Granted it wasn`t a full England side on show and quite a few players havn`t played for a few weeks but after watching that you would think quite a few of them havn`t played at all, without naming names their are quite a few from tonight that should never get anywhere near a full England shirt.



Out of our players, i thought Chris Bridge did well when he came on, he looked sharp. Moz was his usual self where he gives nothing less than 100%, Gareth Carvell was just steady and is better than that showing.



The times ive seen Ben Westwood at that sort of level he looks slow and lethergic and doesn`t offer England a great deal, Micky Higham wasn`t really effective and probably needs more game time after missing the bulk of the season, Richie Myler looked like a player that hadn`t played since July which is why i was suprised that he was included in the England squad, i`d be very suprised if he gets the vote at scrum half for the 4 nations on that showing.

We really do come at rugby from different angles. I thought Westwood was one of the few success stories of the last World Cup.

cheers for the 200,000 quid for myler i hope he becomes the biggest flop of all time and after watching him tonight i think it could happen forward passes, kicks out on full, was england weak point in defence and had a very poor game against a very week opponent..

first game in 3 months behave yourself

Thats what opinions are all about, it would be boring if we all formed the same opinion. I can`t see Ben Westwood making it any further than the bench for England because for me he doesn`t offer enough with ball in hand, i could be wrong of course as i aint the one picking the team.

Based on that performance, we'll struggle to beat France never mind Australia or New Zealand.



Sykes showed last year he shouldn't be anywhere near an England shirt and he backed up that opinion tonight. I didn't know Sean O'Loughlin was playing until he touched down after about an hour. I don't know what match Brian Carney was watching, but I didn't think Myler did an awful lot. I think he was put out there tonight to blow away the cobwebs having not played since July and thats all. He'll really struggle in two weeks time if he is selected at Wigan.

I'm sure Australia were cacking it prior to this fixture.

The team that was on the pitch tonight,was the right team.It just gave Smith a chance,to experiment with afew ideas.

That was my point on another thread during the week as Richie Myler certainly wasn`t picked on any current form as he didn`t have any as he hadn`t played since July, Tony Smith certainly has a selection dilemma at 7 with not including Rob Burrow in the 4 nations squad after Richie Myler`s lacklustre effort tonight.



Sam Tomkins is a player i rate highly but his best form at 7 will come in the future when he doesn`t have to play 2nd fiddle to Thomas Leuluai as he will be more used to organising then which is the part of his game that he needs to improve, as an attacking threat he is always dangerous when stepping of both feet and he has lightening speed over 20 metres.



It will be interesting to see who Tony Smith plays at 7, does he go with Sam Tomkins who has been playing mostly at 6 this season but will lack the organisational skills or does he go with Richie Myler who looked lacklustre against fairly poor opposition tonight.

Out of McGuire, Thomkins, Myler, Eastmond and Bridge as recognised half backs, I'll have;



6. McGuire

7. Thomkins



Myler doens't look up to the taskto face Australia or New Zealand. Eastmond I don't rate as he produces no creative attacking flair and his kicking game is one of the worst in a Saints shirt I have seen since Super League began. Bridge hasn't played at 6/7 much all season so I don't think he will be considered.

I can't see Tomkins playing scrum half. The way he carries the ball is all about accelerating with ball in hand. He strikes me as an out-and-out stand off.



The more I think about Myler's performance, the more I believe he was requested to play as an orthodox scrum half. I don't recall him having a real go at taking on the line.



Regardless of who plays halfback, Sinfield has to be there for the link play and in-field kicking.



With time, the experience to play the controlling halfback may come for Eastmond, Tomkins and Myler, but presently none of them possess that quality.



It concerns me that we will play with two running halves, when invariably the play will be slow.

I agree about the point you made about Sinfield and his kicking game, i also agree with your concern of putting McGuire and Tomkins together as neither of them are noted organisers, even though he retired from international RL Sean Long would have been ideal right now as this current side needs someone that can take them around the pitch.



Sean Long and Danny McGuire have played together before which was when Danny McGuire was less wise as a player, i think McGuire has grown up a lot and matured as a player, he`s been excellent from what ive seen of him this year but he will need some quality ball which has been a problem in the past for GB/England. Its a bit irrelevant really as Long won`t be playing, it was just to get a point over that we need someone like him to take us round the pitch.



The aussies have Lockyer. Thurston and Cameron Smith who can all organise and take their team around the pitch, we have ?