England crush France by 82 points to keep Rugby League World Cup hopes alive

England’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup remain just about alive after Brian McDermott’s side racked up 82 points against France to keep themselves in a difficult equation heading into the final round of group matches.

McDermott himself admitted defeat to Tonga in last weekend’s opener left England with a mountain to climb. With a shortened 10-team tournament producing a format that means only the top two from a six-nation pool make the last four, England knew they had to win their remaining group games convincingly and rely on favours elsewhere.

After Samoa defeated Papua New Guinea earlier on Saturday, the permutations became clear. England need Tonga to defeat the Samoans next weekend while also bridging a points swing of around 150 in the process. However, they made major inroads to that in Perth with a destructive victory that fulfilled McDermott’s pre-tournament promise on England playing expansive rugby.

France dug in valiantly throughout an opening quarter that was scoreless. At that stage, the knives were being sharpened by England’s harshest critics but once they finally opened the scoring through Dom Young, the floodgates opened in some style – with a string of sensational attacking displays from key individuals leading to a 14-try victory.

They included Herbie Farnworth, the world’s best centre, who scored an outstanding first-half hat-trick inside 13 minutes as England piled on the points. Young’s try set the tone after a tepid first 20 minutes, with fellow winger Matty Ashton crossing two minutes later. England’s running game then began to open up gaps in France’s defence, leading to Farnworth’s first two tries.

George Williams was next to cross before Young’s outstanding break led to Farnworth completing his hat-trick as the half-time hooter sounded. What had been a competitive first 20 minutes had suddenly become a blow-out, with England 34-0 ahead at the break, but it was clear that was nowhere near enough, and the pursuit of points had to continue.

England held up their end of the bargain, though. It took them just five minutes to extend their lead after half-time as Young capitalised on a clever kick from Williams before he then laid another try on a plate for a team-mate, this time leading to Victor Radley scoring. The outstanding AJ Brimson then cut through a tiring French defence to allow Jez Litten to touch down.

Now 52-0 ahead, England kept their foot on the gas. McDermott introduced more creativity from the bench with Jack Welsby and Mikey Lewis coming on and they were hugely influential in the tries that followed in the final quarter. Litten capped a sensational individual performance with a try after yet another Brimson break, before Young completed his hat-trick.

Brimson was another who stood out as one of England’s best performers, with another break from the Gold Coast Titans fullback leading to Welsby and Lewis combining for the latter to then score, before Welsby followed suit two minutes later. At that stage, the prospect of England scoring 100 in a World Cup game was a distinct possibility.

They did claim two more tries in the final 10 minutes as Lewis scored his second courtesy of a fine individual break, and Brimson finished another free-flowing move to get the try his own performance merited. But there was a sneaking suspicion England eased off in those latter stages, when France appeared out on their feet.

Ultimately though, England did the job required of them. They must now repeat the trick next week against Papua New Guinea and keep everything crossed for an almighty favour from the Tongans.