Doubt it will be for long, with two second rows on the bench.

I expect we'll play with what is effectively four props to start with.

Shouldn't limit the defence either, which should be a 4-4-4 pattern until that extra second row comes on.

Chris Bridge at centre.

........feck me sideways !!! can't argue with McGuire being dropped though.

So...in a must win game we have 3 players who have not taken any part in the tournement and an untried half back pairing....brilliant

And if Tony Smith had retained Lee Smith, Danny McGuire and Tom Briscoe in the side in the interests of "continuity", what would your reaction have been then?

Or you could say we have three fresh players to get at the NZ team and the halfback pairing that led the fightback against Australia.



All depends on your point of view.

Noooo...



Two Leeds players have been dropped Richie, don't you realise what an appalling piece of coaching this is from Tony "Magic Hat" Smith?

EAstmond played at centre though?

No surprise with Mags and Smithy being dropped but leaving peacock in the 2nd row is a stramge one given his last performance there.

I don't recall seeing him spend much time playing wide right in attack.

Depending on how you classify Burgess I would say 3 second rows, making it even more likely that Peacock will move to prop after 20 mins

Possibly both. I'd expect he and Crabtree to initially come on as the impact props, Westwood into a more normal second row spot, and Wilkin could find himself playing almost anywhere.

Simple emphasises the lack of options at centre.

Smith was always a short term expedient given his move to Wasps & it didn't come off.

I think Bridge is worth a punt.

He's always seemed to me to be physically strong which we're going to need. An added bonus is that he's also a goal kicker if Sinfield is substituted.