England now need to beat Papua New Guinea next Friday and hope Samoa lose to Tonga, both by a big enough margin to wipe out a 62 deficit on points difference. It’s still a very tall order, but England couldn’t have done much more against a French side who started well, but ran out of steam spectacularly.

England led 36-0 at half-time with the six tries coming in two devastating spells after France had shown some impressive resolve in defence. It was a similar story after the break as some outstanding attacking rugby brought eight more touchdowns.

Substitutes Josh Walters, Jez Litten and - in a 21-minute, two-try cameo - Mikey Lewis all made a point and other impressive contributions came from spring-heeled full-back AJ Brimson and four-try winger Dom Young.

Brimson tore France’s defence to shreds in the second period and Young’s try direct from a kick-off was a highlight. Credit also to centre Hugo Savala who missed just one of his 14 conversion attempts.

Impressively England kept their nerve after a slow start which saw them go through the opening quarter without getting points on the board. Playing against the clock, as well as the opposition, England needed to take every chance, but blew one after just six minutes.

Matty Ashton - selected on the left-wing in place of Zach Eckersley in the only change to the starting 13 - seemed to have scored at the corner and a try awarded onfield, but overturned by the video referee bunker. It took 23 minutes for coach Brian McDermott’s men to get off the mark, but three successive touchdowns - without France getting their hands on the ball - gave them a platform from the big win.

Captain George Williams created the opener for Young; Ashton raced over off Brimson’s break in the next set and then Harry Smith stepped into space and Herbie Farnworth did the rest. It remained 18-0 until six minutes before the break and then the pattern was repeated as Farnworth crossed twice either side of a touchdown by Smith.

England’s attitude in the second half was spot on. Young completed his hat-trick off a kick by Williams to get the ball rolling and they scored regularly after that. Williams got another assist to put Victor Radley in before both were rested; Litten scored a deserved touchdown, Lewis backed up to score and Young rampaged over for his fourth.

There was no let up as Welsby crossed, Lewis touched down again and Brimson, fittingly, rounded things off following outstanding handling by Lewis and Smith. On this evidence, it’s a shame England played Tonga first, rather than France. They were beaten 30-12 by the Islanders in their opener, but look a different side with an extra week’s preparation.

England: Brimson, Young, Savala, Farnworth, Ashton, Williams, Smith, King, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Pearce-Paul, Radley. Used subs Litten, Currie, Havard, Walters, Welsby, Eckersley.

France: Morgue, Yaha, Siegwalt, Tropis, Laguerre, Lacans, Fages, Navarrete, Bourouh, Bousquet, Romano, Jussaume, Garcia. Subs Aispuro-Bichet, Rogue, Belmas, Cozza, Grossemy, Dezaria.

Referee: Adam Gee (Australia).