Injury worries for Smith.

It seems many players eligible for England have been dropping like flies recently. The first to go was Sean O'Loughlin, no real loss but more of an inconvenience. Then Any Lynch decided to cry off sick, again with players like Peacock, Morley and Graham it would need a miracle if Lynch were to be selected anyway. Newton then "did a Cunningham" the way only hookers can, which was no real worry as Roby and Clarke can easily cover that role. Unfortunately, Clarke also decided to "do a Newton" away in France. Maybe a small concern for the newly adopted-Englishman Smith, but the loss of Sam Burgess was a huge blow. However, with a reasonable depth in the propping area it seems size up front has not been affected by the credit crunch or global warming. I even hear that the price for a barrell of props is coming down, which for one reason or another, is bad news for the oil industry.

However, the valuable backs have also been affected by HIV or even bird flu. Paul Deacon, who hasn't played internationally since he was knocked out by Nigel Vagana in 2005, is out. As cover for halfbacks goes, he was suitable if Burrow couldn't cope against Australia. And while Deacon may have been a stone, the sapphire in Tony Smith's avaliable wingers is no longer avaliable. Gareth Raynor has today came out and said he needs a toe operation.

This news might suit Peter Fox, who made his international debut against France mid season. Wingers are in short supply, so will someone please wrap Ade Gardner in bubble wrap for the Grand Final?

So overall, it seems our strength in depth think we're in the seventeenth century and we're sending them to Australia as convicts. This is not the case. While the starting seventeen seem to be in place and still alive (as far as I'm aware) the disease that is 'injury' seem to be eating this England side at the seems. With a maximum of two games left for those players still in season before England face Papa New Guinea in Townsville, the intensity will not let up and the risk of injury will be higher. Lets hope our star players can weather the storm and they can pull on that England shirt come the 25th October.