Dave Craven: Brough appears destined to join brilliant Briers on periphery

There is now as much chance of Danny Brough playing for England in this World Cup as there is of the USA winning it.

It is painful to admit, but it seems, barring a catastrophic injury crisis, the Huddersfield Giants scrum-half will somehow not be wearing the white and red this autumn.

I could write a column every week between now and the tournament’s October 26 kick-off arguing the case for one player or another but, in fairness, I think Steve McNamara is largely getting it right.

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However, I will take this chance – and no other, I promise – to make a couple of points about the hugely talented Brough.

I know it is all futile. Even if McNamara did have a change of heart, realistically it is already probably too late as the England chief only has one game against the Exiles to fine-tune his charges before they face Australia in Cardiff.

Given that you build your side around your half-back, whoever he is needs more time than that to ingrain himself into the system.

Brough, for all his gifts, has had just one match against the Exiles in a largely second-string England team last July that included Matty Smith and Scott Taylor.

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If McNamara genuinely thought Brough was part of his long-term plans he would have played him in the autumn internationals but, instead, he gave Richard Myler the chance to fight Rangi Chase for the No 7 role.

It should, then, be no surprise that Brough was last week overlooked for the elite training squad, but that does not make things any easier for him.

Speaking to the 30-year-old a week ago, after he had single-handedly destroyed Leeds with an immaculate display of kicking and masterful scrum-half play, it was clear Brough could no longer hide his exasperation about that England snub.

Whereas many players choose their words carefully in such delicate situations, he appeared resigned to his fate as if he could do no more and admitted he might just return to Scotland. It is all very understandable.

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Brough, of course, had been encouraged to swap allegiances from Scotland in 2011, England clearly realising his stellar kicking game was perhaps incomparable to anything else on offer.

But he has barely had a chance – admittedly sometimes through injury – to demonstrate that and that is the most frustrating thing for onlookers.

Kicking is such a crucial part of making a difference at international level and McNamara has made it known in the past how vital it is to give his side as many options there as possible. But Brough offers so much more than that.

He has the ability to conjure up something from nothing whether it be through his jinking step, that great burst of acceleration he offers or his excellent array of passing.

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If it came down to needing that little bit of magic against the Aussies or Kiwis, you sense he could be the one to deliver.

Obviously, Chase has a similar modus operandum, but without Brough’s ruthless boot – and he has lacked consistency.

Myler, meanwhile, has developed over recent years, but is he really going to change a game at the highest level?

Danny McGuire is still to come into the equation and Gareth Widdop as well, each with their own skill set, but there is that nagging feeling that Brough’s expected absence will be most keenly felt.

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A generation of Great Britain coaches continually ignored the brilliance of Lee Briers and now it seems England are set to do the same to the nearest thing they have to the Welsh talisman.

It is unfortunate, but all sports create divided opinion and it has to be hoped that McNamara’s faith in those he has chosen so far can prove everyone wrong come this autumn.

In the meantime, as galling it is to write this, Brough should throw his lot in with Scotland again; witnessing a World Cup without him showcasing his guile and artistry would be the biggest shame of all.