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England racked up 14 tries in their thrashing of France on Saturday morning with a result that kept their Rugby League World Cup hopes alive.
More to follow
That massive win has propelled England’s points difference to +64. With Tonga uncatchable, England still have Samoa firmly in their sights. They’re 68 points off Samoa’s total and need Tonga to beat them, while they themselves secure a mammoth victory over Papua New Guinea in order to reach the semi-finals.
14 tries. 13 of them converted. England thrash France to maintain their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
On the sixth tackle, Lewis chips a ball over the top of France’s defence and Smith latches on it to tee up Brimson, who makes a short dash to score. That caps off a superb performance. Brimson deserves that try after assisting so many. Savala makes his 13th conversion.
France attempt to probe but Young defends well by pushing the ball dead to spell the end of that momentary pressure.
This is one of the most-sided matches you will ever tune into or watch. France have a penalty after a high tackle, and instead of kicking to get on the board, they take it quickly in an attempt to score more points.
Following a French knock-on, Lewis shrugs off two incredibly weak challenges to dive over the line. From long range, Savala cuts across his kick to magnificently bend his effort through the posts as England close in on 80 points.
This is crazy. Brimson is running the show and breezes through France’s non-existent backline. After unselfishly playing in Lewis for a previous try, Welsby scores on this occasion, with Savala’s kick taking the score up to 70.
This is getting ridiculous now. Young catches a short French kick and has too much pace for his tired opponents, sprinting from inside his own half to score. After Farnworth, Young becomes the second England player to bag a hat-trick. Savala adds the extras.
England’s record victory against France was 84-4 in 2015. This is what McDermott’s men should aim for in this last quarter as they try to chase down Samoa’s points difference. Exhiliarating stuff, although the French are out on their feet.
England are unstoppable and racking up an extraordinary score as they’re chasing the clock. Brimson leads the charge and pierces France’s weak defence, before passing to Welsby, who doesn’t quite have the pace so he unselfishly passes to Lewis for the try. Savala expertly bags the conversion with a swerving kick.
England continue adding to the scoreboard as Brimson dances through the defence with some insane footwork. Litten is there in supports and gets under the posts to score England’s latest try. Savala’s near-perfect kicking continues.
On the sixth tackle, Fages attempts to slide a grubber through England’s defence, but he can’t find a fellow French shirt. England take a short goal-line drop out.
Pearce-Paul steams pass France’s 10-metre line, bulldozing his way through a couple of desperate challenges, before his offload is intercepted.
England have dealt with the pressure very well and are keeping France at bay. Given that Tonga are out of sight and how they’re chasing Samoa, England need as many points as possible.
The one-way traffic motors on. Litten links up with Williams, who makes a break through France’s defence. Radley is supporting to receive a well-timed offload before scoring the try. After missing his previous kick, Savala adds the extras on this occasion.
From around the 20-metre line, Williams executes an absolutely terrific kick, which pierces France’s defence with Morgue out of position, allowing Young to score the try. Williams’ vision and technique in that passage of play was truly sensational. Savala fails to add a conversion for the first time. However, they keep the scoreboard ticking over in the second half.
Farnworth thought he had a fourth try, but Nsemba knocks on Smith’s high kick. Farnworth collected the loose ball and scores. However, it’s swiftly ruled out.
England win an early penalty, with a couple of French players offside at the kick, which Ashton catches well.
We are back under way for the second half. Can England pick up where they left off before the break? The scoreline could get really ugly for France.
The England fans sound incredibly buoyant in Perth and with good reason after their team remarkably ran in six tries in the last 17 minutes of the first half. Sorry to apply a touch of perspective, but they will need plenty more of the same if they are even going to have a sniff of the semis.
As it stands, Samoa have a points difference of plus 132 after beating Papua New Guinea 64-4 this morning. England have a points difference of, erm, plus 18. Their only chance is to carry on go rampanting in this second half and then stick to the same free-scoring script against PNG on Friday. And then hope Tonga beat Samoa by enough points the next day. It remains an unlikely scenario, but there is now a chance if Brian McDemott’s men can keep these afterburners blazing.
England had to wait 23 minutes before opening the scoring, but once Young bagged the first try, the floodgates well and truly opened. England have scored six converted tries, with Farnworth getting a first-half hat-trick. England needed a huge victory to increase their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals and they’ve certainly delivered.
It’s raining tries for England. Savala teases the France into pressuring him, before he cleverly passes to Young, who has Farnworth busting a gut to make himself open for the pass. The left-centre duly receives it and dashes over the goal line to score. Savala bags his sixth conversion of the first half and England are crushing France.
The captain gets in on the act. France’s defence has completely crumbled over the last 20 minutes. This time, Pearce-Paul passes to Smith, who opens up France and is spoilt for choice at who to pass to. He chooses Williams, who scores a simple try. You guessed it, Savala adds the conversion.
Farnworth at the double. Williams and Nsemba work it well to tee up Farnworth, who is such a destructive runner and bursts through a series of weak challenges to add another try. Savala’s 100% kicking record extends England’s lead to 22 points.
Fages slips a grubber through England’s defence, but Savala tracks back to beat Romano to the ball as France still wait for their first points of the match.
Fair to say that England enjoyed that purple patch of try-scoring. France are stunned and England are found a scintillating rhythm. There’s a break in play as Lacens receives treatment for a cut on the head. Siegwalt has departed the action with a dislocated shoulder.
Three tries in four minutes. Smith comes alive and breaks through France’s beleaguered defence. He has options steaming up either side of him. Smith coolly picks out Farnworth, who runs unchallenged through the posts to score. Savala bags his third conversion and England now lead by 18.
Incredible scenes. Once again, the build-up play is phenomenal as Brimson gains incredible territory by bursting through France’s rocked defence with some incredible footwork. Brimson has Ashton sprinting alongside him in support. Ashton has too much pace and eventually gets his try after having a previous score ruled out. Savala kicks through the posts and England are flowing now.
At last. A hugely frustrating opening quarter for England that was threatening to become humbling, with the French warming to their task. Young and Ashton made the most of their opportunities, which is exactly what Brian McDermott’s team struggled to do against Tonga last week.
A much-needed try arrives for England. It’s brilliant play from Williams. He darts through France’s backline to take England within metres of the line, before offloading an exquisite one-handed pass out wide to Young, who makes has a simple to score. Savala adds the extras and England have a six-point lead.
Brimson drops a kick from Garcia as Lacans rushes to gain territory. However, France pass forward from the subsequent scrum, allowing England a moment to breathe.
The signs are promising for France. They’re provoking knock-ons and forcing England back into their own half. This is anybody’s game at the moment.
France now turn the heat up on England and reach the 10-metre line. Morgue spots a gap and attempts an ambitious grubber, but Brimson is there to mop up the danger, relieving the pressure on England.
England apply serious pressure on France through Farnworth’s brilliant carry just metres from the try line. On the last play, Brimson’s fast pass for Ashton is pivotally intercepted by Jussaume to prevent a try. It’s a forward pass from England and France continue to hold firm.
Farnworth does brilliantly to collect Smith’s kick but France’s defence holds out. England need some early points to ease the anxiety.
France are growing into the contest and are beginning to look more confident, forcing O’Neill into a forward pass.
This is difficult for England. They need a try bonanza to give themselves a glimmer of hope of qualification to the semi-finals, but they cannot get ahead of the task. The first ambition is to win the game and it might take some time to break down the French. Brian McDermott’s men must strike a mixture of patience and urgency.
Some quick exchanges sees Brimson tee up Ashton on the left, who dashes on the outside of France’s defence with his blistering pace to reach the goal line. However, he drops the ball as he puts it down. So close for England, but the early signs are very promising. France are clinging on.
Smith’s monstrous kick on the fourth tackle is pounced upon by Ashton, who draws the foul to progress England past the 10-metre line.
We are under way at HBF Park in Perth. Can England rescue their World Cup campaign with a large victory over France?
We are slightly behind schedule at HBF Park. Both sets of players are now out on the pitch, with the national anthems in full flow.
Group A of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands has a standard format, with each nation playing each other, with the top two progressing to the last four.
Groups B and C have been combined into one pool, with the former containing England, Lebanon and Samoa, and the latter having France, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. Each team will play the three other nations in the opposing group, with just the top two sides out of the six advancing to the semi-finals.
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of England’s second Rugby League World Cup outing as they lock horns with France in Perth.
Following a 30-12 loss to Tonga in their opening match, England are left with an uphill battle if they want to reach the semi-finals, requiring large victories over France today and Papua New Guinea next week.
England’s task has been made more daunting by Tonga’s 36-0 victory over Lebanon on Friday evening. Given that teams level on points at the end of the group stage will be separated by their head-to-head records, England can only finish behind Tonga.
England’s possible progression to the last four is out of their hands. Brian McDermott’s side need Tonga to do them a favour and defeat Samoa, while they do their job and win the rest of their group fixtures.
Despite the pressure on England to claw back the eye-watering points difference, hooker Brad O’Neill has underlined that his side are remaining calm and will stick to their game plan.
“We have discussed what is required but I feel like the mentality can’t be any different to what we had against Tonga,” he said. “We can’t go into this game thinking about the points difference. We’ve got to go into this game hard-nosed like we did against Tonga, and hopefully if we do our jobs well enough we’re going to get the win.”
McDermott has also spoken about the uniquely fine margins needed to qualify for the semi-finals, adding: “The jeopardy in losing one game is so harsh, it’s almost like we don’t get another chance to straighten things out. There’s still a slim chance that we get through, and that’s something we’re focusing on, and we’re really determined. It’s just harsh that we have to take a standing eight count in the first round.”
England’s team news sees Matty Ashton replace Zach Eckersley in the starting line-up, while Mikey Lewis is on the bench.
For France, Thomas Lacans starts at five-eighth and Romeo Tropis begins at centre, with Cesar Rouge and Leo Darrelatour on the bench. Julian Bousquet also starts in the front row, replacing Lambert Belmas.
Kick-off for this Pool B clash is at 07:35 BST, with team news following now.
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