably first choice,but gleeson has shown the form this year he showed a few years back and could be an option? foster has been brilliant for saints and would also be a good back up goalkicker, same with cudjoe who can also play wing and full back,goulding can also play centre but has been great for wigan on the wing,lawrence has had a cracking season with the giants but not sure if he is international material yet and can play both wing and centre,i think centre is his best position though.as for the wingers, i think we have plenty options there.

so to summarise i would say the options are there for mcnamara if he wants them

halves:

tomkins,brown,burrow,robinson,myler,eastmond,sinfield,gale,smith,moore

centres:

atkins,shenton,gleeson,cudjoe,lawrence,foster,goulding,even ellis if needs be