Rugby League World Cup: England v France preview
England face France in Wigan on Saturday as they bid to reach the last four of the World Cup.
By Sam Drury - Follow on Twitter
Last Updated: 16/11/13 1:24pm
Steve McNamara's men go into the match as big favourites to progress on home soil and have been buoyed by victories in their last two matches against Ireland and Fiji following a narrow defeat to Australia in the tournament's opening game.
France on the other hand come into the game on the back of a 22-6 defeat at the hands of Samoa in their final group game leaving them third in the group with a win over Papua New Guinea their only triumph so far.
The hosts have made two changes to their 19-man squad with James Roby and Josh Charnley returning after missing out again Fiji. Indeed, Charnley hasn't been involved since the defeat to Australia in the opener.
Wait
Tom Briscoe and Carl Ablett are the men replaced whilst Gareth Widdop continues to wait for his opportunity despite having starred for the Melbourne Storm in the NRL this season.
For France meanwhile, coach Richard Agar welcomes back skipper Olivier Elima and has called up winger Damien Cardace and centre Younes Khattabi for the first time in the tournament.
The last time the sides met was in the final of the 2012 Autumn Internationals with England running out 48-4 winners, showing the size of the task facing Agar's men.
After a number of controversies leading up the tournament McNamara will be keen to see his side avoid an upset and reach the semi-finals where a much tougher test is likely to await.
England's 19-man squad: G Burgess (South Sydney), S Burgess (South Sydney), R Burrow (Leeds), J Charnley (Wigan), R Chase (Castleford), L Cudjoe (Huddersfield), L Farrell (Wigan), B Ferres (Huddersfield), J Graham (Canterbury), R Hall (Leeds), C Hill (Warrington), M McIlorum (Wigan), L Mossop (Wigan), S O'Loughlin (Wigan), J Roby (St Helens), K Sinfield (capt) (Leeds), S Tomkins (Wigan), K Watkins (Leeds), B Westwood (Warrington)
France's 19-man squad (Catalan Dragons unless stated): J-P Baile, W Barthau, K Bentley (Toulouse), T Bosc, D Cardace, R Casty, V Duport, O Elima (capt), M Escare, J Fakir, T Gigot (Avignon), C Greenshields (North Queensland), Y Khattabi, A Maria, G Mounis, E Pelissier, S Raguin, M Simon, C Stacul (Lezignan)