Eastmond poised for England bow

The 20-year-old half-back or centre was outstanding for his club in their Grand Final defeat by Leeds at Old Trafford, where he scored all his side's points with a try and three goals.

Coach Tony Smith has, as expected, added eight players from Grand Finalists Leeds and St Helens, who all sat out last Saturday's warm-up match against Wales, but sprung a surprise with the selection of 19-year-old Hull winger Tom Briscoe ahead of Hull KR's Peter Fox.

Briscoe, no relation to full-back Shaun Briscoe, impressed on his England debut against the Welsh with a couple of tries and was a late addition to the squad following the withdrawal through injury of Sean O'Loughlin.

The other eye-catching selection is the recall of Leeds skipper Kevin Sinfield, who played in all three of England's pool games at the World Cup but was dropped for the semi-final and ignored for the mid-season international against France.

Sinfield, who has profited from the loss of O'Loughlin, rediscovered his best form in the Rhinos' title push and was man of the match in their Grand Final triumph over Saints.

He will also provide England with a specialist goalkicker - he is Super League's top marksman with 124 goals in all matches so far this year.

There are just seven survivors from England's 32-22 World Cup semi-final defeat by the Kiwis last November but there is no place for Wigan half-back Sam Tomkins, despite his man-of-the-match performance against the Welsh.

Team: S Briscoe (Hull KR); T Briscoe (Hull), L Smith (Leeds), M Shenton (Castleford), R Hall (Leeds); D McGuire (Leeds), R Myler (Salford); A Morley (Warrington), S Moore (Huddersfield), J Peacock (Leeds, capt), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), S Burgess (Bradford), K Sinfield (Leeds).

Subs: K Eastmond (St Helens), J Roby (St Helens), J Graham (St Helens), B Westwood (Warrington).