Whatever the result I'm just happy the squad is a totally French team i.e. no Aussies. I personally dont think Fakir should be chosen given that he is going to the dark side next year.

I agree that Flanagan would not get in a starting line up before Sean O, but Flanagan is getting into a starting 13 in the best RL competition in the world and is improving of what i have seen of him on tv. He will surely be on a shortlist for the tour down under if he keeps up this rate of progression. The only problem i could see for Widdop is when Slater comes back into the Melbourne team this week and in the future. But iam sure that the Melbourne coaching staff will find a place for him in the team going forward after that performance against Canterbury. To be truthful i cant think of a fullback outside of Widdop who is good enough to play for England? S Briscoe is an honest player but looks as fast as a slug at the international level. It is a good job another fullback option has fallen into our laps. But this was by luck rather than judgement. Because i think Widdop is a product of the Aussie system. Not ours.

Widdop was 15 when he went out. Unless he was already very good there is no way Melbourne would have taken him on. His comments about only making the amateur system over here are interesting. Someone needs to ask why? Is it because Halifax are outside SL and don't have a fulltime academy system, because of the quality of our coaches or just simply because the sport is so small time that there isn't enough of a ladder up to Super League?



With Widdop, Eastmond, Tomkins and Burgess England are starting to develop some real dangermen, the kind of players who can turn a game in one moment.

I'll watch the tape again and see if it was indeed his fault, since you can remember who was at fault for all the tries perhaps you can give us a run down of how many tries each player was responsible for?



Where have i slagged of any players or clubs? or do you just see what you want to see and ignore what actually happening?



The fact that you are blaming the defeat on one player makes it pretty clear that its you who enjoys slagging off our players.

shenton and hall were our best backs defensivly



Exactly shenton and hall were our best backs defensivly, and got far less ball than the other side of the field so its not really a far comparison in attack.

double post.

I remember Hall having a very good four natoins.

Whenever a squad is announced it's met with the same negative posts. Even with great players in the past, Davies, Offiah, Hanley et all. we had a no better record than now. We have some exciting young players coming through, namely the 3 young half backs, Burgess. Ellis and Graham are as good as anyone in their position, it's not all doom and gloom, we have some good players.



Last year we got one step further and made the final. We were within 6-10 points of the Aussies up the final just after half time. We need to stay positive that we can do it over a series.

Over a single game might be a start

We didn't go with Greenshields because he's injured, as he's nationalised French, lives in France and is married to a French woman I don't have an issue with his inclusion in the side.



With these players I see our squad as:

FB: Pelo (would rather have Greenshields here and Pelo on Wing)

Wing: Vaccari and Duport

Centres: Raguin and Touxagas?

Halves: Bosc and Gigot?

LF: Mounis

Backrow: Elima and Fakir?

Front Row: Ferriol, K. Bently, Guisset

Bench: Casty, Gossard, Simon, A. Bently



I could possibly see Griffi involved to add an old head to the mix or maybe Villagas in for Duport with Duport vying with Touxagas for a centre spot. We could do with more options at SO and Hooker.

Some good young prospects there, but we are a good 5 players short of giving England a good run for their money.

IMO Pryce, Burrow and McGuire should not be in the England squad. Pryce has never shown up at international level and the other 2 are running support players only. Burrow and McG need to have more to their game to be effective at the top level.