I agree, Sinfield did okay yesterday, better than Chase anyway.

Why people want to put a full back at 6 when he's not played there in years and Sinfield at Loose Forward when he's not played there in years I can't understand.

The World Cup has started, this isn't the time to start chopping the team around and playing players out of position.

I'd bring O'Loughlin in for the probably banned Sam Burgess and Graham in for one of Tom Burgess or Mossop and then bring Sam Burgess in for the Fiji game.

My rationale is simple - I believe he could win us matches from that position and even with lack of experience could offer alot more threat and better defence than chase. Hardaker is a good full back. Overall I feel the TEAM (after all its a team sport and when the going gets tough you're only as good as your weakest link - which to me is Chase) would be stronger. It shouldn't be about individuals and preferred positions but the team. If Sam is as talented rugby player as people say he should be able to excel anywhere in the back line.



The great German football striker Gerd Muller once played full back and was man of the match. If you've got you can play.



I recall Widnes having to put prop Mike O'Neill on the wing because of injuries in a televised match. Alex Murphy joked he'd like to see him go the full length. A minute later the ball went across and he whizzed in (Albeit from about 25 yards). Likewise, Kurt Sorensen once. That's because they were both deceptively quick and good players.

With Burgess...



Tomkins

Charnley

Watkins

Cudjoe

Hall

Chase

Sinfield

Hill

McLlorum

G Burgess

Ferres

S Burgess

O'Loughlin



Roby (On after 20 for the remainder)

Graham (Used like at the Bulldogs on after 20 for remainder)

Westwood (Brought on for a prop and S Burgess pushed to front row)

Farrell



Without Sam Burgess start Westwood and play Mossop or Tom Burgess off the bench.

I don't think Sam Burgess should be banned - he committed himself but the guy's head was low.

I'd go with the lads with some thing to prove and the lads needing to force their way in. So



Hardaker

Briscoe

Ablett

Cudjoe

Charnley

Widdop

Sinfield

Graham

Mcilorum

Tom Burgess

Westwood

Ferres

O'loughlin



Burrow

Mossop

Farrell

G Burgess



O'Loughlin Sinfield, Roby Tomkins, hall and S Burgess all own their shirts, But I've kept Sinfield in as we need to see how Widdop plays with Sinfield and OLoughlin needs games. The others wont be harmed by a rest and it gives those fighting for or to hold on to a shirt to push for it

Given that most would go with a 2 prop and 1 back rower bench then it's a question of how you use that last bench spot.



Personally would go straight swap at hooker and have McIlorum there, but.....



If you wanted something different, I'd ignore having Widdop or Burrow there. For the latter's style to work we need quick PTB's, won't happen against the Aussies without a natural hooker leading the forwards around.



As I've suggested before this year I'd use a ploy Leeds used back in the late 90's. Iestyn Harris (very similar to Tomkins in being the wow player of his day) would start at FB at Leeds with Powell at 6. Halfway through the match we would bring St. Hilaire off the bench for Powell, slot him in at FB and move Harris up to 6.

I reckon you could go that route with Hardaker coming off the bench.

Tomkins gets more hands on the ball and you introduced another exciting runner at FB. You could do it straight forward with Tomkins then moving out to defend wide like most halves or you could defensively leave him at FB with Hardaker out there as he has decent experience of defending around that area from his time at centre.

Given charnley's half d effort I'd have him out & get Briscoe in, he still offers more than both Hall & Charnley anyway.



Whomever said Tomkins over Chase is crazy, he'd effectively be stifled to play to the plan that Chase has being asked to. Also Sam isn't a better tackler either, watch again because Chase does very well, excellent classic one on one tackle. Tomkins can't tackle the skin off a rice pudding..

1. Tomkins

2. Briscoe

3. Watkins

4. Cudjoe

5. Hall

6. Widdop

7. Sinfield

8. Hill

9. Roby

10. Gurgess

11. Farrell

12. Ferres

13. O'Loughlin



14. Surgess

15. Graham

16. Hardaker/Charnley/Chase/Mossop/Turgess/Mcllorum/Westwood/Ablett

17. Burrow

The starting line up started the game well yesterday and i'd be reluctant to change that. The bench made no impact and that's where i'd make changes.



If S Burgess is suspended then O'Loughlin comes in to loose forward (if fit), if neither of those two are available then Westwood to LF and Farrell in to SR.



Tomkins

Charnley

Watkins

Cudjoe

Hall

Chase

Sinfield

Hill

Roby

G Burgess

Westwood

Ferres

S Burgess



Graham

Farrell

Burrow

O'Loughlin/Mossop/Ablett

Funny how people noticed Westwoods penalty indiscretions but not his titanic defensive stint which was an astonishing effort.



The two players who should loose their places are Chase and Mossop. Without any doubt.

I'm not far off agreeing there Mark. Chase isn't cutting it.

I wouldn't move tomkins to 6 but we do need him to see the ball more.



No messing about now, we need to pick our best team each game,we need continuity.



Widdop is a waste of a bench spot, if he's decided Kev and Chase are his halves then it's just hard lines for Widdop, he can't shoe horn him in for the sake of it. Although i'd start Widdop



Don't understand why anyone thinks Briscoe is better than Charnley. We do need more impact off the bench so i'd class Sam Burgess as a prop.



1 Tomkins

2 Charnley

3 Watkins

4 Cudjoe

5 Hall

6 Widdop

7 Sinfield

8 Graham

9 Mcilorum

10 S Burgess

11 Farrell

12 Westwood

13 O'loughlin



14 Roby

15 G Burgess

16 Hill/Mossop

17 Ferres

I'm surprised people are putting Ferris on bench and starting Farrell. Ferris played well and didn't let anyone down IMO.



Hill and G Burgess both played well and neither deserve to be benched either. let Graham come of the bench.



Half backs. Honestly can't see him changing these about. part of me would stick with Chase/Sinfield. It worked for the 1st 20 until we made a few changes to front row and lost a bit of momentum. But I think I am right in saying in the Exiles game we played Sinfield/Myler with Chase coming of the bench. I think Chase could provide a little bit of "magic" coming of the bench after 30min and giving him a bit of a free role with Sinfield moved to 9



1 Tomkins

2 Charnley

3 Watkins

4 Cudjoe

5 Hall

6 Widdop

7 Sinfield

8 Hill

9 Roby

10 G Burgess

11 Ferris

12 S Burgess/Westwood (depending if banned)

13 O'loughlin



14 Chase/Mcilorum/Burrow

15 T Burgess

16 Graham

17 Westwood/Ablett (depending on S. Burgess)

I think we need to give Widdop 80 mins in these next 2 games. I'd spell Roby with Burrow or McIlorum with a view to using him for 80 mins in the semis and (hopefully) final.



For Ireland game (presuming Sam burgess has a ban):



Tomkins

Charnley

Watkins

Cudjoe

Hall

Widdop

Sinfield

Hill

Mcilorum

Graham

Farrell

Ferres

O'Loughlin



Mossop

G Burgess

Westwood

Roby