Bear in mind that BrisbaneRhino is peeved at Sam because people are talking about him in the same terms as Aussie wonder boy Widdop.

Tomkins would be sensational in the NRL - he's a terrific player.

I wasn't saying that Sam isn't already a world-class player. I think he can do things on a rugby field that no one else playing the game can because of his athletic ability. I was just saying that being a starter in the England team doesn't automatically make you international class. I suppose it depends on how your judging these things really but having international rep. honours and being international quality aren't the same thing IMO

I don't disagree with you. But I bet it's a long time since any Aussie proclaimed any British player to be 'international class'.

Gordon Tallis said that Sam Burgess was good enough to play for Australia earlier this year. Flattering and arrogant in equal measure. The suggestion that no other English player was good enough was there

Compliment if ive ever heard one in the direction of Burgess.

That is applicable to all the aforementioned players. I can see Eastmond developing into a traditional scrum half ie; playing a lateral passing game. Tomkins looks all the world a traditional stand off, attacking the line, playing a short passing game at the line.



Myler really could go either way at this point in time.

I agree with you that all the players in the England squad aren't all necessarily quality. But that's not Sam's fault that England aren't good enough. If England were close to being highly competitive with the Aussies then I still think he would be a star player.

From what i've seen of both of them they are both top class youngsters who probably have a fair bit of improvment left in them. They are difficult to compare as they play different positions, i just hope they can learn to play together in an England jersey. You could say Sam shades it at the moment but that is mainly because he has played all year where Kyle has missed a fair chunk of it. One thing is for sure they are both currently streets ahead of Myler and, if fit should be 6 and 7 in the four nations.



We still wont win due to lack of international quality three quarters

I would go with this too

I haven't seen enough of Widdop to make a sound judgement on him. One game for England against a depleted France team in Leigh isn't enough to convince me. I'm sure he'll be around the squad after everyone making such a fuss about him but he's not played enough first grade rugby to be ready for a Four Nations tournament IMO. Plus having three 20-21 year olds with a handful of caps between them as your three attacking pivots would be a massive gamble

It might be a gamble but it must be worth taking, all the "experienced" players in those positons have been given a go and have been found lacking so why not try younger players - how else are they to get experience. Also I suspect we will see the likes of Sinfield, Roby and probably Lockers in the squad/team - plenty of experience there - they will need to be the on-field leaders and help the younger players.