Quote ="MjM"It's something of an assumption to assume that SBW will return to Rugby League and be the player he once ">was.'" He has returned to League already with the Roosters.

Quote ="MjM"It's something of an assumption to assume that SBW will return to Rugby League and be the player he once ">was.'" He has returned to League already with the Roosters.

Quote ="Buggo"He has returned to League already with the Yeah">Roosters.'" Yeah I meant assume he will instantly be the same player he was. There's plenty who have returned and have been disappointing.

Quote ="Buggo"He has returned to League already with the Yeah">Roosters.'" Yeah I meant assume he will instantly be the same player he was. There's plenty who have returned and have been disappointing.

Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"Nobody has so far been willing to suggest that England could beat the first choice Kiwi team with SBW playing. Here is the probable Kiwi Reserve team. [iJosh Hoffman, Gerard Beale, Jerome Ropati, Ben Henry, Manu Vatuvei, Lance Hohaia Shaun Johnson, Jeremy Smith, Adam Blair, Alex Glenn, Russell Packer, Thomas Leuluai, Roy Asotasi, [/i Interchange: [iAaron Heremia, Elijah Taylor, Jesse Bromwich, Sam Rapira.[/i Could England beat this team? Probably. Unless Shaun Johnson turns on a display of his best form, in which case the Kiwis could win. This second team selection I have made shows just how much depth New Zealand now has. It also raises the problem of the weakness of the English halves ">options.'" Im confident england could beat that team , especially if hohaia is playing stand-off. We have some pack , arguably one to match the aussies but we struggle in the backs

Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"Nobody has so far been willing to suggest that England could beat the first choice Kiwi team with SBW playing. Here is the probable Kiwi Reserve team. [iJosh Hoffman, Gerard Beale, Jerome Ropati, Ben Henry, Manu Vatuvei, Lance Hohaia Shaun Johnson, Jeremy Smith, Adam Blair, Alex Glenn, Russell Packer, Thomas Leuluai, Roy Asotasi, [/i Interchange: [iAaron Heremia, Elijah Taylor, Jesse Bromwich, Sam Rapira.[/i Could England beat this team? Probably. Unless Shaun Johnson turns on a display of his best form, in which case the Kiwis could win. This second team selection I have made shows just how much depth New Zealand now has. It also raises the problem of the weakness of the English halves ">options.'" Im confident england could beat that team , especially if hohaia is playing stand-off. We have some pack , arguably one to match the aussies but we struggle in the backs

I think the qualilty of our backs is improving. Tomkins, Hall and any of several other wingers from Broughton, to Briscoe to Jones-Buchanan to Makinson are decent. We have a good reserve fullback/utility player in Hardacre. In the centres Cudjoe is big, fast and powerful as is Atkins and Lawrence is also decent. Shenton was good until his recent injuries also.



In the halves we have Chase, Myler, Gaskell, Sinfield, Brough, Maguire and the little scrum half from Saints whose name I cannot remember. This is way better than when we had to play Farrell at stand off and there was no replacement option.



Those are a little short of the Inglis's and Ropartis of this world but they are definitely better than we have had in recent years.

This may only be an issue if they make the final. As I read the groupings, if England come second in Group A and NZ win group B then we would only play NZ in the final. I'm assuming that we come second because Aus win Group A.