I think people seem to have forgotten that Sam made a number of try saving tackles, including bringing Dow on of their 2nd rowers when clean through.



He does need to work on taking command of the high ball, and his team also need to work on providing more protection.

Both Beale and Inglis dropped bombs which directly lead to tries, should they both lose their places in the NZ and Australia teams.



This clamour to remove Tomkins is bizarre, he played well yesterday, made a number of try saving tackles, cleaned up a few kicks and joined the line well.

Samoa are good. However it is most unlikely that Samoa could beat New Zealand given the strength of the NZ forwards, and their great superiority in the halves, and in goal kicking. Samoa's strength lies in its tremendously talented three quarter line and the "big unit" forwards Frank Pritchard and Mose Masoe. NZ can handle that, despite the fact that NZ are missing two first choice great props Jared Wharea-Hargreaves and Samuel Moa.



New Zealand are on course for the final and it is up to England and Australia next weekend to determine who will face New Zealand in the final.

Gerard Beale should never have been in the NZ team on the wing, and his dropped bomb, which led to an Australian try, was proof of that. Gregory Inglis on the other hand was sick with a virus, and feeling dizzy, which is why he never came back for the 2nd half. Inglis should never lose his place in an Australian team.

Inglis told Sheens he was OK to play, therefore he's accountable for his error!

All players will tell their coach they're good to play so pretty hard to tell as coach. Had Sheens had more of a full strength team to choose from he might've thought he could afford to drop Inglis for this one, as it was though he was already missing enough players that he'll have felt like he needed to take a risk.......perhaps that tells us where Australia are with this squad selected for this tournament, that the coach felt like he needed to take such a risk.



Think much depends on the Aussie mindset next week. Obviously they aren't as serious about this as they were the WC otherwise so many players wouldn't have dropped out......but if the players left feel a bit 'meh' about the tournament and their chances (even if they beat England do they think they won't beat NZ in the final) then it is very conceivable that they lose next weekend IF (and I admit it's a big IF) Engalnd execute and complete properly.



If Sam Burgess was available and O'Loughlin fully fit (he'll probably play but won't be at 100% most likely) then I'd say England would actually start favourites.....as it is I'd go Aus as narrow favourites on home soil.

Benjamin and Christopher, surely Jeany?

Nope and don't have the inclination to go looking either, but I do remember him more or less gifting us a CC match and a play off game by making some pretty embarrassing clangers at full back.



Not too dissimilar to what he did at the weekend actually.



He should clearly be in the first 13 for England every time, just not at full back and that's pretty obvious to anyone who doesn't live in Wigan, and Steve Mcnamara.

I don't remember the play off game you speak off. Are you not getting mixed up with his replacement for the night (Tomkins was injured) Jack Murphy who made a couple if errors including one that gifted Leeds 2 points for a victory.



He plays fullback for the NZ warriors as well and was moved in to the fullback position by a guy who's just coached South Sydney to their first GF success in decades.



I wouldn't be against him going in the halves but he's far far away from being some sort of liability at fullback. He did some exceptional things in defence on Saturday and saved us a few times. I'm a huge Hardaker fan aswell though and would love to see him in the team on Saturday. Fitting them both in is a problem though.

You clearly don't remember as none of that happened either.



Just for further clarity as you seem to like digging a hole for yourself, Leeds record with Tomkins as fullback is:



Overall Record:

Played 12 - Won 3 = 25%



Sudden death/knockout games:

Played 4 - Won 1 = 25% (out those games Leeds went on to win zero trophies, Wigan won 3)



Yes I can see why you were so happy to point out Leeds liked him playing fullback.

Thought before the tournament Hardaker 1, Tomkins 6, Widdop 7 was the way to go, but Smith was probably MotM on Saturday, so is hardly going to get dropped even if it makes sense for the team.



The other option is putting Hardaker on the wing and switching him to fullback with Tomkins on the wing for defensive sets.



As with Australia when they had Slater/Inglis/Hayne, just because your best players play the same club position doesn't mean some of them should be left out. You get them in the team wherever you can.

Loiner was talking about the CC semi at Huddersfield.