FRANCE AWAY

[Ray Cashmere]

1 minute ago, UTK said:

I suspect it may be another couple of months until he is eligible under the 5 year residency requirement. I stumbled across an older article on his brother Tiaki that stated the family came across to France in early 2017 which would leave the boys just short.

If that is correct info he'll obviously be eligible come the 2022 WC.

That makes sense, cheers. Throw him, Bousquet, Fages & Garcia into that 13 and they suddenly look very competitive.

[Harry Stottle]

17 minutes ago, Davo5 said:

A bit like England V Australia then,maybe when the Aussies decide to play tests again we should ask them to just send the schoolboys team over.

Why not! No seriously the 3rd choice Aussie team will do☹

 

[UTK]

2 minutes ago, Ray Cashmere said:

That makes sense, cheers. Throw him, Bousquet, Fages & Garcia into that 13 and they suddenly look very competitive.

Yeah very much agree. 

Youngsters Laguerre, Jussaume, Chan, Le Cam, Sangare, Rouge getting an additional (or debut) SL season under their belts will strengthen their fringes and depth too. It's a shame they've landed a tough group for 22 in that sense but they should be looking toward a stronger peak come 2025.

[barnyia]

17 minutes ago, Ray Cashmere said:

Any ideas as to why Joe Chan hasn't been picked? It's a decent (and young) French squad really considering their 3 best players are injured but they look short in the second row.

I'd guess he isn't qualified as French yet, they left the country for a few years, or he doesn't want to be French. 

[Mr Frisky]

1 hour ago, Harry Stottle said:

Why not! No seriously the 3rd choice Aussie team will do☹

 

Could they beat Tonga? - because their first choice team can't.

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

It’s going to be a very different England team to the one that plays in the World Cup next year. Still it’s important to play a game, for Wane as much as anyone else, he’s only coached for 1 game in 3 years he must be very rusty 

[Archie Gordon]

Pretty good that someone only got two surnames wrong.

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

8 minutes ago, Archie Gordon said:

Pretty good that someone only got two surnames wrong.

It’s terrible. Oledzki and which other?

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

1 Evalds

2 Makinson

3 Newman

4 Hardaker 

5 Davis

6 Lomax

7 Leeming 

8 Oledzki

9 McShane

10 Walmsley 

11 Farrell

12 Bateman

13 Knowles 

14 Philbin

15 Lees

16 Cooper

17 Currie

Walker, Abdul, Lyne 

[Odsal Outlaw]

21 minutes ago, Sir Kevin Sinfield said:

It’s terrible. Oledzki and which other?

Lyne. It’s so poor.

[Davo5]

18 minutes ago, Sir Kevin Sinfield said:

1 Evalds

2 Makinson

3 Newman

4 Hardaker 

5 Tom Davis

6 Lomax

7 Leeming 

8 Oledzki

9 Leeming

10 Walmsley 

11 Farrell

12 Bateman

13 Knowles 

14 Philbin

15 Lees

16 Cooper

17 Currie

Mcshane, Walker, Abdul, Lynne, 

Leeming playing 7 & 9 will take some doing but should be a boost to France’s chances.

[Chris22]

Almost a hybrid full and Knights team there. Plenty of big names missing for England but a good chance for fringe players and may make for a more competitive match.

[Scubby]

1 hour ago, Sir Kevin Sinfield said:

Reece Lyne is not good enough to be in the England squad. If he is not nailed down centre 1 position at 28 then he shouldn't be making squads. Pleased for Tom Davies and a chance to see if Harry Newman is the real deal.

Jordan Abdul is at the top of his game but there will be questions whether he is agile and quick enough to be a top class half back.

[Harry Stottle]

If Bateman was unknown, he would be nowhere near the squad on his form this season, and if Hardacre is chosen at centre along with Bateman's selection it will smack as an old pals act from Mr Wane.

Is Toby King unavailable?

[Ray Cashmere]

Be shocked if more than 9 of this squad make the 17 for Samoa

[Harry Stottle]

1 minute ago, Ray Cashmere said:

Be shocked if more than 9 of this squad make the 17 for Tonga

When's that Ray?

[Davo5]

11 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

If Bateman was unknown, he would be nowhere near the squad on his form this season, and if Hardacre is chosen at centre along with Bateman's selection it will smack as an old pals act from Mr Wane.

Is Toby King unavailable?

Old pals act,you do realise Wane left Wigan before Hardaker had played for them.

[Ray Cashmere]

3 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

When's that Ray?

The semi final at the Emirates when Wane's men cruise through the group...

 

(duly corrected)

[Wiltshire Warrior Dragon]

I see that Benjamin Casty will be the referee for the men's international in Perpignan.  Robert Hicks is the video ref.

[JohnM]

1 hour ago, Sir Kevin Sinfield said:

It’s terrible. Oledzki and which other?

Wonder where the error crept in as its also on here: Wigan Warriors' Mitch Clark (centre) is tackled by Leeds Rhinos' Cameron Smith (left) and Mikolaj Oledszki during the Betfred Super League match at The Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens Stock Photo - Alamy

 

[ATLANTISMAN]

50 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

If Bateman was unknown, he would be nowhere near the squad on his form this season, and if Hardacre is chosen at centre along with Bateman's selection it will smack as an old pals act from Mr Wane.

Is Toby King unavailable?

Hardaker is way passed his best I would not have him near an England shirt.

 

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

3 hours ago, Davo5 said:

Leeming playing 7 & 9 will take some doing but should be a boost to France’s chances.

It shows how lacking in quality half backs we are when I’m looking at the squad and have to pick a hooker to play there. Jordan Abdul has had a good year for Hull kr but isn’t good enough to play at half back for England imo, Will Pryce is very raw but is a very talented player, if Widdop, Williams and Gale are unavailable we should have gone with him. 

[Eddie]

5 hours ago, Ray Cashmere said:

The semi final at the Emirates when Wane's men cruise through the group...

 

(duly corrected)

IIRC the England game, if we make the semis, will be at Arsenal regardless of if we win the group (beat Samoa) or not. 

[Harry Stottle]

19 hours ago, Davo5 said:

Old pals act,you do realise Wane left Wigan before Hardaker had played for them.

Really then I stand corrected Dav, I would never have thought that. Thanks for the correction.