Despite a shock 30-12 loss to Tonga, England men's coach Brian McDermott has named an unchanged 19-man squad for the must-win World Cup match against France in Perth.
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01Summary
- 01England's opening 30-12 defeat by Tonga was their first ever loss to that nation and has left their semi-final hopes in jeopardy.
- 02AJ Brimson keeps his place at full-back, and captain George Williams continues alongside Harry Smith in the half-back roles.
- 03England must beat France and Papua New Guinea by large margins to have a realistic chance of progressing.
- 04Tonga face Samoa two days after England's France match, meaning England may not know their fate until then.
- 05Prop Luke Thompson retains his place as Morgan Knowles remains injured; Mikey Lewis is again omitted from the team.
02Why it matters
This match is critical for England's World Cup survival; a second loss would almost certainly end their semi-final hopes, making Saturday's result pivotal for fans and the tournament.
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