YOU'VE got to love England. The Poms sure know how to serve up a scandal.

All year they have been building up this Rugby League World Cup as the global sporting event of 2013 - but in the countdown to the tournament kick off, early Sunday morning Australian time, the host nation is now on the verge of imploding.

While Australia's preparations have been faultless, England are in turmoil after Canterbury's star prop James Graham was sensationally left out of England's 19-man squad named to take on Australia in the tournament opener at Millennium Stadium.

Graham's omission follows coach Steve McNamara's dramatic decision to sack Gareth Hock for breaking a team booze ban and missing a recovery season in the wake of England's shock defeat to Italy last weekend.

Hock was furious that he was the only player sent home after claiming up to seven other players had also broken the no alcohol policy the team had put in place until after the Australian game.

Hock said the players went out to drown their sorrows after their humiliating loss to Italy last weekend but instead of it bonding them together it appears to have sunk their World Cup dream.

All week there has been a guessing game going on here about who else was out on the town with Hock but so far England's team management have refused to reveal the other players involved, although it is understood they have been disciplined.

The decision to leave Graham out of their squad is now the talk of the other nations given he is a former England captain and rightfully rated one of the best props in the world.

Two days before McNamara even named his team there was mail going around that Graham was going to be left out of the side - but even when it eventually did happen it still came as a massive shock.

Wigan's talented hooker Michael McIlorum was also controversially omitted and the Australians won't mind that either given Tim Sheens rates McIlorum highly.

Hock was outraged during the week that he was only player sacked and revealed several other players were also on the drink after the embarrassing one-point loss to Italy.

"I agree it was wrong and we should not have had a drink, but there were six or seven of us and we all did the same," Hock said.

"I just do not agree with the way he has gone about it, the way it has been done.

"I think it is out of order really. I am gutted because I was really looking forward to playing in the World Cup. it is a massive shock and it is embarrassing as well.

"I hold my hands up and say I had a drink - but so did the others."

England captain Kevin Sinfield vowed at the World Cup launch that England would use the criticism they copped in the wake of their loss to Italy to create a "siege mentality" to bring the squad closer together.

But that was before the late-night booze session was exposed and they have been in damage control ever since.

George and Tom Burgess are in line to make their Test debuts after being named in the 19-man squad along with older brother Sam although it would appear unlikely both twins will get a start with two players still to come out of the squad.

George was the NRL's Dally M rookie of the year and had a huge impact off the bench this year for South Sydney but playing Tom in such a crucial match would be a massive gamble given his limited experience.

He only came into the Rabbitohs top squad late in the season and playing Test match rugby league against the Australians would be another giant step up.

ENGLAND SQUAD: Carl Ablett, George Burgess, Sam Burgess, Thomas Burgess, Rob Burrow, Josh Charnley, Rangi Chase, Leroy Cudjoe, Liam Farrell, Brett Ferres, Ryan Hall, Chris Hill, Lee Mossop, James Roby, Kevin Sinfield (captain), Sam Tomkins, Kallum Watkins, Ben Westwood, Gareth Widdop