Briscoe for England debut

Briscoe: Set for England debut

People like Tom Briscoe won't be going through to the Four Nations squad. But it's important that we give people like him a taster, just like we gave Richie Myler a taster a year ago

Tony Smith
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Saturday October 17, 6pm

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Hull youngster Tom Briscoe will make his England debut in the Gillette Fusion international against Wales in Bridgend.

The 19-year-old winger was out for four months of the season with an ankle injury, but featured in coach Tony Smith's elite training squad earlier this year and appeared in his club's concluding four matches of the season.

Wigan half-back Sam Tomkins is the other new cap following his award as Super League's young player of the year, while Tony Clubb, Stefan Ratchford and Ben Harrison have been dropped from Smith's original 20-man line-up.

Full-back Shaun Briscoe and prop Eorl Crabtree will also be absent from the Four Nations warm-up match as well as the contingent from Leeds and St Helens, with injuries sustained in the closing stages of the domestic season.

"There were a few tough calls, but I'm very excited by the squad," said Smith.

"The game on Saturday is primarily there to give the guys going through to the Gillette Four Nations an opportunity to get a game under their belt and get some combinations going.

"They will all feel the benefit of the experience, especially the younger players.

"People like Tom Briscoe won't be going through to the Four Nations squad. But it's important that we give people like him a taster, just like we gave Richie Myler a taster a year ago.

"The young guys who were involved against Wales last year have all kicked on, and we hope everyone else has too."

Survivors

The squad includes seven survivors from the team that defeated Wales 74-0 at Doncaster last year.

Paul Sykes will play full-back in Briscoe's absence, while Wigan captain Sean O'Loughlin, a specialist loose forward or stand-off, displays his versatility by being named at centre.

Warrington prop Garreth Carvell will also appear, despite previously playing for Wales in the 2000 World Cup, having choosen to switch his allegiance.

Carvell has since represented Great Britain, but the clash will mark his first England appearance.

England: P Sykes (Bradford), P Fox (Hull KR), S O'Loughlin (Wigan), M Shenton (Castleford), T Briscoe (Hull), S Tomkins (Wigan), R Myler (Salford), A Morley (Warrington, capt), S Moore (Huddersfield), G Carvell (Warrington), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), B Westwood (Warrington), S Burgess (Bradford)
Subs: L McCarthy-Scarsbrook (Harlequins), M Higham (Warrington), D Tickle (Hull), C Bridge (Warrington).