Being a former prop myself, I've always appreciated the enforcers of the game. Boyd, Barrie Mac, Brian Mac, O'Connor, Farrell, Cowie, Skerrett, Morley, Gee, Tallis, Webke, Nikau. But one thing separates these legends from Bailey, it's only ever the little guy he picks on, and when it all kicks off, he's the first one out of the back door, hiding behind a wall of players, pointing. Look back to some of our more "successful" (used very loosely), challenges at TriNations, and you'll find that we used to get in there and ruffle them good and proper, nice British hardnut stuff, always a scrap involving Scully, Faz, Fielden etc, lifted the crowd, team, and got the oppo distracted. This for me, is what we're lacking currently in the national setup. If Bailey could standup to the big men, he could be, quite literally, a useful tool. A minor mentalist if you will, willing to do our dirty bidding, but the annoying thing is, he doesn't have the minerals.

Exactly!

like?

I;ve seen him pick on small people and hide (in fact, he did that not a week ago)

Jon Wilkin is to share a room with Ryan Bailey in the England camp according to McNamara. Surely this is a wind up?

That's what you want, them settling their differences over a best of three on Streetfighter II.

'Hadouken'.

There'd still be complaints by Wilkin that button bashin' ain't fair!

Wont be true
But I've got images of Steve Martin and John Candy in Planes Trains and Automobiles in my head, now

Both of them should be nowhere near an England shirt.

My defintion is somewhat different -

Thug - someone who has repeatedly gone for cheap shots on players half his size eg Chris Riley after the final whistle at Wembley - and there are many more examples I could give.

Coward - someone who runs away from trouble when it comes at them from a big guy, but who dishes it out to smaller guys when they think they can get away with it.

Our sport needs him like a hole in the head.

''What would we be talking about right now?'' Actually I'd prefer to be talking about how brilliantly Rob Burrow played and how fantastic Sinfield has been with the boot this year.

''What would Jon Wilkin & Jamie Foster have to whinge about?'' They wouldn't need to whinge. They'd just be getting on with their lives.

I honestly believe that you'd be better off without him.
And I am astounded that Steve Mac has him in the squad.
I'd easily have Morley, Carvell, Graham, Peacock, Crabtree or Lynch before Bailey.

Bailey falls into the Leon Pryce category - a totally unlikable individual - both on and off the field. There are a few others but most of them are not now playing at the top level.

Team dynamics are very important - the Wigan/Saints rift in the Engtland squad a few years ago when TS was head coach was a disaster. Bailey's inclusion isn't at that level but it's an unwanted distraction.

Is this from the spoof twitter account set up in his name?