Rugby League World Cup rolls on with Pool A action featuring England v France a battle that has been fought out across many sports, and across history, although this is more likely to be a lot more one sided to England than most.
Our Group A England v France Match Centre has a preview, stats, team lists before the game and a summary of the match afterwards. More than you could ever need or want.
If you want more information on all the squads – follow this link here.
England 42 France 18 Match Summary
England remain unbeaten in the Rugby League World Cup, after a 42-18 win over France on Saturday where they were made to work a lot harder for victory than previously against Samoa.
England veteran Ryan Hall scored the first two tries of the match and Luke Thompson extended the lead to 18-0 before the French hit back with two tries before the break to Arthur Mourgue and Eloi Pelissier to make the half time score 18-12.
England ran away with it in the second half with tries to Elliott Whitehead and Victor Radley followed by a Dominic Young double. France added a touch of respectability at the end when Arthur Romano scored with five minutes to go.
England will claim first spot in the group with their easiest game to come against Greece. And France are likely to be in a shoot out with Samoa for the second spot.
England v France Scores
ENGLAND 42
Tries: Ryan Hall 5′ Ryan Hall 11′ Luke Thompson 23′ Elliott Whitehead 44′ Victor Radley 49′ Dominic Young 55′ Dominic Young 65′
Goals: Marc Sneyd 7/7
FRANCE 18
Tries: Arthur Mourgue 28′ Eloi Pelissier 32′ Arthur Romano 75′
Goals: Arthur Mourgue 3/5
England v France Match Stats
England v France Teams
ENGLAND
1 Sam Tomkins
5 Ryan Hall
3 Kallum Watkins
4 Herbie Farnworth
14 Dominic Young
21 Mark Sneyd
7 George Williams
8 Thomas Burgess
9 Michael McIlorum
18 Chris Hill
11 Elliott Whitehead
12 John Bateman
13 Victor Radley
6 Jack Welsby
10 Luke Thompson
19 Andy Ackers
23 Mikolaj Oledzki
FRANCE
1 Morgan Escare
2 Arthur Romano
3 Samisoni Langi
11 Benjamin Jullien
4 Matthieu Laguerre
6 Arthur Mourgue
7 Tony Gigot
8 Jordan Dezaria
9 Alrix Da Costa
10 Lambert Belmas
12 Paul Seguier
17 Mickaël Goudemand
13 Benjamin Garcia
14 Eloi Pelissier
15 Justin Sangare
16 Gadwin Springer
19 Corentin Le Cam
England v France Pre Match Stats
- England have won 19 games straight v France with their last loss coming in 1981.
- England have won both World Cup clashes between the sides by 36-6 and 34-6.
- France’s win over Greece was their first at a World Cup since beating PNG in their first game of the 2013 World Cup.
England v France Preview
England come into this match with arguably the most impressive team performance of the first week of the World Cup. They not only won, but comprehensively thrashed one of the pre-tournament dark horses in Samoa. It was joy to watch, if you weren’t a Samoan fan, as the English were simply awesome in attack. The win also building the excitement for the home fans, which should make the atmosphere for this game electric.
Their form against the NRL heavy Samoa gives English fans reasons to hope they might be an outside chance of lifting the trophy on home soil. Or at a minimum, proving you don’t need a team full of NRL stars to compete, similarly seen in PNG v Tonga. But England still do have some handy NRL talent.
France looked quite good in their opening match of the World Cup, and those quick to dismiss the win was only over a lowly Greece should watch the game. Greece gave the French a tough contest, but France’s greater experience courtesy of their two UK Super League sides won out in the end. Although, France’s kicking game was terrible against Greece, and with better work in that department they may have been more dominant.
Whether England will play as good as they did against Samoa is a question, and with that win will they rest some key players. Although unlikely, France could make the knockout stage by defeating England here, so will be up for the game. Being an English-French rivalry helps too.
While an English win looks a formality, we can see it being a tighter contest than most think.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Herbie Farnworth was excellent for England in their first game and will be key again out wide to test the French defence.
John Bateman returns to the England team and forms a pretty lethal back row trio with Elliott Whitehead and Victor Radley.
Benjamin Garcia was our player of the match v Greece and he is one to watch for this match. Although it has to be said that all of the French back row was impressive and interchange forward Mickaël Goudemand.
PREDICTION
England 30 France 18
