Flash forward to next week England 6-74 France





It'll be tough for the French no doubt, as usual, Widdop certainly seems keen but they must be careful as the French will definitley want to forget their club woes. They should also be fired up by a few comments from some league 'journalists' in Australia.

o it isn't tough to pick a squad, i could do that but i'm not slating his squad selection just how distinctly average we, as a nation, have become with us thinking realistically we could compete with Australia with that squad. Look at the backs:



Widdop - U20s player =#BF80FF Slater- World Class

Hall- Average =#BF80FFMorris- Top scorer iin best rl comp in the world

Shenton- Not good enough =#BF80FFInglis- Best Player in the world

Bridge- Not Good Enough =#BF80FF Lyon- Best centre ever seen in SL

Briscoe- Not Good Enough =#BF80FF Hayne- World Class

The more detailed analysis will come when he announces his next squad, 3 tougher opponents to come

This is an opportunity for him to take a look at Widdop. Unless he has a blinder of a season I don't think he'll be there come 4 nations time. I also think Tom Briscoe has a LOT of potential.

I think most people are a little more accepting because it is a game against france, a chance to try a few different things.



I think people will be a little more picky with the next squad.

All of the English fullbacks mentioned would get the odd game in the NRL as reserves but no more - as already proved by Tansey and Mathers. Widdop has enormous potential, as anyone who's seen him play will confirm. Getting his card marked as an England player now is exactly the right thing to do.



Centre is our weakest position by far looking at that squad, and the sad thing is that the only other real options are an ancient Senior and a past-it Gleeson.



I believe Flanagan will be in the squad at the end of the season as well. He's a very solid player for Wests, and having four forwards with NRL experience in the defensive line would make us a lot stronger IMO - Ellis helped out well on one side of the field last year, Burgess/Flanagan could do the same on the other.

Er, I just checked the French squad, and you'll be relieved to know that neither Slater, Morris, Inglis, Lyon or Hayne have been picked.

Did you not see the Melbourne v Canterbury game last weekend? Widdop was a standout with an alround game of a standard no other English threequarter comes near to. Unless he seriously falls of the face of the earth from now to he international series in Oct he will be our fullback for that series. It isnt as if we have a army of quality fullbacks knocking the door down for a international jumper is it? Let alone one that has the potential of Widdop. Agree with what someone said about Flanagan too. He has looked solid in the back row for Wests.

But we don't have anyone who is as good as those Aussies you mention, the players we have picked are the best we have.



And lets not forget the avarage age of that back line is 21, I hardly think it's fair to be labelling them as "not good enough" at this stage.

I didn't see the game actually however he's still only played 2 first team games.

Like I said, lets see how he goes for the rest of the season before we start putting him in front of blokes who've vastly more experience. Personally I think Richard Owen has the potential to make it as fb for Eng.



Why on earth would we put Flanagan in front of someone like O'Loughlin?? The NRL is not a comp full of supermen and i'm chuffed for the lad but there is no way on earth he'll be better than O'L.



Mr ZH, extremely good point at the end there, very very good point

Pleased Widdop is in there, let's see how good he is, the French opposition I doubt will be as good as what he faces in the NRL when he plays.



Slightly worrying comment from someone who seems to have the world at his feet.









Surely we need to find out why. I know training with Billy Slater will make a massive difference, however he still needs to perform, if Billy Slater trained me it wouldn't make me an England player. I understand he wouldn't have got these opportunities at a part time club like Fax but if he'd have gone to Leeds/Bradford etc. wouldn't he be as good? The answer is sadly no I would assume, which is why we're still miles behind them.

just cos flanagan is starting in the NRL does'nt make him a banker for international honours....he's still at the bottom of a list of 9 or 10 players

if you open both eyes you'll be able to see better

Whatever the result I'm just happy the squad is a totally French team i.e. no Aussies. I personally dont think Fakir should be chosen given that he is going to the dark side next year.