Isn't Tony Smith's job to win the 2009 Four Nations by picking what he considers his best available team?

Absolutely correct. Although it's up to those players left exposed (and the full back, who can see better than anyone) to tell any players who've been sucked in to get back in position and be aware of Slater slotting into their back line and creating the overlap.



Inglis has two main weapons. His outstanding sidestep - normally off his right foot, but either way is blindingly fast. He'll run at his opposite centre, pull him wide, and then slice inside. He's so big and fast that if he creates a few inches he's through, but it seemed to me that Eastmond's reactions were fast enough to cope and his size meant he went low and avoided Inglis's upper body strength. And then of course Inglis has that pace - give him any space and those long legs take him away from you, and in full flight he's almost impossible to stop. And of course he's a freakishly outstanding athlete.

The difference in the second half was that England spread their defensive line a little more, and the Australians weren't willing to be as adventurous as they were dealing with worse field position and trying to run a lot of escape sets. Hence the big shifts of the ball from right to left weren't being used as often.

Id play him at fullback against the Kiwis.



Smith

Briscoe

Ellis

Shenton

Hall.



I dont like Shaun Briscoe at full back.

Leeds played with two British centres all season.



One has retired (but is still probably the best) and the other was Lee Smith.



If other clubs didn't play antipodeans in their threequarters then Lee Smith might not have been selected.

I wouldn't argue with that.

He did nothing wrong on Saturday and was fairly solid.

Will they play with two British centres next season?



just for a bit of fun.



Pick 3 teams from your club



1) All British



2) All that have come through your academy



3) All local born(i.e for the Saints side all St.Helens born.)



All must be eligible for Superleague 2010



Thinking caps on.

British



1- Richards

2- Goulding

3- Gleeson

4- Pryce

5- Ainscough

6- O'Loughlin

7- Tomkins

8- Fielden

9- McIllorum

10- Prescott

11- Coley

12- Mossop

13- Tomkins



14- O'Carroll

15- Davies

16- Farrell

17- Mellor



Wigan Academy



1- Briscoe

2- Aspinwall

3- Wild

4- Brown

5- Ainscough

6- S.Tomkins

7- Sean Long

8- Prescott

9- McIllorum

10- O'Carroll

11- Gilmour

12- Wild

13- O'Loughlin



14- Hansen

15- Hargreaves

16- Bibey

He has 2 challenge cup winners medals you know!

17- Jones/Deacon/Robinson

17-



Wigan Lads



1- Briscoe

2- Aspinwall

3- Gleeson

4- Brown

5- Goulding

6- S.Tomkins

7- Long

8- Prescott

9- Newton

10- Wood

11- Tickle

12- Wild

13- O'Loughlin



14- J.Tomkins

15- Hargreaves

16- Clarke

17- Fitzpatrick

1. Mathers

2. Smith

3. Walker

4. Gibson

5. Hall

6. McGuire

7. Tansey

8. Burgess

9. McShane

10. Bailey

11. Jones-Buchanan

12. Ablett

13. Murrell



14. Jones-Bishop

15. Kaye

16. Scruton

17. Williams



All born and have played for Leeds in last 5 years and doesn't include players such as Burrow, Sinfield, Diskin, Calderwood, Ward, Watkins; If going for Leeds lads can add Peacock.



For next season:



1. Jones-Bishop

2. Broughton

3. Coady

4. Senior

5. Hall

6. McGuire

7. Burrow

8. Bailey

9. Diskin

10. Peacock

11. Jones-Buchanan

12. Ablett

13. Sinfield



14. Burgess

15. McShane

16. Watkins

17. Kirke

18. Amor

19. Pitts

Exactly. Not good enough at this level. Not that do have any fullbacks good enough for this level, mind.

Exactly. this is a lose-lose scenario. As it is he was a marginal selection. What is the benfit to English RL in playing him? If if someone else picked in this position played as poorly as he did (it would be difficult to play worse) then at least it would be a tough experience they could hopefully learn from. Or we move onto the next person on the list until the right one is found. With Smith - he's gone no matter what. And if Smith did play adequately he is still gone and a replacement will need finding. The only beneficiaries from a decent Smith performance would be the England RU who wouldn't miss the opportunity to cash in on the publicity. A truly inexplicable selection.