Tomkins dropped from England team

[j658]

http://www.therfl.co.uk/~therflc/home/n ... p?id=15740

The England team that will play France in the opening fixture of the 2009 Gillette Four Nations at Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster, on Friday night will be;

1 Shaun Briscoe (Hull KR)
2 Tom Briscoe (Hull FC)
3 Lee Smith (Leeds Rhinos)
4 Michael Shenton (Castleford Tigers)
5 Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos)
6 Danny MCGuire (Leeds Rhinos)
7 Richard Myler (Salford City Reds)
8 Jamie Peacock (Leeds Rhinos, capt )
9 Scott Moore (Huddersfield Giants)
10 Adrian Morley (Warrington Wolves)
11 Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers)
12 Sam Burgess (Bradford Bulls)
13 Kevin Sinfield (Leeds Rhinos)

Interchange
14 James Graham (St Helens)
15 James Roby (St Helens)
16 Ben Westwood (Warrington Wolves)
17 Kyle Eastmond (St Helens)

Disgraceful from Smith to choose Myler over Tomkins. Westwood over Wilkin is confusing as well. Proves it isn't chosen on performance.

The pack is strong but the back line looks quite poor. You can understand why Smith was looking at Locker at centre.

[Matthew]

No surprise - with Myler playing for Smith next year; he was always going to want him to get some big game experience.

Surprised Higham, Carvell and Bridge aren't playing!

This proves why a club coach shouldn't be national coach

[gpartin]

I think he'll be in v aus/nz

[cherrywarrior]

If that is the squad that are going to face Australia the week after Im dont feel half as guilty about wanting to go in my new Melbourne Storm shirt! Thats rediculous and blatent Warrington favouritism, Westwood over Wilkin, no way, and I think Tomkins showed his class last weekend over Myler. Tony Smith has got it wrong again, no wonder people dont wanna pay money to support the national side to watch that team! Im fed up of puttig my hand in my pocket time and time again to support my countrys team and thats the squad Im supposed to support?!

[weststand-rich]

My advice to the Aussies would be snipe and sledge Ben Westwood whenever you need a penalty to relieve pressure. He is even more stupid than he looks and cannot resist the lure of a retaliatory biff.

[DaveO]

Tony Smith is Brian Noble in disguise!

Form clearly does not matter. Sam puts in a MoM performance and gets dropped and a pleyer in Myler who struggled plays. Deja Vous or what?

Possible excuses?

If T Smith mentions duty of care I will personally shoot him!

Smith thinks Myler is a 7 and McQuire is a better 6 than Sam?

He wants to experiment with his half backs? This is actually a four nations game Mr Smith, not a warm up.

Dave

[THE 18th Man]

Tony Smith cannot say McGuire has been better than Tomkins and claim to have a good knowledge of the game

i hope he leaves the England job for the sake of the national team

if it was based on form throughout the year it would be Tomkins at 6 and Eastmond at 7 but Smith has based it on his former players and future players

[the-Bowtun-Warrior]

i will now be cheering for France, Aus and NZ. . .

And thats honest

[Kittwazzer]

Tony Smith is Brian Noble in disguise!

Form clearly does not matter. Sam puts in a MoM performance and gets dropped and a pleyer in Myler who struggled plays. Deja Vous or what?

Possible excuses?

If T Smith mentions duty of care I will personally shoot him!

Smith thinks Myler is a 7 and McQuire is a better 6 than Sam?

He wants to experiment with his half backs? This is actually a four nations game Mr Smith, not a warm up.

Dave

Not like you to get over heated DaveO!!

I must admit, it did occur to me that Smith would want to try his options out before the 'real' games v Aus & NZ but, like you say, this is not a practice game albeit it should be nailed on for England.

That said, does anyone know how Clint Greenshields has made the French squad?

[gpartin]

It would be hard not to feel a bit smug if we do get beat.