England v France

0:01:26 > 0:01:32This week, three of the De Jager it is week three of 27 World Cup, the

0:01:32 > 0:01:38final round of group games. -- it is week three of the 2017 World Cup.

0:01:38 > 0:01:45Coach Wayne Bennett has rung the changes, Mike McMeeken, Percival,

0:01:45 > 0:01:49Kevin Brown and Scott Taylor come in. Elliott Whitehead and Josh

0:01:49 > 0:01:55Hodgson are rested. Jon Wilkin, Jonathan Davies and

0:01:55 > 0:01:59Kevin Sinfield join me. Kick-off is in half an hour. Let's start the

0:01:59 > 0:02:04programme with exactly the same question I have asked before both of

0:02:04 > 0:02:10England 's the matches, what are you looking to see from England?And

0:02:10 > 0:02:13improve performance. We were probably all disappointed watching

0:02:13 > 0:02:16England last week, particularly the second half. With the changes we

0:02:16 > 0:02:22made today, with what is at stake in the coming weeks, I think they will

0:02:22 > 0:02:26perform fantastically well. When I look at the French team, I do not

0:02:26 > 0:02:31see them troubling us.Composure and execution. Creativity was there,

0:02:31 > 0:02:36even against Australia, but now they have too taken to another level.

0:02:36 > 0:02:41When they create opportunities they had to finish them. Performance is

0:02:41 > 0:02:48important but the scoreline, to make a statement.They should go out and

0:02:48 > 0:03:00smash France, defensively they are too strong, big and powerful.

0:03:05 > 0:03:08Will knock the wind out of France. But with the ball I would like to

0:03:08 > 0:03:10see creativity, dynamism and points on the board. England should be

0:03:10 > 0:03:13beating France, and comfortably, today.Listening to you on the radio

0:03:13 > 0:03:15when I was driving in, you said maybe we need to put the Lebanon

0:03:15 > 0:03:18result into perspective. Australia only put 30 on them, similar to

0:03:18 > 0:03:23England. Australia put 50 on France, you would look to something similar

0:03:23 > 0:03:29today?If this game was in the UK or France, we normally get a 50 point

0:03:29 > 0:03:33victory over France. That is why we have probably struggled over the

0:03:33 > 0:03:37years, we want competition from the French, more than what we get, which

0:03:37 > 0:03:42prepares us for when we play the southern hemisphere teams.Looking

0:03:42 > 0:03:54at our results in comparison to

0:04:03 > 0:04:06Australia is dangerous, I think. We could win this game by two points,

0:04:06 > 0:04:09four, six, and we could go on and play fantastically well in the

0:04:09 > 0:04:11quarterfinals.Why is it dangerous if they are the barometer?Every

0:04:11 > 0:04:14game is unique, no two games and rugby league have been the same, no

0:04:14 > 0:04:16two sports games. We want to beat France, and well, but to try to

0:04:16 > 0:04:18compare with how Australia played against France's dangerous.

0:04:18 > 0:04:21Australia robotic, they go through the sets, they will not try to score

0:04:21 > 0:04:24on every play like maybe England, New Zealand or Tonga. They are

0:04:24 > 0:04:28robotic and clinical. With England, I feel they have to keep the

0:04:28 > 0:04:31composure, don't worry about the score, but don't try to score every

0:04:31 > 0:04:32time they play the

0:04:32 > 0:04:34score, but don't try to score every time they play the ball.

0:04:34 > 0:04:39Let me show you the group table, going into this game. Australia

0:04:39 > 0:04:44confirmed as group winners following their 34-0 win over Lebanon

0:04:44 > 0:04:48yesterday. England officially need appointed to progress to finish in

0:04:48 > 0:04:55second place. France need to win by 16 points to

0:04:55 > 0:04:59overtake Lebanon, 32 points to go ahead of England.

0:04:59 > 0:05:04Let's look at the England team. Wayne Bennett has made some

0:05:04 > 0:05:08interesting changes. Gareth Widdop has moved to full-back. Stefan

0:05:08 > 0:05:11Ratchford is on the wing, a position he says he last played ten years

0:05:11 > 0:05:19ago. Kevin Brown joins Luke Gale in the halves. Jon, what

0:05:19 > 0:05:20ago. Kevin Brown joins Luke Gale in the halves. Jon, what do you think

0:05:20 > 0:05:28will be the main effect of these changes?They are looking for a

0:05:28 > 0:05:31full-back who can contribute, attacking wise. Widdop is vastly

0:05:31 > 0:05:35experienced as a full-back. They will be looking for him to work with

0:05:35 > 0:05:40the likes of Kevin Brown, who we see warming up here, Kevin Brown, Luke

0:05:40 > 0:05:44Gale, get out the back of players. The reason -- the reason Stefan

0:05:44 > 0:05:49Ratchford is on tour is for days like today, utility value. He can

0:05:49 > 0:05:53play on the wing, centre, maybe half-back, that is huge value, you

0:05:53 > 0:05:56need players like that on tour. Widdop at full-back, he is

0:05:56 > 0:06:02accustomed to that position and through his days early on at the

0:06:02 > 0:06:05Melbourne Storm, you will understand the intricacies of playing that

0:06:05 > 0:06:08role. Gareth Widdop has a bigger part to play for England in this

0:06:08 > 0:06:14tournament, I do not believe it is in full-back.Last week we spoke

0:06:14 > 0:06:20about the fact that Hardaker was a massive loss. Lomax, Widdop,

0:06:20 > 0:06:25Ratchford, they play like an extra half-back. England need an outer

0:06:25 > 0:06:31full-back. You have the ball players in six and seven and O'Loughlin, you

0:06:31 > 0:06:36need the exit man out wide. We have seen how they have created against a

0:06:36 > 0:06:39better side, now they need to finish by being an outer note full-back and

0:06:39 > 0:06:45finishing the moves or creating them for the two special wing as we have.

0:06:45 > 0:06:51Is it a difficult balance for Wayne Bennett to ring the changes on one

0:06:51 > 0:06:54hand and give people game time in case they are needed, but at the

0:06:54 > 0:07:00same time there must be an urge to keep playing the same guys in the

0:07:00 > 0:07:05same positions to give them continuity?Yes. It is a really

0:07:05 > 0:07:09interesting question. We won't know the answer to that until the game

0:07:09 > 0:07:16starts, probably not until half-time. We have 14 Super League

0:07:16 > 0:07:21stars, it is brilliant for our game in this country. I think the changes

0:07:21 > 0:07:24provide opportunities. Having been in squads like these myself, and

0:07:24 > 0:07:28both these guys have as well, you want the environment to be great.

0:07:28 > 0:07:32You find the players who are not playing make the difference. For

0:07:32 > 0:07:36these guys to get a run and get an opportunity, to show Wayne what they

0:07:36 > 0:07:40can do, I think it is fantastic. Whether they go on and get picked in

0:07:40 > 0:07:46the future in this World Cup this year is irrelevant. What it will do,

0:07:46 > 0:07:50it will settle them down and know that they have won the jersey in the

0:07:50 > 0:07:54camp and they will be fantastic for what is to come.

0:07:54 > 0:07:58There are two camps, one is that you need to give players an opportunity,

0:07:58 > 0:08:02the other, which I am in, you play your best side, you build through

0:08:02 > 0:08:06the tournament and you progress and play better as a performance and as

0:08:06 > 0:08:13a team. He has rested some of the crucial players, but they have had a

0:08:13 > 0:08:18days' rest. For me, you build, pick your best players and the

0:08:18 > 0:08:21left-centre position, as we said last week...

0:08:21 > 0:08:26But it is hard to try things for Wayne Bennett. You have a foot in

0:08:26 > 0:08:29both codes of rugby, the lack of international games in rugby league

0:08:29 > 0:08:34means he can't experiment in the same way that you saw Warren Gatland

0:08:34 > 0:08:36do yesterday or I saw Eddie Jones do, it is hard.

0:08:36 > 0:08:46I agree, but you know your best players. You should know your centre

0:08:46 > 0:08:48partnership, your half-back partnership, your backstreet

0:08:48 > 0:08:52partnership, you're back three in the forwards. There is no right or

0:08:52 > 0:08:57wrong, it is what he feels is right at that particular time. Do you keep

0:08:57 > 0:09:01the squad happy? But if you are in the squad you are the number one

0:09:01 > 0:09:04position. There is an opportunity for personal and Kevin Brown to

0:09:04 > 0:09:07force their way into the semifinal, maybe.

0:09:07 > 0:09:11The likelihood is we will only retrospectively look back at this,

0:09:11 > 0:09:14we will look back next week of England played poorly in the first

0:09:14 > 0:09:19of next week in the quarterfinal we will highlight, well, Wayne Bennett

0:09:19 > 0:09:24mess the team around, the continuity was not there. If they start well we

0:09:24 > 0:09:27will be saying, you know what, didn't he do well refreshing

0:09:27 > 0:09:39everyone at bringing it in? Honestly, I think the impact is

0:09:39 > 0:09:41negligible either way, honestly. He is resting key guys, they will come

0:09:41 > 0:09:44back into the squad chomping at the bit in a World Cup quarterfinal and

0:09:44 > 0:09:46continuity will be built in training, not so much the 80 minutes

0:09:46 > 0:09:49we will watch now. We have been away on tour together,

0:09:49 > 0:09:54Kevin is so right to mention the importance of the players who do not

0:09:54 > 0:09:57play, and their mentality, because they drag the squad up.That is

0:09:57 > 0:10:00irrespective if they play or not. They are even more important if they

0:10:00 > 0:10:11do not play. Thankfully the weather is nice!There are harder places to

0:10:11 > 0:10:16be!Yes! Errors -- irrespective of the result today, whether it is a

0:10:16 > 0:10:19disjointed performance or not, I think they will win, it will have no

0:10:19 > 0:10:22impact on the game. Let's get the thoughts of our

0:10:22 > 0:10:29commentary team in Perth, Dave Woods with Crockett and Tubbs!

0:10:29 > 0:10:34One of them can't hear you. It is a very English feeling about the whole

0:10:34 > 0:10:37situation today, there are hundreds of thousands of England fans who

0:10:37 > 0:10:41have flooded into Perth in the last week or so, more than Melbourne or

0:10:41 > 0:10:47Sydney, it is like a Wembley final, Challenge Cup final, lots of fans

0:10:47 > 0:10:51wandering around from various northern outposts. The guys in the

0:10:51 > 0:10:54studio were talking about the feeling within the squad, not so

0:10:54 > 0:10:58much what goes on here today but what has happened in training. We

0:10:58 > 0:11:02have been to training several times this week, what have you made of the

0:11:02 > 0:11:06dynamics are training? It is a happy group, I listen to the

0:11:06 > 0:11:10debate in the studio and, for me, Wayne Bennett knows his 17 for next

0:11:10 > 0:11:15week. I think it is important the fringe players have a run, will

0:11:15 > 0:11:19Kevin Brown be strong enough? I would have liked to have seen Bale

0:11:19 > 0:11:24at Widdop have another run at combinations. I think it is about

0:11:24 > 0:11:29fluidity. I think Wayne Brown... Bennett knows his empty the next

0:11:29 > 0:11:33week. Both Sam Burgess and Lomax were training full-out, I expect

0:11:33 > 0:11:38them to play next week. Fresh bodies, fresh minds. It is important

0:11:38 > 0:11:42that these are the blogs show their wares, but will they realistically

0:11:42 > 0:11:47make the team? Not sure. -- these of the blokes show their wares.If

0:11:47 > 0:11:50somebody would have said six months ago that John Bateman and Stefan

0:11:50 > 0:11:54Ratchford would have been the England centre partnership, people

0:11:54 > 0:11:58would have raised their eyebrows. This Kevin Brown generally have a

0:11:58 > 0:12:04chance of playing himself in? Mike McMeeken, Scott Percival etc? About

0:12:04 > 0:12:07Kevin Brown's form was not great for Warrington, but in the one-off test

0:12:07 > 0:12:13against Samoa he was crucial to how they played. I felt there had been

0:12:13 > 0:12:17running overs, running towards the sideline, taking away their space.I

0:12:17 > 0:12:20think he could make a real statement, I think England need to

0:12:20 > 0:12:26make a statement. They have been very good defensively, very

0:12:26 > 0:12:29authoritative forwards, but clunky. We have talked about lacking with an

0:12:29 > 0:12:33attack. Widdop made his trade as a full-back through the Melbourne

0:12:33 > 0:12:36Storm system, he is one of the best attacking players. I feel like with

0:12:36 > 0:12:41more freedom at the back you could be the answer.We have seen in town,

0:12:41 > 0:12:45they look Ferreyra lacks but we are hearing from camp that France is the

0:12:45 > 0:12:52happiest camper. Eloi Pelissier has been sent home. Will they genuinely

0:12:52 > 0:12:56challenge England?In the first 20 minutes, yes. They had a real dig

0:12:56 > 0:13:00against Australia. They will need to look after the ball, be patient. I

0:13:00 > 0:13:04agree with the studio that England will win, I am interested in how

0:13:04 > 0:13:07they attack and the fluidity of attack, the other parts of the game

0:13:07 > 0:13:12have been going well.Great conditions for England.It was very

0:13:12 > 0:13:19warm earlier, all the England fans sitting in the stands, they will be

0:13:19 > 0:13:22very red tomorrow. Completion rates have been low, they're not getting

0:13:22 > 0:13:26to the end of their sets, but of England hold the ball and keep the

0:13:26 > 0:13:28pressure they will take it away early.

0:13:28 > 0:13:32There have been lots of England supporters in the ground for two or

0:13:32 > 0:13:35three hours already. There will be lots of pink English supporters

0:13:35 > 0:13:38tomorrow, we hope they will be happy supporters as well.

0:13:38 > 0:13:43STUDIO: Thank you to Dave, Ian and Brian. Let's hear from the England

0:13:43 > 0:13:47camp. Ben Currie scored a try against Lebanon last weekend, during

0:13:47 > 0:13:55this week he has been speaking to Dave.There is a gap, there is a try

0:13:55 > 0:14:01for Ben Currie.I couldn't believe it. I got through a gap, could not

0:14:01 > 0:14:06mess up from there, I managed to get over the line. It has been a goal of

0:14:06 > 0:14:10mine. Back home, my parents and all the family have been loving it, it

0:14:10 > 0:14:16is a real achievement. It has been a tough year. Managed to get four

0:14:16 > 0:14:20games overall in two different patches. It is good that Wayne

0:14:20 > 0:14:24showed faith in me and brought me to the tournament, good to be playing

0:14:24 > 0:14:28again. How dark a time was that 12, 18

0:14:28 > 0:14:33month period?It was tough, never had an injury before in my life, to

0:14:33 > 0:14:36miss any games. Straight into the deep end with this, about ten months

0:14:36 > 0:14:41it was in the end. It was tough, all my family and friends around me

0:14:41 > 0:14:48really helped me, all the staff at the time, really got me through it.

0:14:48 > 0:14:59It will be Kerry! Currie!I was nearly in tears watching the try at

0:14:59 > 0:15:05Wembley. My family and friends have been my whole career, my dad driving

0:15:05 > 0:15:10me around as a child.Wayne as a coach, people speak very highly. He

0:15:10 > 0:15:14is difficult for us to speak to but the players say he is great within

0:15:14 > 0:15:18the camp. What are you learning from him?He is great, different to what

0:15:18 > 0:15:23I have been used in the past. I see why you say that but he relaxes in

0:15:23 > 0:15:34camp more. He says it how it is. He will not look after anyone the

0:15:34 > 0:15:37video, it's a man has Mr P will let them know. -- someone has messed up.

0:15:37 > 0:15:40He is straight to the point and does not beat around the bush.There is a

0:15:40 > 0:15:43lot of experience, a lot of leaders in your squad, within the NRL, what

0:15:43 > 0:15:46are you learning?I have watched them growing up as a kid, it is

0:15:46 > 0:15:51great to play alongside them. People like Sam Bergersen James Graham I

0:15:51 > 0:15:56watched as a kid, it is great to be alongside them on the field --

0:15:56 > 0:16:00people like Sam Burgess and James Graham. Just seeing how professional

0:16:00 > 0:16:04they are around training and game days.England's chances in this

0:16:04 > 0:16:08World Cup?I think there is a real good chance for us to win. A few

0:16:08 > 0:16:13players past coaches have said that watching from the outside they see

0:16:13 > 0:16:17it as a good chance, one of the biggest chances we have had in a

0:16:17 > 0:16:20long time. We are confident in the camp.

0:16:20 > 0:16:25Do you think he is set for a stellar career?Without a doubt. This

0:16:25 > 0:16:29season, the injuries he has had, looking back to last year we thought

0:16:29 > 0:16:32that Ben Currie would be the main man in Super League and

0:16:32 > 0:16:36internationally this year. That probably has not happened due to his

0:16:36 > 0:16:39injuries, but next year Ben Currie will light up Super League. I think

0:16:39 > 0:16:45he deserves his place, despite relatively... Well, very few

0:16:45 > 0:16:47appearances. I would like to see him in the

0:16:47 > 0:16:51centre, he is a real handful, good angles, deceptively quick for a big

0:16:51 > 0:16:59man.Instead of Bateman?Yes, we ventured last week, he is not an

0:16:59 > 0:17:03international centre. I think to win the World Cup he needs X Factor

0:17:03 > 0:17:11players, Ben Currie could be that X Factor player.Ben Currie is not an

0:17:11 > 0:17:15international centre, we are trying to plug a gap.What is clear with

0:17:15 > 0:17:19Ben Currie, he came through as a centre, and because he was a big

0:17:19 > 0:17:23centre he was put in the back row, because that is what happens in this

0:17:23 > 0:17:26country, but I would love to see him left-centre, and I think there is a

0:17:26 > 0:17:31spot the Bateman in the 17, seeing him do what he does for Wigan would

0:17:31 > 0:17:34be fantastic. He is an impressive individual. Jon

0:17:34 > 0:17:39mentioned what he could be in the future, I think he is not far off.

0:17:39 > 0:17:43He is very, very impressive. I saw him recently at a fallout session, a

0:17:43 > 0:17:47training session for the guys who did not make the play-offs who were

0:17:47 > 0:17:51likely to be selected for England before the World Cup. He was head

0:17:51 > 0:17:56and shoulders above everybody, skill wise, speed wise, they did a fitness

0:17:56 > 0:18:05session on the watt bikes and he blew everybody away.Hopefully he

0:18:05 > 0:18:11has had his bad run of injuries now and if he plays consistency...

0:18:11 > 0:18:16Everybody is excited to see more of him. The more we see of Ben Currie,

0:18:16 > 0:18:20the better the English rugby.Was he as impressive off the field and

0:18:20 > 0:18:25around the fallout camp as he was on it? In that interview he seemed like

0:18:25 > 0:18:30a very level-headed lad?Very level-headed, very respectful of the

0:18:30 > 0:18:37senior players, very punctual, did all the things a good professional.

0:18:37 > 0:18:41What is important for me, he has had adversity at an early age. He lost a

0:18:41 > 0:18:45Challenge Cup final with Warrington, he has had a bad injury in the last

0:18:45 > 0:18:49year and has come through in flying colours, that will stand him in good

0:18:49 > 0:18:52stead for a brilliant ten or 15 year career.

0:18:52 > 0:18:56That really tests your hunger, there was a lot of resurgence of art,

0:18:56 > 0:18:59adversity at the start of your sports career can be really

0:18:59 > 0:19:04beneficial towards the backends -- there is a lot of research into

0:19:04 > 0:19:11that. Adversity comes in all sorts of forms and sport, usually it is

0:19:11 > 0:19:13lack of form, performances, losing big games, injuries are a huge part.

0:19:13 > 0:19:17For a young athlete to overcome that shows you what is deep down inside

0:19:17 > 0:19:21Ben Currie, there is a hunger and an appetite to play rugby league at the

0:19:21 > 0:19:25top level.Injury is a massive factor, how you cope with it

0:19:25 > 0:19:32mentally when you are in the camp, in his interview he sang the players

0:19:32 > 0:19:41and staff are foals, it is a tough place to be -- he thanked the

0:19:41 > 0:19:46players and staff of Wolves. His injury will give him the zest. I

0:19:46 > 0:19:50tore my cruciate when I was 19 and was out of the game for 14 months. I

0:19:50 > 0:19:56could not wait to get back. I think that is the position Ben is in, as

0:19:56 > 0:20:00the boys said, hopefully not next season, hopefully this World Cup

0:20:00 > 0:20:05will be a stage for him to make an impact and build for next season.Is

0:20:05 > 0:20:11it a cliche to say you appreciate the game more?Yes, all of these

0:20:11 > 0:20:14players have been superstars for me at a young age, their expectations

0:20:14 > 0:20:18have always been there. All they suddenly get 18 or 19 and sometimes

0:20:18 > 0:20:22you think, I tell you what, I have had enough of this game and

0:20:22 > 0:20:25sometimes you walk away from any particular sport. Sometimes that

0:20:25 > 0:20:30injury and a break from it goes... You really appreciate where you are

0:20:30 > 0:20:34at and then you come back and think you are into it.It tests your

0:20:34 > 0:20:39appetite, he has had a good test. What we do not see or hear, Wayne

0:20:39 > 0:20:42Bennett is in communications with him throughout the last few months

0:20:42 > 0:20:50of the season.Tells him if you can get back fit, placing games, you

0:20:50 > 0:20:55will be in my squad. That would have been a huge carrot dangling for Ben.

0:20:55 > 0:21:00That is the side of Wayne Bennett we do not see.We do not see that, man

0:21:00 > 0:21:05management, keeping everyone happy...Has he not been calling

0:21:05 > 0:21:13you?Not me, no.Calling you?No. He calls Kevin all the time. Let's

0:21:13 > 0:21:16head back to Dave Woods in Australia.

0:21:16 > 0:21:20As you can see, Jamie Peacock alongside us. The weather is not

0:21:20 > 0:21:25bad, the sun is out, warm, a nice breeze, perfect for rugby league?It

0:21:25 > 0:21:30is great today to play the game. The last few days in Perth and certainly

0:21:30 > 0:21:34Fremantle have been brutal in terms of the temperatures. We were at a

0:21:34 > 0:21:37remembrance service in our suits yesterday and a few people were

0:21:37 > 0:21:41passing out, but now it is perfect, it is a wonderful stadium to play in

0:21:41 > 0:21:51and a good surface. Will you four weeks ago, the lads are looking to

0:21:51 > 0:21:53play.The English are coming, there are hundreds, thousands of English

0:21:53 > 0:21:56supporters.Eye would just like to say hello to my wife and kids at

0:21:56 > 0:22:00home, while we are on the English excavation but fantastic, you see

0:22:00 > 0:22:04more and more than turning up, great support. The boys appreciate

0:22:04 > 0:22:07everyone coming out and supporting the team.

0:22:07 > 0:22:11How is life in the camp? You had a couple of days off because it has

0:22:11 > 0:22:16been fairly hard training before this week? Gilbert has been full on,

0:22:16 > 0:22:20lots of travelling, all around Australia.Fremantle has been

0:22:20 > 0:22:30excellent, it

0:22:40 > 0:22:43is a wonderful place, very friendly and the training has been great.

0:22:43 > 0:22:45When you play Australia you have an emotional dip, a bit of a hangover,

0:22:45 > 0:22:48you could feel that around training but this week the guys have been

0:22:48 > 0:22:50zipping along.Jonny Lomax and Sam Burgess are not available, we have

0:22:50 > 0:22:53watched them train separately, still OK for the quarters?I think they

0:22:53 > 0:22:55will be there or thereabouts, they are pushing very hard to play, you

0:22:55 > 0:22:58do not get many chances to play in the quarterfinal of the World Cup

0:22:58 > 0:23:00for England.What about the French? Unless they win by 2526 today they

0:23:00 > 0:23:03are going home, what do you expect from them?I think they will be

0:23:03 > 0:23:06game. Against Australia, a great side, they did not give in. They

0:23:06 > 0:23:10showed a lot of spirit. I think we should just worry about our own

0:23:10 > 0:23:14performance and the things we want to concentrate on to allow us to

0:23:14 > 0:23:17progress. Good luck today, go well, we will

0:23:17 > 0:23:20see how the match goes. Back to you. STUDIO: Thank you,

0:23:20 > 0:23:27David Jamie. We have not focused on the French, let's do that. One of

0:23:27 > 0:23:33the French players this morning is Theo Fages, of St Helens. He has

0:23:33 > 0:23:43spoken to Dave. Theo Fages has made a try!Theo

0:23:43 > 0:23:51Fages! First of all, what is the mood in

0:23:51 > 0:23:55the French camp?We know we had to win this game, we are training for

0:23:55 > 0:23:59this and working hard, we don't want to give up. There is one more game

0:23:59 > 0:24:02and we need to perform and win to qualify.

0:24:02 > 0:24:06What have you made of the English performance so far in their opening

0:24:06 > 0:24:10two?Against Australia was good, I thought, they gave them a good game

0:24:10 > 0:24:15and nearly won. Against Lebanon, it was a bit of a North game. But I

0:24:15 > 0:24:19think they will play good against us because they want to get ready for

0:24:19 > 0:24:24the quarterfinals, we expect a really tough game.Young captain,

0:24:24 > 0:24:28have you enjoyed that experience?It has been good so far, the boys are

0:24:28 > 0:24:33all good, it makes it a bit easier. Lots of interviews like this, but it

0:24:33 > 0:24:38is a role that I am starting to enjoy, I will get used to it. It is

0:24:38 > 0:24:44not something I mind, really, it has been good.You are up against a

0:24:44 > 0:24:47couple of your own team-mate, Mark Percival gets a run out for the

0:24:47 > 0:24:51first time. Would you be catching up before the game?Before and after,

0:24:51 > 0:24:57hopefully. Percy is playing an James Roby, it will be good to see them, I

0:24:57 > 0:25:00have not seen them for a few weeks. We had a good season together, good

0:25:00 > 0:25:07to see some friends.Can you surprise the English?Hopefully, we

0:25:07 > 0:25:12will try our best to surprise them. We are here to win, playing to win.

0:25:12 > 0:25:16Hopefully we can have a good performance.

0:25:16 > 0:25:19performance. First thing, as we look at the

0:25:19 > 0:25:25French team, he has picked up a bit of a northern accent.It is good,

0:25:25 > 0:25:29yes! Emotionally intelligent enough to pick up a northern twang. A great

0:25:29 > 0:25:33player, he has been fantastic for us this year. Really instinctive with

0:25:33 > 0:25:37the ball, a tough challenge to lead this French side because as Kevin

0:25:37 > 0:25:42alluded to, when you look down the team sheet, one thing they might be

0:25:42 > 0:25:46lacking a star quality. Catalan Dragons and Super League often

0:25:46 > 0:25:49recruit from outside of their country to bring star quality. Aside

0:25:49 > 0:25:55from Theo Fages in this squad, we are struggling for real star names.

0:25:55 > 0:26:00How would you describe that team? Workmanlike?

0:26:00 > 0:26:02How would you describe that team? Workmanlike?Average.That is

0:26:02 > 0:26:09another way of it. Unfortunately they do not have any

0:26:09 > 0:26:11standout players. Cattle and have got the big Australian and New

0:26:11 > 0:26:16Zealand players, it is very difficult. Looking at Lucas Albert,

0:26:16 > 0:26:20the Luco, one cup and he is a strong heart. Theo Fages is not the most

0:26:20 > 0:26:28experience. -- most experience. First 20 minutes they will give

0:26:28 > 0:26:32everything. It could go either way, they could hang in for a bit or get

0:26:32 > 0:26:39busted.Theo Fages is the one player who could unlock England, with his

0:26:39 > 0:26:42instinctive support play and the way he can instinctively pick up loose

0:26:42 > 0:26:49balls from the floor. Playing for St Helens, he confined space, has great

0:26:49 > 0:26:54football -- he can find space, has great footwork. He is complimentary

0:26:54 > 0:26:58to many of the guys we have, he is a great professional, I do not think I

0:26:58 > 0:27:02have trained with somebody more professional. He literally adores

0:27:02 > 0:27:07his trade, that has reflected in him being selected as France captain at

0:27:07 > 0:27:12such a young age.Looking down the French team, and you look at French

0:27:12 > 0:27:18sporting teams of every sport, they have a creativity and a flair, but I

0:27:18 > 0:27:23do not see it with them. I think they will try to spoil today. Jamie

0:27:23 > 0:27:27Peacock said it was about our performance, not worrying about the

0:27:27 > 0:27:32French brain, let's nail it for us, let's put in an eight or nine out of

0:27:32 > 0:27:36ten.Something we touched on last week, didn't we, northern hemisphere

0:27:36 > 0:27:42sides at the moment, England aside, that they are struggling a little

0:27:42 > 0:27:48bit compared to what we are seeing in the southern hemisphere.We are

0:27:48 > 0:27:51dividing resources Craig Finlay, if we split Ireland, Wales, Scotland

0:27:51 > 0:27:55and England, we are coming from one competition, in the Super League,

0:27:55 > 0:28:00although some people are coming over from the NRL, Yuko France in there,

0:28:00 > 0:28:04we are dividing our competition into Five Nations and the player pool is

0:28:04 > 0:28:11not that big. The NRL have the benefit of Tonga, Samoa, the Kiwis,

0:28:11 > 0:28:17Australian, Fijians, PNG, there is a bigger pool of guys. Over here, I

0:28:17 > 0:28:22think there is not as big a pool. That produces some...It has been

0:28:22 > 0:28:27very similar down there, they have all gone back to their respective

0:28:27 > 0:28:32countries, the Fijians are stronger, Tonga or stronger, Samoa are

0:28:32 > 0:28:34stronger, they have doubted not to merge the Australian side but

0:28:34 > 0:28:39definitely the New Zealand side, that is why the competition looks a

0:28:39 > 0:28:45lot healthier. That is the point we have made, the NRL is of a higher

0:28:45 > 0:28:52quality throughout those sites. With ago Wales, Scotland, Ireland in

0:28:52 > 0:28:55particular, the number of Super League players in those three teams

0:28:55 > 0:29:00compared to the last World Cup has massively decreased -- we look at

0:29:00 > 0:29:04whales, Scotland, I am a grim particular. There are far too many

0:29:04 > 0:29:07Championship and League 1 players and we have asked them to step up

0:29:07 > 0:29:13three or four macro levels to play against NRL players.The player pool

0:29:13 > 0:29:18in our competition, the domestic competition here, is not big enough.

0:29:18 > 0:29:22There is a million reasons and we can go into the commercial side of

0:29:22 > 0:29:25the game, the grassroots side, inspiring young people to play rugby

0:29:25 > 0:29:30league and all of that, we could go into that for an hour.Not just yet,

0:29:30 > 0:29:38we have a game to play.I could bore you to death.Too later!In fact,

0:29:38 > 0:29:44just shut up! Let's hear from both coaches.

0:29:44 > 0:29:48REPORTER: Is a mixed performances for your team, what is important

0:29:48 > 0:29:53today?Play better than we did last week, just do better.Positional

0:29:53 > 0:29:59changes, what is that in a dog?To give everyone an opportunity to play

0:29:59 > 0:30:04before the quarterfinals.-- what is that in aid of?It is important

0:30:04 > 0:30:08mentally, as well as from a team perspective. I will pick the best

0:30:08 > 0:30:12team, certainly next week.Coaches talk about team indicators of

0:30:12 > 0:30:23performance, what do you look for? Our Achilles' heel... Making poor

0:30:23 > 0:30:26decisions at different stages and giving force penalties away. So we

0:30:26 > 0:30:31want to be the best, you have to minimise those things.Good luck.

0:30:31 > 0:30:36Have fun.

0:30:36 > 0:30:40Your last game of the World Cup, are you looking for a big performance

0:30:40 > 0:30:45from your team?It is not the last game. It will be our last game if we

0:30:45 > 0:30:48lose. We know it will be a tough game for us, but we improve the

0:30:48 > 0:30:54level week after week. We worked hard to fix the problems, and it was

0:30:54 > 0:30:58better against Australia for 40 minutes. Now we would like to

0:30:58 > 0:31:04improve our performance for 80 minutes. We know it will not be the

0:31:04 > 0:31:16same game as last year. Today will be different, a different

0:31:16 > 0:31:19environment, and competition. If we had to finish today, we want to

0:31:19 > 0:31:27finish well, and try to get the opportunity to win.Good luck today.

0:31:27 > 0:31:28STUDIO: Wasn't the

0:31:28 > 0:31:28opportunity to win.Good luck today. STUDIO: Wasn't the greatest opening

0:31:28 > 0:31:32question to him. They still have a chance of staying in the tournament.

0:31:32 > 0:31:39These are the results from earlier on, Papua New Guinea thrashing the

0:31:39 > 0:31:41USA.

0:31:45 > 0:31:56It means there are two quarterfinals already decided, Australia against

0:31:56 > 0:32:01Samoa. And New Zealand against Fiji.

0:32:06 > 0:32:11Let the non-would take on Tonga. We will show you the highlights of the

0:32:11 > 0:32:12game is taking

0:32:12 > 0:32:14will show you the highlights of the game is taking place today a little

0:32:14 > 0:32:20later on. The big thing, Kevin, for Wayne Bennett to be mistake free and

0:32:20 > 0:32:23not make poor decisions, poor decisions, he says, are their

0:32:23 > 0:32:30Achilles' heel.He has a very simple philosophy to his coaching, make it

0:32:30 > 0:32:34fun, keep it simple, and look after your players. All his game plan is

0:32:34 > 0:32:38around not making errors. If you get 50% of the ball and don't give it

0:32:38 > 0:32:43away, you are in the game, in with a shout. I think we will play with a

0:32:43 > 0:32:49freedom about us, 14 Super League dies in there, used to playing with

0:32:49 > 0:32:54more freedom than the NRL guys are used to. I think we will deliver

0:32:54 > 0:33:02today.He has coached some of the greatest players in the game. He

0:33:02 > 0:33:11respects the right decision to the most sides. He exits mistakes. But

0:33:11 > 0:33:17decision-making, make the right call at the right time -- he accepts.

0:33:17 > 0:33:23Keeping it simple, for me, is paramount to England doing well. New

0:33:23 > 0:33:26Zealand and Samoa didn't control the ball, made mistakes. New Zealand

0:33:26 > 0:33:33lost to Tonga, it was a lack of ball control. Wayne Bennett is smart to

0:33:33 > 0:33:39focus on a simple thing he can control, no errors with the ball.

0:33:39 > 0:33:47Also, the pack is massive. Don't throw the ball about, absolutely

0:33:47 > 0:33:52bury them, and when they are gone, spread it about.The walk out of the

0:33:52 > 0:33:57tunnel hasn't gone particularly smoothly. They have gone a yard and

0:33:57 > 0:34:01stopped. If you are at the back of that line, you have bumped your head

0:34:01 > 0:34:06on the guy in front of you. France are coming out now. This is it, the

0:34:06 > 0:34:10final group game for England. Hopefully, a quarterfinal place

0:34:10 > 0:34:15waits after this. England against France live from Perth with Brian

0:34:15 > 0:34:20Noble, Ian Millward and our rugby correspondent Dave Woods.

0:34:24 > 0:34:29COMMENTATOR:, blogging, Jermaine McGillvary, he will be pleased to

0:34:29 > 0:34:33see him in the England side. We were worried at one stage he might not be

0:34:33 > 0:34:39available because of the suspension that was looming over him, the

0:34:39 > 0:34:45biting incident last week. I think common sense prevailed, and he's

0:34:45 > 0:34:50here. Four new faces in the England side as well. And it feels very much

0:34:50 > 0:34:56like a home game here in Perth, chatting to one fella, an English

0:34:56 > 0:35:02fella that Livesey, he reckons 25% English expats live in this area. A

0:35:02 > 0:35:05lot of tour parties arriving here. It feels like the old days of the

0:35:05 > 0:35:10British Lions, Brian Noble, former British Lions coach.It is

0:35:10 > 0:35:17fantastic.Great fan support.Lots of English flags, 5000 or 6000

0:35:17 > 0:35:23people at least. At least 1000 will look like rock lobsters on the other

0:35:23 > 0:35:26side. They have been there all afternoon and they will be bright

0:35:26 > 0:35:34red. It is a terrific atmosphere. There is a group of Hebert, they are

0:35:34 > 0:35:40not wearing white T-shirt, they are very white. But they will be pink

0:35:40 > 0:35:44tomorrow! We will have the two national anthems in just a moment.

0:35:44 > 0:35:49The French come here with a purpose, they tell us what that purpose is we

0:35:49 > 0:35:53will see in the next hour or so.

0:36:01 > 0:36:10# God save our gracious Queen Long live our noble Queen

0:36:10 > 0:36:16# God save the Queen

0:36:17 > 0:36:21# Send her victorious

0:36:21 > 0:36:26# Happy and glorious

0:36:26 > 0:36:31# Long to reign over us

0:36:31 > 0:36:40# God save the Queen. #

0:36:44 > 0:36:48Hopefully, you got a sense of how many English men, women and children

0:36:48 > 0:36:55are in the audience tonight. A great rendition.

0:36:56 > 0:37:00# Allons enfants de la Patrie Le jour de gloire est arrive

0:37:00 > 0:37:07# Contre nous de la tyrannie, L'etendard sanglant est leve

0:37:07 > 0:37:11# L'etendard sanglant est leve

0:37:11 > 0:37:21# Entendez-vous dans les campagnes Mugir ces feroces soldats

0:37:21 > 0:37:27# Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras Egorger vos fils, vos compagnes!

0:37:27 > 0:37:35# Aux armes, citoyens Formez vos bataillons

0:37:35 > 0:37:39# Marchons, marchons

0:37:39 > 0:37:46# Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons!

0:37:46 > 0:37:56# Amour sacre de la Patrie

0:38:04 > 0:38:07# Que tes ennemis expirants Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire

0:38:07 > 0:38:11# Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras Egorger vos fils et vos compagnes #.

0:38:12 > 0:38:14CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:38:17 > 0:38:23It's a very European feeling with a very typical Australian backdrop,

0:38:23 > 0:38:27England against France, the final game in group a of this World Cup.

0:38:27 > 0:38:31This is the way the French are lining up, they have had a bit of a

0:38:31 > 0:38:37few problems, their first choice hooker sent home for disciplinary

0:38:37 > 0:38:42reasons. Boudebza comes in, John Boudebza comes in, the London

0:38:42 > 0:38:46Broncos hooker, 12 of the 17 who have either played or play in Super

0:38:46 > 0:38:50League. You can see the England side, Mark Percival, Kevin Brown,

0:38:50 > 0:38:55Mike McMeeken giving a first start in the tournament. Scott Taylor will

0:38:55 > 0:38:59come off the bench at some point for his first appearance in the

0:38:59 > 0:39:06tournament. Whether they can play their way into the starting line-up

0:39:06 > 0:39:10next week, we will see. Jermaine McGillvary happy to be here, a

0:39:10 > 0:39:15slight worry about the disciplinary issue last week, but no problems

0:39:15 > 0:39:19when it came to it. The disciplinary panel taking three minutes

0:39:19 > 0:39:22ultimately to decide that he did not have a case to answer on the biting

0:39:22 > 0:39:29chance. We saw them play effectively together in the mid-season Test

0:39:29 > 0:39:37match against Samoa. Jason Baitieri, one of the most experienced French

0:39:37 > 0:39:42players, and Sean O'Loughlin. We wondered whether he might be rested

0:39:42 > 0:39:46for this game, Sean O'Loughlin, but he is not. He is there, the captain,

0:39:46 > 0:39:51leading from the front again. The referee waiting for the countdown

0:39:51 > 0:39:54inside the stadium, Phil Bentham, a familiar face from Super League, the

0:39:54 > 0:39:58video referee, should we need him, and we normally do, Bernard Sutton

0:39:58 > 0:40:04is the man in the box for any of those contentious decisions.

0:40:04 > 0:40:12All eyes on the big screen here. The traditional countdown...

0:40:12 > 0:40:20And we're underway. Sent skywards, Gale underneath it. Graham will ring

0:40:20 > 0:40:25it back. Let's here for the first time since kicked off from the two

0:40:25 > 0:40:28men alongside me, Brian Noble, former Great Britain coach, and

0:40:28 > 0:40:36alongside him, the former Wigan and St Helens coach, Ian Millward.The

0:40:36 > 0:40:39French are clearly determined to make a statement at the start of

0:40:39 > 0:40:47this game. They want a big start, the French, to stay in the game. The

0:40:47 > 0:40:50coach is clear in his objective, he wants a great performance from their

0:40:50 > 0:40:55team, let alone England.Starting physically, that has been their

0:40:55 > 0:40:59trademark for the tournament. They have wilted in the second half.Here

0:40:59 > 0:41:03is a problem for Jason Baitieri.I was just about to mention Baitieri.

0:41:03 > 0:41:08We can see on the footage, making with the curry, and bang. Good

0:41:08 > 0:41:12night, Vienna. He will be a big loss to the team if the as to go to the

0:41:12 > 0:41:22head bin. He got his head in the wrong spot. There you go.The point

0:41:22 > 0:41:27you make, too, Brian, the bench for England is very big and powerful.

0:41:27 > 0:41:31Baitieri will have two come. They are the rules. Straightaway, the

0:41:31 > 0:41:37disadvantage highlights the way they wilt in their games, but that bench

0:41:37 > 0:41:43for England is powerful, and it has the skills of Williams on top of it.

0:41:43 > 0:41:48There is nothing wrong, he is coming away here, he simply had his head in

0:41:48 > 0:41:51the wrong place.Nothing wrong at all. He just had his head in the

0:41:51 > 0:42:00wrong place. 10-15 minutes now on the sideline.His dad will be in the

0:42:00 > 0:42:08crowd somewhere, a great internationalist.

0:42:08 > 0:42:15Jason Baitieri was born in Paris, hence his qualification for the

0:42:15 > 0:42:19French side. England back in possession. But they're on the final

0:42:19 > 0:42:26tackle here, only 30 from their own line. Gale will put boot to ball.

0:42:28 > 0:42:31Yaha brings it back towards the middle here.England had to be

0:42:31 > 0:42:36careful. They have got to make sure they go through all the things that

0:42:36 > 0:42:42Wayne Bennett wants them to go through, and not let the ill

0:42:42 > 0:42:45discipline creeping as we have seen.

0:42:46 > 0:42:54Boudebza rolls up at dummy half, he has had contrasting stories about

0:42:54 > 0:43:02the sending home. Here comes Ruby, and England gifted

0:43:02 > 0:43:09as ashen in a good position.It was a big knock-on. It ricocheted back,

0:43:09 > 0:43:18and now a decent field position. Roby waits. Graham to his side.

0:43:20 > 0:43:25Roby rested in the last game, of course, but a chance to shine here.

0:43:25 > 0:43:31Gale goes left, Widdop is involved, and cuts through! This will be in

0:43:31 > 0:43:38good's opening try! Gareth Widdop with a matter of two minutes played

0:43:38 > 0:43:44scores, and England settling to the task right from the start.Putting a

0:43:44 > 0:43:46tick in the box for Kevin Brown

0:43:46 > 0:43:48task right from the start.Putting a tick in the box for Kevin Brown.

0:43:48 > 0:43:53Luke Gale gets around the back and outnumbers people on the fringes.

0:43:53 > 0:43:57Gareth Widdop, B Holt opens up and he puts his foot down. I think that

0:43:57 > 0:44:07is the interjection. Kevin Brown can play square of the line.Great to

0:44:07 > 0:44:11see Gale running. In the last couple of weeks, he has been very

0:44:11 > 0:44:15structured and mechanical way he has gone about his business. We talk

0:44:15 > 0:44:21about Widdop coming into the game, but also Currie everyone plays a

0:44:21 > 0:44:28part. Currie, tight lines to Brown, timing was right. He was behind the

0:44:28 > 0:44:31ball. This is what we expected, England to improve as the tournament

0:44:31 > 0:44:39goes on. I expect tonight to see that constantly.They do have fun

0:44:39 > 0:44:42against the French, England. Rugby league history will tell you, 42

0:44:42 > 0:44:47times they have met, these two nations. Great Britain have played

0:44:47 > 0:44:52France is well down the years, but England have won 35 of those 42, and

0:44:52 > 0:44:56drawn two. That tells you the French don't get much out of this fixture

0:44:56 > 0:45:01down the years. There is a kick by Widdop, equally as good as his

0:45:01 > 0:45:08finish, and England lead here 6-0. You talk about a slower tempo,

0:45:08 > 0:45:12Brown. He drags defenders in. He doesn't rush it. People on the

0:45:12 > 0:45:19outside note that timing and roll. Gale, a half-back posing a threat to

0:45:19 > 0:45:22the line. England in the first two games, they haven't posed enough

0:45:22 > 0:45:29threat. Brian, if you go back to what we talked about pre-game, and

0:45:29 > 0:45:34giving everyone a run, let's say they do have an absolute blinder

0:45:34 > 0:45:38today, these halves, talking about Brown, Gale and Widdop, do you pick

0:45:38 > 0:45:43them next week? They will show they are the best ones to attack on the

0:45:43 > 0:45:47back of good defence.I genuinely think Brown is the best opportunity

0:45:47 > 0:45:52if we are going to increase fluidity. Gale running on the

0:45:52 > 0:45:59outside, attracting the French defenders. I think he knows, and is

0:45:59 > 0:46:08sure, it is going to be a wow of the game.Jonny Lomax's fitness is the

0:46:08 > 0:46:14other thing. He came with an injury, and picked up an injury in the

0:46:14 > 0:46:20second game as well. That may be a factor yet. It is an insurance

0:46:20 > 0:46:24policy that include playing.The inclusion of Brown takes Bridge.The

0:46:24 > 0:46:31kick has been dropped. It is going to be a scrum. A scrum to England, I

0:46:31 > 0:46:38think. The attacking team gets the scrum. Very nearly a try. They will

0:46:38 > 0:46:54take that.He is saying it is an 8-point try. He tackled Luke Gale.

0:46:54 > 0:47:00He was the only one likely to, wasn't he.Going back to the point

0:47:00 > 0:47:04before the scrum, I think Kevin Brown in there, if he can play

0:47:04 > 0:47:07square, it gets fluidity going. That's what we've not seen.Two

0:47:07 > 0:47:15sideways.Five or so minutes played. England with a scorch walked on, and

0:47:15 > 0:47:24now with another opportunity. Ader is one of those that hasn't played

0:47:24 > 0:47:28in Super League so far in his career. Back to Brown, and Roby

0:47:28 > 0:47:34takes it in. Here they go, Currie with a pass. Ratchford is over at

0:47:34 > 0:47:39the left-hand corner, but he might have spilled it at the very last.

0:47:39 > 0:47:46That's the query troubling referee Bentham's mind, just double-checking

0:47:46 > 0:47:53the grounding. Here is Bernard Sutton. REFEREE:He has position at

0:47:53 > 0:48:01this point. That's a try. He doesn't lose control of the ball. There

0:48:01 > 0:48:09isn't any separation between the hands.

0:48:20 > 0:48:26This is a wonderful start for England, six minutes played, two

0:48:26 > 0:48:30tries on the board, exactly what England fans were hoping for and

0:48:30 > 0:48:38expected.The halves, seven, six and one, but look at the park Roby plays

0:48:38 > 0:48:43in this. In the first game against Australia, he was the best hooker,

0:48:43 > 0:48:47creating threats. But also, when the ball comes on the sideline and

0:48:47 > 0:48:53shifts it, he plays a big part, he jumps in and understands he wants to

0:48:53 > 0:49:01go, and Bayard a different team with him. We are both big fans, but I

0:49:01 > 0:49:06think he makes it a lot simpler for his halves, because he runs more

0:49:06 > 0:49:10than Hodgson as a threat. And he plays the ball on the ground when

0:49:10 > 0:49:15they needed, giving time. He plays a big part in a of these tries.Let's

0:49:15 > 0:49:20have a look at Widdop's attempt from the touchline. That is good as well.

0:49:20 > 0:49:23Terrific kick. It is all going well at the moment from England's point

0:49:23 > 0:49:30of view, 12-0 daily.Roby shows and goes out the back. Everyone knows

0:49:30 > 0:49:36their roles. Everyone is a body in motion, Graham, the front row was,

0:49:36 > 0:49:45they all there. Finishes it off. That will put another ten years on

0:49:45 > 0:49:56his career.12-0 England lead. Seven minutes played, just over. The

0:49:56 > 0:50:01England coaching staff in the little box to our left-hand side, trying to

0:50:01 > 0:50:04gauge some of the body language in there, but they look fairly

0:50:04 > 0:50:09comfortable and relaxed at the moment, which is hardly surprising.

0:50:09 > 0:50:15The worrying thing for the French is they are not going to get a rest.

0:50:15 > 0:50:19Ian has mentioned the size of the bench coming on. Jermaine McGillvary

0:50:19 > 0:50:25rocking and rolling.Roby again, good hands from the full-back,

0:50:25 > 0:50:34Widdop. Bateman freed temporarily. Cover is back there. Ratchford, here

0:50:34 > 0:50:36is Gale.

0:50:37 > 0:50:43More good hands this time. Percival away. Here comes MacGillivray trying

0:50:43 > 0:50:48to crash between a couple, but he is held up five out. One play to go,

0:50:48 > 0:50:53Percival will have a go himself here. Brown bats it back, Gale spins

0:50:53 > 0:50:57away, and Graham is going to get over the line and score England's

0:50:57 > 0:51:02third. It is a rout already, eight minutes played. England have three

0:51:02 > 0:51:07tries. What a terrific start this is. James Graham is joining the

0:51:07 > 0:51:13party.Don't worry about the try, how smooth and fluid it was to get

0:51:13 > 0:51:18to this stage of the field. The movement across the line, everyone

0:51:18 > 0:51:21knowing their role, the French defence was scattered. Holes

0:51:21 > 0:51:29everywhere. The big red gets a try. I love the way they went down the

0:51:29 > 0:51:33left, the pass from Widdop was world-class. They opened up the full

0:51:33 > 0:51:37field. I watched when they got over to that side where Widdop put the

0:51:37 > 0:51:42ball E went straight over to the right-hand side, and we had six,

0:51:42 > 0:51:44seven, the full-back and nine all working together off the ball to

0:51:44 > 0:51:49create the space over here with McGillvary. It was a delight to

0:51:49 > 0:51:53watch off the ball, and the movement and skill, loved it.Good to watch,

0:51:53 > 0:51:59good to feel. I picked up on what Jamie Peacock said before the game,

0:51:59 > 0:52:08they are looking sharper, a tough game against Australia, a bit of

0:52:08 > 0:52:16travel, Lebanon, 22 points against Australia. Widdop with the goalkick.

0:52:16 > 0:52:19He has his goal-kicking broods on as well. It is all going swimmingly

0:52:19 > 0:52:26well.Last night against Australia, they are a spoiling team -- kicking

0:52:26 > 0:52:30boots. They get amongst you and all of that. They take it away from you.

0:52:30 > 0:52:35I wish we could have seen coverage of that movement. If they can

0:52:35 > 0:52:41continue this, how confidence grows as a tournament goes on. Keep in

0:52:41 > 0:52:46mind, what were Wayne's words, mistake free. He wants that. You

0:52:46 > 0:52:53won't want them to get loose.France haven't had the ball.I don't think

0:52:53 > 0:52:59they have, have they.That is a good point.They have, yes. They have.

0:52:59 > 0:53:06But England have had more of it. They have had one set, Brian. One

0:53:06 > 0:53:14set to six.They knocked it on. O'Loughlin pushing forward. Roby,

0:53:14 > 0:53:20the dummy half. Brown again. Percival stepping away. Searching

0:53:20 > 0:53:30back inside again.They are struggling to hang on here, France.

0:53:31 > 0:53:39The French coach Aurelien Cologni, sprightly in the pre-match

0:53:39 > 0:53:41interview, ask about this being their last game because they are

0:53:41 > 0:53:48going home. It looks like they might have already gone. The kick taken by

0:53:48 > 0:53:51Bergal

0:53:51 > 0:53:56have already gone. The kick taken by Bergal.I was going to say, we have

0:53:56 > 0:53:59been critical of their attack, England, going all to their right

0:53:59 > 0:54:05side. Kallum Watkins, MacGillivray, and also we have had over that side,

0:54:05 > 0:54:11or all the brakes have come down the left, let's spread the workload, and

0:54:11 > 0:54:17all the breaks early have come down the left.I think that the fluidity

0:54:17 > 0:54:26of the halves.Last play in the set for the French. They've got

0:54:26 > 0:54:32themselves a second set. A good kick from Lucas Albert, tantalisingly

0:54:32 > 0:54:36close to a 40-20. Widdop had it covered. Decent chase from the

0:54:36 > 0:54:41French, which is good to see. They were up there, in line.Do your

0:54:41 > 0:54:50best.Bursting, and off he goes, Jermaine McGillvary.

0:54:51 > 0:54:55Ratchford is off again.

0:54:57 > 0:55:00Made Samit is in this tournament, Jermaine McGillvary, and if you more

0:55:00 > 0:55:07to his name there. -- a few more.

0:55:09 > 0:55:14I like it. Jermaine McGillvary has gone from the line break to get back

0:55:14 > 0:55:24on the wing.How strong is the Christmas he is so balanced. Coming

0:55:24 > 0:55:28off his left and right, bumping people off, he is so balanced.The

0:55:28 > 0:55:32second most metres in Super League last season, Ian. Only Walmsley did

0:55:32 > 0:55:40more.There was space, a bloke had an opportunity. The execution was

0:55:40 > 0:55:45quite right. But I admire when players can see that, read it and

0:55:45 > 0:55:50react to it. That is what Kevin has done.

0:55:56 > 0:56:01The centre of the tournament getting really serious, coming to light. All

0:56:01 > 0:56:04sorts of cultural activity and lots of entertainment, lots of reason to

0:56:04 > 0:56:08enjoy the rugby league in the first couple of weeks, but this third week

0:56:08 > 0:56:13with Tonga's win against New Zealand, and the atmosphere it

0:56:13 > 0:56:18generated, the emotion produced in New Zealand on the back of that

0:56:18 > 0:56:21particular game, suddenly there is a sense of four big nations in this

0:56:21 > 0:56:27World Cup. And England matching the expectations here so far as well.

0:56:27 > 0:56:35The kick sees Widdop in control again.That was a 40-20, he kicked

0:56:35 > 0:56:42it inside the 20, how cool was Gareth?

0:56:42 > 0:56:48Percival to his feet, Roby looking to his right where McMeeken is

0:56:48 > 0:56:51loitering.

0:56:58 > 0:57:01What this formation does with Brown in the team, it gives the ability of

0:57:01 > 0:57:07Sean O'Loughlin, we have relied on him to square the game up for

0:57:07 > 0:57:13England in minibus back. It takes the pressure off him.

0:57:17 > 0:57:23Sixth tackle, Gale sends it skyward. Bergal is over there, and decides he

0:57:23 > 0:57:28didn't want to take the risk, and off it goes.We talk about teams

0:57:28 > 0:57:31being too structured, you and me have talked a lot about that. On

0:57:31 > 0:57:36quite a lot of these sets, the seven, six and one are on the same

0:57:36 > 0:57:40side of the field. That is where your better skilled players are, to

0:57:40 > 0:57:44create opportunities. Brown at the moment is not just sitting on his

0:57:44 > 0:57:48right hand side, his movement across to the other side, and all of a

0:57:48 > 0:57:51sudden, Gale is getting out the back of that, running, instead of being

0:57:51 > 0:57:58the complete organiser. Let's remember, he is still new to this

0:57:58 > 0:58:03environment. The French with hard yards to do

0:58:03 > 0:58:12again from deep inside their own half. Boudebza spinning it away.

0:58:15 > 0:58:19Yaha to his feet and place. Boudebza again.

0:58:27 > 0:58:38Up to the halfway line. It's going to be a penalty. Too much going on

0:58:38 > 0:58:45in the ruck. France will start this set in their most advantageous

0:58:45 > 0:58:52position so far in this game. A glance at the scoreline tells you

0:58:52 > 0:58:55they've not exactly got hope in their hearts at this stage. Here's

0:58:55 > 0:59:02Garcia. Baitieri back on the field.

0:59:03 > 0:59:10Cleared his head test. 15 metres out, Boudebza stands and wait.

0:59:10 > 0:59:13Options right and left. He goes to the right-hand side, they get a

0:59:13 > 0:59:21penalty.O'Loughlin didn't get out of the ruck, disrupting the play of

0:59:21 > 0:59:26the ball.Lucky. Lucky, because it was comical the way they dropped the

0:59:26 > 0:59:30ball. It wasn't up to standard. They get a second stand. They need the

0:59:30 > 0:59:35ball at the moment.Repeat set.

0:59:41 > 0:59:49Fages drops it out the back, marshalled by the England defence.

0:59:49 > 0:59:55They are being tested for the first time here. Ader to Fages.

0:59:57 > 1:00:02Sizeable amount of muscle in the way. Graham adds his weight to the

1:00:02 > 1:00:09situation as well. Albert with a little grubber kick. England start

1:00:09 > 1:00:12from Burma.It wasn't the best kick in the end.

1:00:15 > 1:00:19They will have to be perfect night, France, to get anything out of the

1:00:19 > 1:00:23game.Penalty for England. I think he has dropped the ball.Yeah, you

1:00:23 > 1:00:28are right. You are right it is a scrum.Just going back to the kick,

1:00:28 > 1:00:37Brian, that was a?

1:00:39 > 1:00:43They need to get to the last tackle. Lebanon were good at that. They stay

1:00:43 > 1:00:47in rugby games even though they are being beaten convincingly. The

1:00:47 > 1:00:51French need that mentality.Are you trying to stifle the Gallic flair?

1:00:51 > 1:00:54Here they come.

1:00:59 > 1:01:02A third set effectively back-to-back. France with a chance

1:01:02 > 1:01:11to turn up the gas. Boudebza strolled into position. He had a

1:01:11 > 1:01:16people around to see what was available. Beyond him into the hands

1:01:16 > 1:01:23of Alberta. Now the full-back Carella is involved.

1:01:29 > 1:01:40Risque drop the ball, England had it again.Other than a couple of

1:01:40 > 1:01:43glitches, England have defended pretty well, the viewers will

1:01:43 > 1:01:47recognise that. The French team will have to be crafty and do something

1:01:47 > 1:01:52different, they can't afford to give the ball away. You might cause a

1:01:52 > 1:01:59surprise but I doubt it very much for this England defence.36 years

1:01:59 > 1:02:05and France last beat England at rugby league at senior level, a 5-1

1:02:05 > 1:02:10win at Headingley in 1981, which tells you a bit about the imbalance

1:02:10 > 1:02:15between these nations. It should not be that way. Looking at the French

1:02:15 > 1:02:18teams throughout the years, the amount of players they have playing

1:02:18 > 1:02:22in Super League, it should not be such a mismatch on such a regular

1:02:22 > 1:02:26basis. But that is how it seems to me.

1:02:32 > 1:02:37Percival came inside to get a bit of the ball. A bit of work to do. Roby

1:02:37 > 1:02:38again.

1:02:42 > 1:02:50Quick hands, wooden steps into the gap. -- Widdop steps.

1:02:55 > 1:03:01Percival is getting up there quickly, but there was a cluster of

1:03:01 > 1:03:07French players, including Fouad Yaha.Widdop is getting the ball in

1:03:07 > 1:03:12space, he is loving it at the moment out there.

1:03:21 > 1:03:26Hakim Miloudi was one of the first traces, he missed the bus to the

1:03:26 > 1:03:37airport, he missed his chance to come to the World Cup. And they

1:03:37 > 1:03:40called up another player instead.

1:03:46 > 1:03:49Widdop has the area of the pitch covered.

1:04:09 > 1:04:16Ratchford is finding out that the winger's job is not just standing on

1:04:16 > 1:04:23the outside, you have to do some of the work as well. England with a

1:04:23 > 1:04:33flurry of early tries looking to put themselves in good position.Sharing

1:04:33 > 1:04:38out the work Lord. People are filling the field. -- filling the

1:04:38 > 1:04:40workload.

1:04:52 > 1:05:05In by Bateman. Here comes Roby. Oelofse and spun it back. Oh, look

1:05:05 > 1:05:13at this! Mark Percival will score his try.

1:05:13 > 1:05:21Chance given, chance taken. England have their fourth score of this

1:05:21 > 1:05:27early evening.The French player played the kick. The exciting thing

1:05:27 > 1:05:33is the way the England players got off the ball, got into their roles,

1:05:33 > 1:05:40preserved the space, they did not run out, they just created numbers

1:05:40 > 1:05:46on the outside. Widdop looks so comfortable, he is so good in regard

1:05:46 > 1:05:49to committing the defender and putting the outside play away.

1:05:49 > 1:05:54Before they got to that ruck, everyone went this is my role. I

1:05:54 > 1:05:59watched Graham go to the post, I watched Brown, they all moved and

1:05:59 > 1:06:02went into position and they got the benefits of it and they got the

1:06:02 > 1:06:13rewards by everyone having a part. You may question the French defence,

1:06:13 > 1:06:16but it is so nice to see the clinical aspect, the crisp hands,

1:06:16 > 1:06:21the people in the right position, preserving spaces on the fringes to

1:06:21 > 1:06:27get the three on two or the two on one in relation to executing. An

1:06:27 > 1:06:32element of execution and an element of calm about it, no rush, no panic.

1:06:32 > 1:06:36There was not. Widdop is getting better, and the two hearts,

1:06:36 > 1:06:45especially Brown. Oh, just on the outside. 22-0, it

1:06:45 > 1:06:51remains.When O'Loughlin got the ball, he is the one who did all the

1:06:51 > 1:06:54smart working, kept its square. The people on the outside were running

1:06:54 > 1:06:59out, they run out of space on the defenders had only to push on. O

1:06:59 > 1:07:02Loughlin knew it was near the line, he said he had to give early ball.

1:07:02 > 1:07:07But gave up to the hearts. When the defence tried to climb in, Widdop

1:07:07 > 1:07:12was out the back. I really like the O'Loughlin, Widdop, Brown

1:07:12 > 1:07:21partnership.You might have picked up one choice words on the crowd

1:07:21 > 1:07:26affects microphone. If you have and have taken any offence, we do

1:07:26 > 1:07:29apologise and hope it has not spoiled your entertainment watching

1:07:29 > 1:07:37and listening here.There is a bit of a rest coming for this French

1:07:37 > 1:07:44team. They are monsters!They are fresh and they feel they have

1:07:44 > 1:07:51something to prove. Roby had a look around.

1:07:51 > 1:07:55Tom Burgess scored that try from a similar position against the lab

1:07:55 > 1:08:00anon in the last game. -- against the Lebanon.

1:08:05 > 1:08:14That was nearly brilliant.That is the difference between Roby and

1:08:14 > 1:08:22Hodgson. I can understand why O'Loughlin is going for that. Here's

1:08:22 > 1:08:29a good player. You are backing him everyday. Alarm bells went Roby

1:08:29 > 1:08:36runs. I feel Hodgson looks for a run for himself, Roby looks for a run

1:08:36 > 1:08:40for the team.The best thing about Roby, he is purposeful. The alarm

1:08:40 > 1:08:43bells ring when he does not run.

1:08:48 > 1:08:56Let's have a look at this.It is a finger to the face.A finger in the

1:08:56 > 1:09:01eye.It is an accident. France with a bit of relief, they

1:09:01 > 1:09:03have got the ball in hand.

1:09:16 > 1:09:20Neville Djalout of the Catalan Dragons, of complaint. He only made

1:09:20 > 1:09:28his debut earlier this year against Huddersfield. Brought back by

1:09:28 > 1:09:34Benjamin Jullien. He is a good player. We talk about players out of

1:09:34 > 1:09:39position, he probably feels more comfortable in the second row them

1:09:39 > 1:09:49out in the centres. Albert kicked that are way ahead of

1:09:49 > 1:09:55Thomas Burgess. A diving catch from Widdop, well played.Made it a bit

1:09:55 > 1:10:02harder than it should have been. A great diving catch.He has got him

1:10:02 > 1:10:06on for offside. They were in front of the Kicker and have made the

1:10:06 > 1:10:07tackle.

1:10:20 > 1:10:26England looking to find position again. Four tries. If you are just

1:10:26 > 1:10:33switching on, four tries in these opening 26, 27 minutes. Set off at a

1:10:33 > 1:10:36real pace, three tries in the opening eight.

1:10:48 > 1:10:54Percival look to step into a gap, but three defenders were there.

1:10:54 > 1:10:58The long backed McMeeken given the task of bending and picking up and

1:10:58 > 1:11:04delivering a pass. Kevin Brown was almost through.The width from dummy

1:11:04 > 1:11:14half.And a penalty for too much messing about on the ground.

1:11:14 > 1:11:21Another set. Six more tackles to come. Lead in the first instance by

1:11:21 > 1:11:32Walmsley. Roby lost the ball, the French handlebar. The referee has

1:11:32 > 1:11:36decided it was offside -- Roby lost the ball, the French handled that.

1:11:36 > 1:11:40Another penalty for England.

1:11:47 > 1:11:52Roby will tap again. Walmsley again will slam it in. Plenty left, plenty

1:11:52 > 1:11:59right. Bateman stepped away. Bateman's reaching, fancies he has

1:11:59 > 1:12:07got this. I think the referee will agree. Yes, eventually. Decides to

1:12:07 > 1:12:12give the try. Lucas Albert is furious, but John Bateman has

1:12:12 > 1:12:19England's fifth try of the night.He had a two on one. All he needed to

1:12:19 > 1:12:29do was cash in. Plenty of opportunities on the

1:12:29 > 1:12:33fringes for this England team. Spaces are opening up because of the

1:12:33 > 1:12:37different way they are approaching things. We saw the width from the

1:12:37 > 1:12:41dummy half which opened up a one-on-one for him. There was

1:12:41 > 1:12:47another one-on-one opportunity on the fringe for John Bateman.Only

1:12:47 > 1:12:52had four on the left unsaid. Like you said, it was not just pass,

1:12:52 > 1:13:00pass. They disguised it. Bateman is not a great passer of the ball. I

1:13:00 > 1:13:05keep begging the question, there have to be more centres in England's

1:13:05 > 1:13:11than you have to keep picking Bateman?Without being overcritical

1:13:11 > 1:13:17of John Bateman...We are not being critical...I will put a point,

1:13:17 > 1:13:22against a better team, he does not score there. There is the kick from

1:13:22 > 1:13:27Widdop.If you are an Australian, New Zealand, Tongan centre, you

1:13:27 > 1:13:35would be stopped there. Roger Goodell in the clear.The winger has

1:13:35 > 1:13:42to come up with the body, he comes up with nothing. He will probably

1:13:42 > 1:13:50jam in a normal game. They don't think he has a pass in him. He has

1:13:50 > 1:13:56not got a great pass, he will jam. The winners come up with nothing. I

1:13:56 > 1:13:59am not being critical, I think he is an outstanding player but I think he

1:13:59 > 1:14:05is a back row. There has to be some or proven centres that we have to

1:14:05 > 1:14:12keep putting a back row in the centres, that is the question I am

1:14:12 > 1:14:16posing.He made his debut against France couple of years ago and

1:14:16 > 1:14:21scored two tries on Matt 's debut, here he hears playing against the

1:14:21 > 1:14:27French again, he has scored again. -- two tries on bats debut. England

1:14:27 > 1:14:29lead 26 Ivan zero, 30 minutes

1:14:29 > 1:14:36played. They want more. -- England lead

1:14:36 > 1:14:4026-0. They are looking for a quarterfinal against Papua New

1:14:40 > 1:14:43Guinea in Melbourne next week, the potential of a semifinal against

1:14:43 > 1:14:48Tonga in Auckland in a couple of weeks. That'll be an occasion, I can

1:14:48 > 1:14:53tell you. Potentially heading for a final in Brisbane.

1:14:53 > 1:14:56England is beginning to ramp things up.

1:15:01 > 1:15:15Here comes McMeeken. Five gone, the last to come. Brown puts it high.

1:15:21 > 1:15:24England were pretty methodical. The French are trying it hard to hang

1:15:24 > 1:15:29on. -- finding it hard.

1:15:34 > 1:15:39I think the French had to win by about 20 odd points today to get

1:15:39 > 1:15:44themselves into the quarterfinals. Not that there was any danger of art

1:15:44 > 1:15:49before kick-off anyway. But a very, very distant ambition has been

1:15:49 > 1:15:55snuffed out completely. Five gone, here comes the last. Garcia got

1:15:55 > 1:16:05himself there. Theo Fages booted it away. There will be a note in Wayne

1:16:05 > 1:16:10Bennett's little Black book. They have to get rid of the mistakes. It

1:16:10 > 1:16:14does not matter in this situation, but in another game it might and

1:16:14 > 1:16:20that will count against McGilvray. You're trying to get to the high 70%

1:16:20 > 1:16:27completion rate, before that England were at 84%. That is marvellous

1:16:27 > 1:16:33completion rate, outstanding. But those little things invite the wolf

1:16:33 > 1:16:38to the door if you are playing the other big teams such as Tonga,

1:16:38 > 1:16:41Australia, New Zealand. You can run the ball hard but you cannot give a

1:16:41 > 1:16:48back that easily.Friends have a chance to try to get onto the ball.

1:16:48 > 1:16:53Benjamin Jullien runs in very hard, we see that week in, week out in

1:16:53 > 1:16:54Super League.

1:17:01 > 1:17:07Navarette has an appealing look at the referee. He has agreed. They get

1:17:07 > 1:17:08another set.

1:17:27 > 1:17:33England's defence has been pretty watertight so far in this game in

1:17:33 > 1:17:36this tournament. They are marshalling themselves again for the

1:17:36 > 1:17:42moment. Anthony Maria tries to drive it in.

1:17:46 > 1:17:53Garcia! There is a sucker punch! England's defence, from being

1:17:53 > 1:17:58red-hot, is suddenly red-faced. That was a soft try to concede, write and

1:17:58 > 1:18:03to need the sticks.The biggest thing you say to a team defensively

1:18:03 > 1:18:09is that the threat is in front of you.-- that has a soft try to

1:18:09 > 1:18:12concede, right underneath the sticks.Disappointing, the strength

1:18:12 > 1:18:17of England has been back goal-line defence, it has been very, very

1:18:17 > 1:18:23good. Lack of communication. The ball was the threat. They went away

1:18:23 > 1:18:32from the threat.Well played, Garcia.Tom Burgess could not get

1:18:32 > 1:18:37back. He spun around and finished the play, they will be extremely

1:18:37 > 1:18:40disappointed, England. As Ian rightly points out, they prided

1:18:40 > 1:18:48themselves on goal-line defence, that was a sucker punch.

1:18:48 > 1:18:53Not been a great two minutes for Wayne Bennett, looking on, and his

1:18:53 > 1:18:57team. The state number one was the dropped

1:18:57 > 1:19:03ball. Mistake number two, the concession of the try. Albert put it

1:19:03 > 1:19:09over. Friends have six points on the board. 26-6. It has been flawless

1:19:09 > 1:19:17apart from the last couple of minutes.Tom Burgess thinks the ball

1:19:17 > 1:19:22has gone. Did not leave James Roby too much to do. Smart play from the

1:19:22 > 1:19:31French.England's attack has been outstanding. They have only had 35%

1:19:31 > 1:19:36of possession, France, 265%. Which shows how much England have

1:19:36 > 1:19:42dominated field position and how clinical they have been. -- they

1:19:42 > 1:19:47have only had 35% of possession, France, to 65%.

1:19:55 > 1:19:59Just give them a bit of a break to get to mare, gets energy in their

1:19:59 > 1:20:07lungs and feel more about their roles. -- to get some air.

1:20:18 > 1:20:29The French certainly have a Ballance in their stride. -- certainly have a

1:20:29 > 1:20:39bounce.

1:21:00 > 1:21:06Three tackles gone, England nine away from the halfway line.Great

1:21:06 > 1:21:09line speed by the French.

1:21:15 > 1:21:23He could not quite swing away from the attentions of Ader. Brown under

1:21:23 > 1:21:36pressure, get the kick away. A little leap in the air by Keirallah.

1:21:36 > 1:21:40England have had a scruffy five minutes. They did not finish that

1:21:40 > 1:21:43set as clinically as they have been earlier in the game. That is off the

1:21:43 > 1:21:46back of the French having more enthusiasm.

1:21:51 > 1:21:55I think Wayne Bennett is trying to eradicate those kinds of mistakes

1:21:55 > 1:22:02from the team.Stop on. -- stop on. -- spot-on.

1:22:13 > 1:22:16Kicked away by Albert, it will bounce out of play. Well played,

1:22:16 > 1:22:22France.We have said how good England have been, but I think the

1:22:22 > 1:22:28last five sets are belong to France. They have found some decent kick

1:22:28 > 1:22:31plays, been aggressive in defence.

1:22:34 > 1:22:37There was the McGilvray drop in the mistake on the goal-line, but the

1:22:37 > 1:22:42French are turning up. The blurb I have been whingeing when they would

1:22:42 > 1:22:45kick it into touch, walk the scrum and load up their defence. I think

1:22:45 > 1:22:53it is the way to go, like you said, they have some good going forward

1:22:53 > 1:22:58but it is the back end on, and on, and on. They need the recovery in

1:22:58 > 1:23:05between.Five more tackles here for England at the back-end of this

1:23:05 > 1:23:12half.When they have been through this process, England, generally

1:23:12 > 1:23:16against good teams, Australia, New Zealand and Tonga, an individual

1:23:16 > 1:23:21will rock up, break the game open again and take the enthusiasm away.

1:23:36 > 1:23:39Just to underline, it is Brown and Williams on the field.

1:23:48 > 1:23:50St Helens against Wigan, the little microcosm of action.

1:23:55 > 1:24:02England's chase is good enough to make sure that friends are only 12.

1:24:02 > 1:24:06I am sending very critical but was another poor end of a set for

1:24:06 > 1:24:13England.'s-- I am sounding very critical.I think he just overcooked

1:24:13 > 1:24:21the kick a little bit. I think the something of nothing.Good line

1:24:21 > 1:24:24speed and determination in that little England tackle. The French

1:24:24 > 1:24:26are not making a lot of yards here.

1:24:32 > 1:24:41England's defence is being tested. Fages jabs it away. Widdop, covering

1:24:41 > 1:24:47across. Five seconds of the half remain. McGillvary looking to sweep

1:24:47 > 1:24:55them away. WHISTLE BLOWS

1:24:55 > 1:25:04Half-time, England 26, France six. Widdop opened the scoring after only

1:25:04 > 1:25:10two minutes. A very, very decent start as far as England were

1:25:10 > 1:25:13concerned in the opening eight minutes with the three tries. A

1:25:13 > 1:25:16couple of minutes they will look back on towards the end when things

1:25:16 > 1:25:21went a little awry with a couple of mistakes leading to the French try,

1:25:21 > 1:25:26I think we will go and hear from Gareth Widdop, who is speaking with

1:25:26 > 1:25:33the Brett down there. The two teams are coming off, let's hear from

1:25:33 > 1:25:47Gareth Widdop, with breasts. -- with Brett. REPORTER: The scoreboard is

1:25:47 > 1:25:52pleasing for England, what are you most pleads with?We got off to a

1:25:52 > 1:25:57good start, this is what we spoke about, starting ball, computing

1:25:57 > 1:26:03high. If we can do the same in the second half, we will come home well.

1:26:03 > 1:26:08I think the coach will be happy? Against about completion and good

1:26:08 > 1:26:13discipline. We have done it for 40 minutes, we need to do to the next

1:26:13 > 1:26:1740.Benjamin Garcia, you got the late try and that would give you

1:26:17 > 1:26:26confidence?I hope so. The defence is not really good. We need to come

1:26:26 > 1:26:31back in the second half more tough and more physical.Good luck in the

1:26:31 > 1:26:36second half, don't run out

1:26:36 > 1:26:37and more physical.Good luck in the second half, don't run out of puff.

1:26:37 > 1:26:43Thank you, thank you.STUDIO: BBC One is covering the remembrance

1:26:43 > 1:26:48service, the two minutes silence will be observed very shortly over

1:26:48 > 1:26:51on BBC One. Here on BBC Two we will look back at

1:26:51 > 1:26:55the England France first half. I suppose they did everything, you

1:26:55 > 1:27:04three, that you wanted them to do? City get pretty happy, very much so.

1:27:04 > 1:27:08For large spells of the half we played like we know we can play. I

1:27:08 > 1:27:13think we discussed it after the Australia game. What is our DNA, how

1:27:13 > 1:27:17do England play, what is our strength? We are fit and dynamic, we

1:27:17 > 1:27:23have big men in the middle who can pass and create opportunities. The

1:27:23 > 1:27:27combination of Gale, Brown and Widdop was outstanding. Roby's

1:27:27 > 1:27:33directness, his long balls, unselfishly, and his darting runs, I

1:27:33 > 1:27:38think it is our best 40 minutes so far.Gareth Widdop said we got off

1:27:38 > 1:27:42to a decent start and completed hard?

1:27:42 > 1:27:45As the commentators said, maybe they lost a little bit mid-weight because

1:27:45 > 1:27:51of a fuel handling errors or ill discipline, that'll happen, but when

1:27:51 > 1:27:55momentum is with you you had to be at your best, and England were.

1:27:55 > 1:28:00Very, very comfortable. They will not be happy with the try they gave

1:28:00 > 1:28:05away, but as Kevin said, it is an encouraging start. Australia are

1:28:05 > 1:28:09robotic, the USB of the England side is the ability of the big forwards

1:28:09 > 1:28:14to put the ball behind. I think they will be very, very happy.With the

1:28:14 > 1:28:19ball they have been very impressive, only three errors in the first half.

1:28:19 > 1:28:23Wayne Bennett talks about mistakes, that is a comfortable number, he

1:28:23 > 1:28:29will be OK with that. For me, they put little encouraging sequences of

1:28:29 > 1:28:34play together, big men playing with big men, Loughlin and Graham keeping

1:28:34 > 1:28:39the French defence honest. It was typified in the first try.Over me,

1:28:39 > 1:28:44everything we spoke about, we saw this, brilliant execution. They get

1:28:44 > 1:28:48the numbers, a great decoy run, that is where we want the full-back to

1:28:48 > 1:28:53be. England want a full-back who pulls the inside centre in, that is

1:28:53 > 1:29:01the finish. For me, Brian Nowell said maybe the 17 is there, but

1:29:01 > 1:29:06watch the dummy run, pulls the centre in, great finish, there are

1:29:06 > 1:29:12too many outside. Everyone did their job, everyone.The pleasing thing

1:29:12 > 1:29:17for me is Gale, we have not seen the best of him in this competition.

1:29:17 > 1:29:23When he is at his best is the way he takes that ball to play.Big men

1:29:23 > 1:29:27playing with big men, Gareth Widdop. Benefiting from the bigger players

1:29:27 > 1:29:31in the middle of the field creating space and finding himself in the

1:29:31 > 1:29:35right spots. I think the best thing for Gareth Widdop is working with

1:29:35 > 1:29:38other people, getting into the right position to get the ball when others

1:29:38 > 1:29:44have created space for him. Ben Currie's line created space, Luke

1:29:44 > 1:29:49Gale's directness did. We have talked a lot about Gareth Widdop and

1:29:49 > 1:29:57we cannot neglect James Roby, James Graham, Sean O'Loughlin, Luke Gale

1:29:57 > 1:30:00and their hard work.You did your analysis last week, you showed us

1:30:00 > 1:30:04where you wanted the ball to be and Widdop has done exactly what you

1:30:04 > 1:30:11said last week.Azza Boy said, they straightened up -- as the boys said.

1:30:11 > 1:30:19Everyone straightens up. For me, they are the creators, you need a

1:30:19 > 1:30:24finisher. He has asked questions. Widdop will play, but where is it

1:30:24 > 1:30:28more beneficial for England for him to play? At the moment, I think it

1:30:28 > 1:30:32is full-back. He has great vision, a good kicking game and he is a

1:30:32 > 1:30:43finisher. For me, if Kevin Brown plays well in the second half, does

1:30:43 > 1:30:50Lomax go on the bench? That is why I wanted to play every game, Lomax was

1:30:50 > 1:30:55nailed on, maybe he is not now. Talking about Brown and Gale, good

1:30:55 > 1:30:59communicators and organisers, they are organising Gareth Widdop to be

1:30:59 > 1:31:02in the right position. A lot of responsibility has been taken off

1:31:02 > 1:31:05the half-backs for England because of how well the forwards play, they

1:31:05 > 1:31:10can play with the ball. The second try typified the big men playing

1:31:10 > 1:31:15with big men through the middle. James Roby being direct, running,

1:31:15 > 1:31:21Gale direct. Widdop hands. It creates doubt in defences. France

1:31:21 > 1:31:25were scrambling. This is exciting for me about England, Gale

1:31:25 > 1:31:30reorganises, Kevin Brown shifts, James Graham gets the ball, Kevin

1:31:30 > 1:31:34Brown is in position, Loughlin to Percival to McGillvary, that is

1:31:34 > 1:31:39fantastic structural play.

1:31:39 > 1:31:44We see Australia do that and wax lyrical. We have scrapping us about

1:31:44 > 1:31:48us, we have off-load, we break tackles, but we find a way to get

1:31:48 > 1:31:55over the line. That is how England play. I think Kevin Brown's...that

1:31:55 > 1:32:01is great.He has been fantastic. He played in the mid-season game for us

1:32:01 > 1:32:06against Samoa. He got a call at 9pm, and had to be at the airport at 6am,

1:32:06 > 1:32:11which we all would do, but he was there and committed. Outstanding

1:32:11 > 1:32:15against Samoa. He will give Wayne Bennett serious headaches.He brings

1:32:15 > 1:32:19a lot of things together. He does a lot of things that you might not

1:32:19 > 1:32:23notice, but he pulls and moves people, like when Kevin played.That

1:32:23 > 1:32:30is what people used to say about you, Kevin.Good communicators get

1:32:30 > 1:32:35people around them to do a job. Kevin Brown can organise, poll and

1:32:35 > 1:32:39tug, move people into the right part of the field. We will talk about

1:32:39 > 1:32:44Gareth Widdop and the likes of that benefiting from Kevin Brown's

1:32:44 > 1:32:51organisation.He is an old style stand off, which is great. What you

1:32:51 > 1:32:57do is, you have the organisers, and Widdop at the back, saying, "Hang on

1:32:57 > 1:33:01a minute." He knows where to be because they are creating. Australia

1:33:01 > 1:33:07are the same. The three in the middle, Thurston is not playing, but

1:33:07 > 1:33:14Cronk and Smith, they organise things. Wide out, that is the

1:33:14 > 1:33:18finisher. England have lacked it in this tournament. It causes a

1:33:18 > 1:33:23headache for solution.The difference for England is the middle

1:33:23 > 1:33:27players, playing with each other, short passes. No other team in this

1:33:27 > 1:33:32competition, I think, can do that. The pressure it takes off the

1:33:32 > 1:33:39half-backs, players like O'Loughlin. As skilful as any half-back, we have

1:33:39 > 1:33:433-4 players that can do that. We have two maximise that.Added to

1:33:43 > 1:33:48that, with what John is saying, he has nailed it with that point of

1:33:48 > 1:33:52difference. On the back up, we can manoeuvre and get in the right

1:33:52 > 1:33:57position so that we have 13 men attacking, rather than 5-6. Too

1:33:57 > 1:34:01often in the competition so far, we have attacked with five or six, but

1:34:01 > 1:34:06when we have 13 men all moving and going forward, we are devastating.

1:34:06 > 1:34:13Winning World Cups, when you create, you have to finish. Previous to

1:34:13 > 1:34:18today, that has been there weakness, England. That has been the strength

1:34:18 > 1:34:22of the Australians and the Kiwis. Now, with Widdop there, they look

1:34:22 > 1:34:27far more threatening. To win World Cups, you have to score tries.In

1:34:27 > 1:34:29the pre-match, he talked about decision making and not making

1:34:29 > 1:34:38errors. That is what Wayne Bennett said.England being direct and

1:34:38 > 1:34:43really tightening up the French defensive line, through O'Loughlin,

1:34:43 > 1:34:49then threw Gale, Brown nice and square, McMeeken the line. Let's be

1:34:49 > 1:34:53honest, it will not be as easy against Australia, New Zealand and

1:34:53 > 1:34:59Tonga. The sum total of that play was all executed very well. All you

1:34:59 > 1:35:03can do in this game is execute. Kevin Brown went to the line,

1:35:03 > 1:35:07Widdop, good hands. Personal catches it. Wouldn't like to catch it on his

1:35:07 > 1:35:12chest like that, but the execution of all of that is nice. It's going

1:35:12 > 1:35:16to be a different kettle of fish altogether.It is a cliche that you

1:35:16 > 1:35:20can only play the team in front of you, the French decision-making has

1:35:20 > 1:35:29been dreadful. But that's what England had to do, ask questions.

1:35:29 > 1:35:33Ask questions of the two centres, whether they come in or out, but

1:35:33 > 1:35:36they have been clinical. We all hoped for this performance

1:35:36 > 1:35:41today, this first 40 minutes. The question, and I liked it from Gareth

1:35:41 > 1:35:44Widdop, can we do it in the second-half? That is the test for

1:35:44 > 1:35:48England going forward.The negative of the half was French try, and how

1:35:48 > 1:35:53they defended.You explain why this worries you.Against great sides,

1:35:53 > 1:36:00Cameron Smith, this is bread and butter for him. Garcia is a back row

1:36:00 > 1:36:05player, not a hooker, it isolates James Roby one on the line. For me,

1:36:05 > 1:36:13it is one lapse in defence, and it cost in blood.Percival went to his

1:36:13 > 1:36:19right.He over read the play. He needs to hold his ground, and

1:36:19 > 1:36:23eventually Garcia runs into him and helps James Roby. In those

1:36:23 > 1:36:28situations, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, those games, it may be a

1:36:28 > 1:36:3312-6, an 18-16 game, tight. Moments like that are important. England

1:36:33 > 1:36:36won't get these opportunities with the ball, but they will have two

1:36:36 > 1:36:40defend and deal with situations like that.They may be switched off a

1:36:40 > 1:36:44little bit and didn't control the six points. But John said, in the

1:36:44 > 1:36:46latter stages, that could be the difference.

1:36:46 > 1:36:51The second half is on the way. We can show you what happened in the

1:36:51 > 1:36:55days earlier games, two of them. We will show you Papua New Guinea

1:36:55 > 1:37:00against the USA first. Papua New Guinea needed a win to secure top

1:37:00 > 1:37:04spot in group C. They ran in 11 tries to record their third victory

1:37:04 > 1:37:14of the tournament. Lamb scored twice, 64-0 was the final score.

1:37:14 > 1:37:17That meant that Ireland could no longer qualify for the knock out

1:37:17 > 1:37:22stages. Wales were already up. The only thing they were playing for

1:37:22 > 1:37:29earlier was pride. Or Jonathan said, nothing. The final score, Island

1:37:29 > 1:37:3234-6 Wales.

1:37:35 > 1:37:40Irrespective of the result, they were both on the plane.They were.

1:37:40 > 1:37:44Papua New Guinea winning that group, three wins out of three, a miserable

1:37:44 > 1:37:49couple of weeks for the Welsh, who have three defeats from their three

1:37:49 > 1:37:52games. Let me point you in the direction of all the sport coming

1:37:52 > 1:37:58your way on the BBC this weekend. Coverage of the ATP tennis finals

1:37:58 > 1:38:03begins today from 2pm on BBC Two. The track cycling World Cup

1:38:03 > 1:38:08continues, the red button from 3pm. Highlights from 4:30. Highlights of

1:38:08 > 1:38:13today's World Cup games, including this one, tonight at 11:15 on BBC

1:38:13 > 1:38:17Two. A good documentary on BBC One tonight as Alan Shearer investigates

1:38:17 > 1:38:22whether there is a link between heading footballs and dementia. It

1:38:22 > 1:38:22is a powerful

1:38:22 > 1:38:25heading footballs and dementia. It is a powerful watch, and well worth

1:38:25 > 1:38:29it, 10:30 on BBC One. Kevin, you mentioned it there, in fact, you

1:38:29 > 1:38:34mentioned it in the half, you said England have to keep the momentum up

1:38:34 > 1:38:38in the half, because sometimes it dips. Gareth Widdop said it, you

1:38:38 > 1:38:42said it, and now it is about keeping going all the way through the

1:38:42 > 1:38:46second-half. Is important we put 90 minutes

1:38:46 > 1:38:50together. That will be the focus for Wayne and the boys in the dressing

1:38:50 > 1:38:54room at half-time. I think we will. We wrote the French off because of

1:38:54 > 1:38:58their team sheet before the game, I think they have had a go today. They

1:38:58 > 1:39:02have had a real big. The questions will come towards the back end of

1:39:02 > 1:39:06the half, England will be too big, too strong and will run away from

1:39:06 > 1:39:11it.Keeping control of the half-backs, just pushing everyone

1:39:11 > 1:39:13about, the calling and communication seems to be good over there. Just

1:39:13 > 1:39:19keep it going, but again, when you are so many points in front, you

1:39:19 > 1:39:24tend to throw passes that you do not tend to throw. Keep your focus and

1:39:24 > 1:39:28concentration, do your job, and use it as a training ground in the

1:39:28 > 1:39:30second-half.And discipline on both sides of the bull, disciplined

1:39:30 > 1:39:34offensively, and disappeared with the ball. They need to execute,

1:39:34 > 1:39:42because stopping this is a habit. In the second half, no sloppiness.

1:39:42 > 1:39:47Hopefully, they will exploit it, because with the ball-handling

1:39:47 > 1:39:51ability of the forwards, I think they will catch out the better side.

1:39:51 > 1:39:55The England players will want to pose some problems for Wayne Bennett

1:39:55 > 1:39:57ahead of team selection for the quarterfinals next weekend. Let's

1:39:57 > 1:40:03see what the next 40 minutes has in store with Ian, Brian and David.

1:40:06 > 1:40:11COMMENTATOR: Well, whatever Wayne Bennett is thinking about that first

1:40:11 > 1:40:15half, he's clearly relaxed. He has just walked past us to get back to

1:40:15 > 1:40:21his position, his box he sits in with the rest of the England

1:40:21 > 1:40:26coaching staff. Paws on his way to have a selfie with a couple of

1:40:26 > 1:40:31England fans. That suggests he is quite relaxed and happy. Brian Noble

1:40:31 > 1:40:36is looking at me oddly, but then nothing changes there... Gareth

1:40:36 > 1:40:41Widdop with a kick downfield to get the second half under way. Caught by

1:40:41 > 1:40:45Fages, France look to bring it back. England looking to ramp it up again.

1:40:45 > 1:40:50An extra flying start to the first half with ball in hand. And now they

1:40:50 > 1:40:53are having a powerful start to the second half, defending on that

1:40:53 > 1:40:57French line. Just to underline what we heard at half-time, what do we

1:40:57 > 1:41:04expect in the second half?He wants no tries or mistakes. That was it

1:41:04 > 1:41:09before the game but he will be pairing about the way they started

1:41:09 > 1:41:16their attack.A knock-on straightaway in England's Weber.

1:41:16 > 1:41:21Bousquet having dropped it. England get early possession here.An

1:41:21 > 1:41:24indication of the England team response at half-time. They kicked

1:41:24 > 1:41:32off, Walmsley and Burgess have smashed in. It has caused disruption

1:41:32 > 1:41:37in the play for the French. Bousquet dropping the ball.

1:41:37 > 1:41:44Ratchford with the feed. Roby brings it out. Here comes the first run

1:41:44 > 1:41:54from Williams. It goes to Jermaine McGillvary. His impressive run

1:41:54 > 1:41:59continues, England's impressive form continues. They have hit the 30

1:41:59 > 1:42:02points mark.Sit back and have a look at this pass by Widdop, this

1:42:02 > 1:42:08takes class, time. They go nice and square, under pressure, he knows a

1:42:08 > 1:42:15winger is coming in. But he takes his time, transfers the ball from

1:42:15 > 1:42:21the inside, across his body with a minimum of fuss.The fluency of

1:42:21 > 1:42:27passing you have alluded to, that was slick. That was well executed.

1:42:27 > 1:42:31McGillvary, albeit, he still has to get over the line. Take a bow, Kevin

1:42:31 > 1:42:37Brown and Gareth Widdop.That's the difference he's brought, isn't it,

1:42:37 > 1:42:42in this game. His ability to create something on the inside, for him to

1:42:42 > 1:42:51deliver the knock out blow with the past. He just has time. It is like a

1:42:51 > 1:42:54rugby union player, transferring the ball under pressure. He has time.

1:42:54 > 1:43:00Good players have time when they had to execute under pressure.It is the

1:43:00 > 1:43:05quality of skill as well. From the base of the scrum, Roby nails pass

1:43:05 > 1:43:09on the back of the scrum. They off-load right from the first pass.

1:43:09 > 1:43:17So, Widdop settles. It is a difficult one from the touchline,

1:43:17 > 1:43:23but he has kicked that ever so well. 32-6, Widdop's return now is four

1:43:23 > 1:43:29out of six that he has kicked. Have a look at this again.One thing Roby

1:43:29 > 1:43:34has done well to day, the play is made of the dummy half, but he

1:43:34 > 1:43:38creates a long pass with wit. He eliminates a couple of defenders

1:43:38 > 1:43:42early. They get on the outside of the French defence early. George

1:43:42 > 1:43:49Williams did a great job there, to. Widdop came up with the knock out

1:43:49 > 1:44:01blow.7-6- 1-5- score. England in the box seat. A couple of minutes

1:44:01 > 1:44:05aberration quickly forgotten at the end of the first half.

1:44:06 > 1:44:15Walmsley joining the party as well. French discipline's going to be

1:44:15 > 1:44:20tested here, not just discipline, the focus.They are being good with

1:44:20 > 1:44:23the ball. Not that many opportunities because of the quality

1:44:23 > 1:44:28of the England defence. Their completion I think is higher than

1:44:28 > 1:44:35the England team.81%, the French. The English are 83%. The plays they

1:44:35 > 1:44:37are putting on England, they stripping them for numbers on the

1:44:37 > 1:44:42outside. I think they would strip the play of

1:44:42 > 1:44:46a lot of teams today, the way they do their attack, England.Last play

1:44:46 > 1:44:50coming up. Williams right to the line, over the top of everyone.

1:44:50 > 1:44:55Ratchford has nowhere to go and know one to positive. They had all run

1:44:55 > 1:45:02past him.Little things like that. This is me being grumpy, I

1:45:02 > 1:45:06understand the deliberation, I understand the pass, doing this,

1:45:06 > 1:45:11that and the other, but a great play for me would be to roll the ball

1:45:11 > 1:45:14towards the try line.I agree with you, because the pass wasn't going

1:45:14 > 1:45:18on. They had an equal number of defenders. The kick in behind was

1:45:18 > 1:45:26on.Now the French have a chance to move it wide.

1:45:28 > 1:45:33Looking to test this English defence, if they can. Failed to do

1:45:33 > 1:45:40so for much of the game. It's with Baitieri. Just inside England's

1:45:40 > 1:45:47half, a couple of plays to go now. Garcia Albert shifts it onto the

1:45:47 > 1:45:52right-hand side, lovely little flick out the back door on that occasion

1:45:52 > 1:45:58by Bousquet. It helps French continue here. Last play, in the

1:45:58 > 1:46:03set. On the boot of Albert again. Close down quickly by McMeeken.

1:46:03 > 1:46:07Getting it high in the air. Widdop is underneath it to catch. Looking

1:46:07 > 1:46:11on the outside straightaway. McGillvary was getting excited,

1:46:11 > 1:46:17Percival was getting excited, but Widdop couldn't get the pass away.

1:46:17 > 1:46:26Now, McGillvary, he's a big fella. Runs hard, runs fast.

1:46:31 > 1:46:42Percival, similar approach. Roby again waits for his St Helens teams

1:46:42 > 1:46:47-- team-mate. Roby stands and weights again. Now, it comes to this

1:46:47 > 1:46:54left-hand side. Taylor, a chance to shine for him, one of the four given

1:46:54 > 1:46:59an opportunity today. Roby again. Williams steps away from the

1:46:59 > 1:47:05oncoming Baitieri, puts the kick in behind, Brown is up there. Widdop is

1:47:05 > 1:47:11up there. Widdop, the full-back, makes the tackle in the end.

1:47:14 > 1:47:20France trying to motor here. One of the great disappointments of

1:47:20 > 1:47:23international rugby league has been France down the years. They were the

1:47:23 > 1:47:28inspiration of the first ever Rugby World Cup back in 1954 as hosts.

1:47:28 > 1:47:33They made the final that year, and also 1968, but in recent years,

1:47:33 > 1:47:40they've rarely come up to meet the challenge of England, New Zealand

1:47:40 > 1:47:45and Australia. Here is a run from out there. Silky and skilful with

1:47:45 > 1:47:49the step. Widdop winds it in and putting down. On the last play here,

1:47:49 > 1:48:01the French. Over the top of Fages. That went please. Not what you are

1:48:01 > 1:48:05looking for.Some of the things they are doing, the French, it is good.

1:48:05 > 1:48:09But they are outgunned. Is that the right exertion? The England players

1:48:09 > 1:48:13are bigger and faster in certain positions, more skilful in the

1:48:13 > 1:48:17hearts, but they are having a crack, a French.But the size of England

1:48:17 > 1:48:23has taken so much energy. The smaller players stepping the inside

1:48:23 > 1:48:28shoulder of the beak England defenders, Walmsley and Taylor, and

1:48:28 > 1:48:32they are beating them. That is where they are getting their momentum, on

1:48:32 > 1:48:36the inside shoulder when the big man is going sideways.Walmsley having

1:48:36 > 1:48:41to check his run there. But having checked, he's still got a bit of

1:48:41 > 1:48:53presence. Widdop looked like he was losing the ball. A great pass a way

1:48:53 > 1:48:55to McGillvary, who is offered a chance early to get to running.

1:48:55 > 1:49:02McGillvary inside, Kevin Brown gets the pass out. The off-load is

1:49:02 > 1:49:06forward. It was running us for a moment, but it disappointed, because

1:49:06 > 1:49:13the final pass was forward from that meeting, and he has a bloody nose.

1:49:13 > 1:49:26It is coming from his nose. Bousquet...Ratchford's getting

1:49:26 > 1:49:32called back.I don't mind the expansion from England as well. They

1:49:32 > 1:49:37will have two score points in the bigger games, in the bigger games,

1:49:37 > 1:49:41they have to take risks, risk and reward. Play more football, if you

1:49:41 > 1:49:45like.That is a really strong point, because there's defence is very

1:49:45 > 1:49:52strong. You can take those risks sometimes, Brian. I agree with you.

1:49:52 > 1:50:01You want to go said for set with Australia, they will be you. I think

1:50:01 > 1:50:06England are well in it.Without getting too far ahead of ourselves

1:50:06 > 1:50:09as well, the silly final, which we spent to be Australia and New

1:50:09 > 1:50:18Zealand. We have seen New Zealand play and take risks.That has been

1:50:18 > 1:50:23in their DNA. They have curbed that over the last couple of years. The

1:50:23 > 1:50:30French have struggled since the New Zealand Warriors have won four

1:50:30 > 1:50:34nation tournament, benefiting from being in the NRL.

1:50:37 > 1:50:45Garcia comes out of Fages, and Fages's goes to Albert. The chip was

1:50:45 > 1:50:48OK, but straight into the hands of George Williams, and England have it

1:50:48 > 1:50:52back again.

1:50:55 > 1:50:58I think England had to be focused, go back to some of their principles

1:50:58 > 1:51:04that they started the game with. You see opportunities, and you have good

1:51:04 > 1:51:08players. They take those opportunities and go away from

1:51:08 > 1:51:13structure.Bateman's going to get them on here.

1:51:18 > 1:51:23Roby out to Williams, and Williams with a step on the right foot, 1-2.

1:51:23 > 1:51:26Fages was there to wrestle him to the ground again. Now it's Roby

1:51:26 > 1:51:32waiting patiently. Walmsley trying to get into his stride. Pushing away

1:51:32 > 1:51:43into Bousquet. Roby. Little dummy. Can't spring the French defence.

1:51:43 > 1:51:49Couple of plays to go for England now. With Williams, he wants to kick

1:51:49 > 1:51:57on. Currie on the chase. Kheirallah will see it dead. A tap out from the

1:51:57 > 1:52:0720.Right choice, too big on the kick, 12 metres, 15 metres too big.

1:52:07 > 1:52:14The repeat set with the drop too heavy on the kick.Another French

1:52:14 > 1:52:18mistake, which gives England possession again. Midway inside

1:52:18 > 1:52:22France's half.This is where the wear and tear comes on you. Coming

1:52:22 > 1:52:26up with some errors now, the French. That is the wear and tear of big

1:52:26 > 1:52:30bodies coming at you constantly. All of a sudden, you make wrong

1:52:30 > 1:52:32decisions. You get sloppy and lose

1:52:32 > 1:52:36of a sudden, you make wrong decisions. You get sloppy and lose,

1:52:36 > 1:52:41concentration. Another good ball area for England.

1:52:46 > 1:52:52They have come up with all their numbers on the openside here. It

1:52:52 > 1:52:55will be interesting to see what they come up with here, England, because

1:52:55 > 1:53:00they have Brown and Widdop together. I reckon McGillvary is rubbing his

1:53:00 > 1:53:12hands here.OK, Ratchford to feed the scrum. Roby brings it out. Brown

1:53:12 > 1:53:16out to Widdop. Widdop arcing. McGillvary comes back towards the

1:53:16 > 1:53:23middle. Little burst, RP gets. Around they go. The tackle is

1:53:23 > 1:53:29complete, eventually. Now he will play it. Here is Walmsley, met head

1:53:29 > 1:53:42on under no circumstances by Maxime Herold. This is Williams. Can't keep

1:53:42 > 1:53:50it alive. England less than 20 away. Roby again has seen a gap, and off

1:53:50 > 1:53:55he goes. James Roby, almost there, Kheirallah just about recovering

1:53:55 > 1:54:01French boys with a tackle right on the line. Taylor has gone from dummy

1:54:01 > 1:54:09half. But he's going to be held up. Roby again, now he spins it out.

1:54:09 > 1:54:13They're's Kevin Brown with a kick to the corner. Court on the full by

1:54:13 > 1:54:20Yaha, and back to the 20 again.You have mentioned it a few times, but

1:54:20 > 1:54:22the last few kicks have had poor completion for England. They haven't

1:54:22 > 1:54:28had the right desire. Taylor and dummy half, they had numbers galore

1:54:28 > 1:54:32on the right side, the front row tries to run from dummy half, Brown

1:54:32 > 1:54:36was cursing him because he had that many numbers over there, and it was

1:54:36 > 1:54:41a poor kick.A shot of Sam Burgess, hopefully, he will join us pitch

1:54:41 > 1:54:50side at the end of the game. He has promised to do so, have a chat with

1:54:50 > 1:54:56how it is going. Another French mistake. Spilling possession.

1:54:56 > 1:55:00Relatively early in the count.

1:55:10 > 1:55:18Here is Scott Taylor, another who made his debut against France last

1:55:18 > 1:55:22year, coming into the England reckoning. Brown's got a bit of

1:55:22 > 1:55:28space in which to run here. Williams pops one over top. McGillvary

1:55:28 > 1:55:32straightening up, look at him go, a burst of energy and pace there. But

1:55:32 > 1:55:40they close him down. Ten away. Back to Brown. Here is Roby. Widdop

1:55:40 > 1:55:45trying to ride the tackle and off-load, but he has given it away.

1:55:45 > 1:55:51Djalout comes up with possession. Well done, French defence. They stop

1:55:51 > 1:55:56Widdop out the back when the ball went there. England creating space

1:55:56 > 1:56:02on the far side, didn't quite execute the play.That's where you

1:56:02 > 1:56:07talk about the French having a crack. They haven't become hesitant

1:56:07 > 1:56:11in defence, they want to bang someone. Really bruise them. They

1:56:11 > 1:56:15haven't stopped since the whistle. We can talk about the kick drop and

1:56:15 > 1:56:18the ball, but they have the energy to come off the line and get

1:56:18 > 1:56:27someone.Inside two Bousquet, another one of those Catalans

1:56:27 > 1:56:35players. Back to Albert, who kicks it through. Ratchford lets it bed,

1:56:35 > 1:56:42and England get a seven tackle count here, with a tap back on the 20.

1:56:42 > 1:56:48James Graham is coming back on the field. Tom Burgess is coming off.

1:56:48 > 1:56:51Chris Hill will be back on the field, too, pretty soon. Here he

1:56:51 > 1:56:56comes. A little bit of freshness back to the front row for England as

1:56:56 > 1:57:07well. Taylor's the other man off, by the way. Burgess and Taylor.They

1:57:07 > 1:57:11put their bodies in front, the French. They get off the line. Here

1:57:11 > 1:57:18they go again.Graham pushes away from Baitieri.

1:57:24 > 1:57:30Down the right channel, McMeeken. The width of Roby's pass, every

1:57:30 > 1:57:39time, he gets them a very early. Delayed and lost it, Lucas Albert,

1:57:39 > 1:57:43they are not go to stop invalid sister referee is. The referee has

1:57:43 > 1:57:47blown his whistle for a forward pass. Albert gets a celebration but

1:57:47 > 1:57:54his heart will sink into his boots, because when he looks 60-70 yards

1:57:54 > 1:57:58back downfield, he will an move Phil Bentham saying it was a forward

1:57:58 > 1:58:04pass.It was a forward pass.It was directly in line with us. Absolutely

1:58:04 > 1:58:08in line. My first reaction was that it was forward. You guys looked at

1:58:08 > 1:58:12it other and said it was forward. And it was forward.Yeah, no

1:58:12 > 1:58:19argument.The first offence which should be French scrum.It should be

1:58:19 > 1:58:23because he lost the ball.

1:58:28 > 1:58:31The referee telling everybody that would listen that it looks clear.

1:58:31 > 1:58:36Sam is joining us after the game. Good spirits this week. We have

1:58:36 > 1:58:39watched him training, and it looks like he is getting better and

1:58:39 > 1:58:44better. A thumbs up. He's on the big screen here, the England fans have

1:58:44 > 1:58:50seen him as well. There's his his colleague in the England camp, James

1:58:50 > 1:58:56Graham. They have a very competitive element between them, but a very

1:58:56 > 1:59:00strong bond as well.They play in the NRL, and literally bash each

1:59:00 > 1:59:06other. It is like they don't like Italy.They always have a chat at

1:59:06 > 1:59:11the end of games as well. Even though they have smashed each

1:59:11 > 1:59:17other for 80 minute, they will chat after. This is Widdop.Interesting

1:59:17 > 1:59:23change, Roby is coming off, Gale is coming back on. Williams stays on,

1:59:23 > 1:59:27Brown stays on, and Widdop stays on. On the nations, they are getting it

1:59:27 > 1:59:33Gelling here.Williams adds dummy half now. Gale with a pass, Widdop

1:59:33 > 1:59:38out left. Ratchford, a little bit of room. Comes back towards the middle.

1:59:38 > 1:59:42Benjamin Jullien wraps him up.

1:59:45 > 1:59:49Hill stepping away from the initial challenge, couldn't keep hold of the

1:59:49 > 1:59:57ball. Graham wants to get hold of this, he wants to go to the video

1:59:57 > 2:00:00refs, but he is not going to have any luck.

2:00:06 > 2:00:12It was just a loose carry.Trying to free the arm up. He is very skilful

2:00:12 > 2:00:16like that. He is one of those rarities, he carries the ball in his

2:00:16 > 2:00:21left and he can off-load. Just looking to the left of me, his coach

2:00:21 > 2:00:28does not say much but his body language was that he was getting a

2:00:28 > 2:00:33bit disappointed.I think England got a bit scruffy, rather than as

2:00:33 > 2:00:38clinical as they have been. I am talking about their execution, a

2:00:38 > 2:00:43couple of penalties, a couple of loose decisions with the ball. The

2:00:43 > 2:00:47French can't hold the ball.Wayne keeps challenging the English

2:00:47 > 2:00:51players that he believes they cannot concentrate for 80 minutes, two is

2:00:51 > 2:00:55they give away too many ill disciplined penalties, three is that

2:00:55 > 2:01:01the completion rates are not high enough. Obviously their attack has

2:01:01 > 2:01:05been very good, their defence has been good but he keeps questioning

2:01:05 > 2:01:09those three aspects. Nothing to do with structure, it is

2:01:09 > 2:01:13a lot about attitude and the desire, how you want to complete in those

2:01:13 > 2:01:16areas.

2:01:18 > 2:01:24They were saying this in the studio, it is a very Super League flavoured

2:01:24 > 2:01:31team, only four of the NRL -based players involved in the 17. A chance

2:01:31 > 2:01:40for Super League to step up to the mark. The referee has already

2:01:40 > 2:01:43decided it was a knock-on. The dots are not quite being joined from an

2:01:43 > 2:01:50England point of view.I am frightened of my own broken record,

2:01:50 > 2:01:55they have to be a lot better than that. It is not about completion

2:01:55 > 2:02:00rate, it is a bird execution, providing the right kick, I do not

2:02:00 > 2:02:05think we have done that for 15 minutes. -- it is about execution.

2:02:05 > 2:02:12Completion rates is a good tool to say whether you do or do not respect

2:02:12 > 2:02:18the ball. They were at 84%, now it is at 71%, retaining the ball for

2:02:18 > 2:02:24the complete set of six tackles.But sometimes completion rate lies, it

2:02:24 > 2:02:31does not reflect a side trying to risk and out load. -- trying to risk

2:02:31 > 2:02:33and off-load.

2:02:45 > 2:02:57France keeping it alive nicely.

2:02:57 > 2:03:04Working Nabil Djalout was vaulted from his own line. France have a lot

2:03:04 > 2:03:07of yards to make, which they will probably do with a boot at the end

2:03:07 > 2:03:12of this. Although Yaha was threatening to break. Here comes the

2:03:12 > 2:03:20kick you would fancy. Fages carried it as far as he could. Taken by

2:03:20 > 2:03:25Albert. There was an England touch so France get another set. It is

2:03:25 > 2:03:31getting a little scruffy from England. Credit to the French

2:03:31 > 2:03:34fighting spirit.

2:03:48 > 2:03:50France ten away.

2:03:59 > 2:04:06Benjamin Garcia has held up. Five away, last play. Fages trying to

2:04:06 > 2:04:13create something. Percival picked it up and ran England back to relative

2:04:13 > 2:04:23safety. Mickael Rouch is on the field, from Lausanne.

2:04:31 > 2:04:32-- from Limousin.

2:04:39 > 2:04:45McGillvary created an extra ten metres but took an injury. Having a

2:04:45 > 2:04:46bit of treatment on the field.

2:04:54 > 2:04:59Full credit to the French, they have rocked up in the second half and

2:04:59 > 2:05:05decided they are having a real crack at the England team. Physically they

2:05:05 > 2:05:09might be outmatched, but they're getting into space, finding players,

2:05:09 > 2:05:15finding off-loads, testing England. McGillvary is OK, the physio has put

2:05:15 > 2:05:20his thumbs up. He is still hobbling a little on the left-hand side of

2:05:20 > 2:05:25the French attack. Knock-on picked up by Graham.

2:05:25 > 2:05:27McGillvary is not moving freely enough to get into support with

2:05:27 > 2:05:31Graham.

2:05:39 > 2:05:40Williams, the new dummy half of choice.

2:05:44 > 2:05:47Scrum carried by the captain.

2:06:00 > 2:06:06Decent position for England to try to probe again.

2:06:06 > 2:06:11McMeeken out to McGillvary, McGillvary is certainly running free

2:06:11 > 2:06:15enough to score in the corner. A tumbling effort that the referee

2:06:15 > 2:06:20wants a second look at. By reputation he will feel that

2:06:20 > 2:06:24McGillvary probably got there, he has given a try on the field, but

2:06:24 > 2:06:27video referee required.

2:06:30 > 2:06:40REFEREE:Jermaine McGillvary has the aqua boots on. Maintains possession.

2:06:40 > 2:06:46OK, here's down there. Is there any other angle on that? A backpack or

2:06:46 > 2:06:53something to see where arm goes? OK, nice and slow, frame by frame.

2:06:53 > 2:06:58His arm is still in at that point. The ball is on the defender's arm.

2:06:58 > 2:07:04The attacker is still in. The ball is on the ground.

2:07:04 > 2:07:08Can we go back to the front on angle? Just making sure he maintains

2:07:08 > 2:07:13possession all the way. We cleared the touching goal. At this point he

2:07:13 > 2:07:17still has possession.

2:07:25 > 2:07:31Nice and slow here, please, mate. He has it in the right arm, onto the

2:07:31 > 2:07:42defender at this point. We lose the bottom of the ball, verve.

2:07:42 > 2:07:52Can't see enough from that angle, can we go back to a front on angle?

2:07:57 > 2:08:01Keep this moving forward for me. I will need to go back to the front on

2:08:01 > 2:08:04angle.

2:08:10 > 2:08:14OK, based on the ankle is available, the ball comes in contact with the

2:08:14 > 2:08:21ground prior to Jermaine McGillvary clinching goal. It is indeterminate

2:08:21 > 2:08:25to determine he has lost possession of the ball.

2:08:25 > 2:08:32The referee's call on the field was a big one. The try stands because

2:08:32 > 2:08:36there was insufficient evidence to suggest that McGilvray lost

2:08:36 > 2:08:39possession, so he has his second of the night and the second of the

2:08:39 > 2:08:47second half.I thought it was a try, he thought it was a try, the video

2:08:47 > 2:08:51referee could not lob a ruler. He hobbled from one end of the field to

2:08:51 > 2:08:57the other two finish that. Nearly 200 metres in this game. An

2:08:57 > 2:09:02impressive outing from the kid again. Surely the winner of the

2:09:02 > 2:09:06tournament so far?I will endorse that.You have drawn my attention to

2:09:06 > 2:09:13those metres, that is incredible. 184, the best of the forwards is

2:09:13 > 2:09:20Walmsley on 98, Cramer 95. He has done twice as many. You put Graham

2:09:20 > 2:09:23and Walmsley together, they have only done as many as McGillvary as

2:09:23 > 2:09:24an individual.

2:09:29 > 2:09:34They know to start their sets they need him. England are very blessed

2:09:34 > 2:09:38with Ryan Hall, the other wing out at the moment. Once again, the

2:09:38 > 2:09:43execution is really good. McGillvary nails it, but everyone

2:09:43 > 2:09:50did their job again. A nice catch, pass, draw the defender, put him

2:09:50 > 2:09:54away. It is a big statement, winner of the tournament, because there

2:09:54 > 2:10:02have been to outstanding performances. -- winger of the

2:10:02 > 2:10:08tournament. He has made people in Australia take notice. We know he

2:10:08 > 2:10:15has two years left on his contract, not that I have enquired!

2:10:15 > 2:10:18Hands off! Satisfaction writ large across this performance but also

2:10:18 > 2:10:22areas of improvement. Not least of them, cut out the

2:10:22 > 2:10:24mistakes again.

2:10:28 > 2:10:33I think it is no coincidence Sean O'Loughlin comes on, and

2:10:33 > 2:10:35unbelievable footballer, and gets three players and get some rocking

2:10:35 > 2:10:45and rolling up the middle.Runs it back towards the 20 metre mark.

2:10:48 > 2:10:55I guess excuse would be that Sinckler won, had a terrific start,

2:10:55 > 2:11:02blew the French of the field.Maybe they had an entitlement to a

2:11:02 > 2:11:05concentration slip. But a Wayne Bennett will not aware that.No

2:11:05 > 2:11:16should he. -- nor should he. As gritty and determined as the

2:11:16 > 2:11:19French have been, defensively and with the ball, they have probably

2:11:19 > 2:11:26dropped the ball five, six or seven times in the second half.Minimum.

2:11:26 > 2:11:33They just looked tired. That is when the errors come. I don't" 's errors

2:11:33 > 2:11:40come through tiredness, that has had nothing to do with this. -- I don't

2:11:40 > 2:11:45think the errors came through tiredness.

2:11:45 > 2:11:51Looking through McGillvary's starts, 16 hiccups, 194 metres, he is making

2:11:51 > 2:11:5612 metres every time he gets the ball in his hand, on average. Those

2:11:56 > 2:12:08are big numbers. -- looking through McGillvary's statistics, 16 hit-ups.

2:12:08 > 2:12:13It is getting a little close here in terms of the heat, the temperature.

2:12:13 > 2:12:17We had a Fremantle Doctor blowing into cool things down, but that

2:12:17 > 2:12:19seems to have died out.

2:12:25 > 2:12:30Too many eager French limbs to allow that to happen. Brown stands and

2:12:30 > 2:12:40weights. Ratchford had a chance, cuts back on the inside.

2:12:46 > 2:12:59An easy take by Djalout.Bateman did extremely well with the pass under

2:12:59 > 2:13:05pressure, but then it is his responsibility to kick the ball.We

2:13:05 > 2:13:06are off!

2:13:15 > 2:13:22Chris Hill is furious about something. Kevin Brown can only see

2:13:22 > 2:13:25the funny side, as can his Warrington team-mate Benjamin

2:13:25 > 2:13:31Jullien. Tag team wrestling!

2:13:37 > 2:13:42He has been known to be tight with his money, Chris Hill. That might be

2:13:42 > 2:13:49a team-mate trying to square up on that.

2:13:49 > 2:13:53Penalty originally for the off-site, by the way.If you throw a punch it

2:13:53 > 2:13:56is not an instant sin-bin in this tournament, it is up to the

2:13:56 > 2:14:01discretion of the referee to determine what he thinks up the

2:14:01 > 2:14:07punch.That is the NRL ruling these days. Punch and you are in the bin,

2:14:07 > 2:14:10no questions. But they have relaxed, if that is the right word, that rule

2:14:10 > 2:14:17for the World Cup. Margalet 40 metres out from the England line,

2:14:17 > 2:14:22France trimming by 30. 11 minutes of the World Cup to go before the bags

2:14:22 > 2:14:27are packed and off they go. A couple of weeks off and then back

2:14:27 > 2:14:29in pre-season training. It is a tough life.

2:14:47 > 2:15:01Five gone, want to go. Boudebza weights again. Albert puts it up. A

2:15:01 > 2:15:09clean catch from Perceval. What do you think of Mark Percival?I think

2:15:09 > 2:15:14he has been all right. He has not had many running opportunities to

2:15:14 > 2:15:22show his pace and skill but he has not looked out of place.Thomas

2:15:22 > 2:15:32Burgess was breaking through like a reinvented Jermaine McGillvary.

2:15:40 > 2:15:49Brown's sheer delight at being picked and playing. Keirallah does

2:15:49 > 2:15:54more than well, does fantastic. Here comes Mark Keirallah, who scored an

2:15:54 > 2:15:57eye-catcher against the Aussies. He can do the distance against the

2:15:57 > 2:16:06English. On tackle two, France are already inside England's.That is

2:16:06 > 2:16:13probably the best kick of the second half, and then Keirallah goes in!I

2:16:13 > 2:16:18was just saying about Kevin Brown, his delight at being picked to play

2:16:18 > 2:16:23is palpable. He is 33 years of age, this is the pinnacle of his career,

2:16:23 > 2:16:26playing in a World Cup for his country. This is what it means to

2:16:26 > 2:16:33him and a lot of his team-mates. A couple of tackles to go for

2:16:33 > 2:16:36France. Eight and a bit minutes to play.

2:16:43 > 2:16:52A good set of six. It really works England's over. France are very keen

2:16:52 > 2:16:58to do well, regardless of the scoreline.

2:17:04 > 2:17:12Their big game with Lebanon, where their World Cup dream disappeared.

2:17:12 > 2:17:18The opening game, very tight until the late stages in Canberra, then

2:17:18 > 2:17:24suddenly it was 29-18 for Lebanon and France had to face up against

2:17:24 > 2:17:28Australia and England knowing they were up against it. They were flayed

2:17:28 > 2:17:35by the Aussies 52-6, something similar here, 36-6. We know what

2:17:35 > 2:17:38Keirallah is capable of. England's defensive chase will be tight at

2:17:38 > 2:17:39this time.

2:17:49 > 2:17:54Swinton fans in the crowd tonight, we have seen a couple of those.

2:17:54 > 2:18:02Ilias Bergal played at Swinton last year.

2:18:02 > 2:18:07The original barmy Army was British rugby league fans back in the 80s,

2:18:07 > 2:18:12all the fans that used to come over and the Aussie press dubbed them the

2:18:12 > 2:18:25Barmy Army, the mantle has been taken on by the cricket lovers.

2:18:27 > 2:18:33Seven minutes to go, 14,744 inside the stadium.

2:18:33 > 2:18:38A sell-out crowd earlier saw Papua New Guinea thumping the United

2:18:38 > 2:18:41States, making sure of their quarterfinal place against England

2:18:41 > 2:18:46next week. We saw arguably one of the greatest

2:18:46 > 2:18:51World Cup games of all time yesterday. It sounds like hyperbole,

2:18:51 > 2:18:56but if you have not seen it you would not believe it. Tonga winning

2:18:56 > 2:19:00against New Zealand, but it was the motion that went into that, the

2:19:00 > 2:19:04crowd singing hymns at times. We were sat watching it, jumping up and

2:19:04 > 2:19:08down and shouting and cheering and thinking, good heavens, England have

2:19:08 > 2:19:13to face one of these two in a couple of weeks!

2:19:13 > 2:19:18We got an interview earlier with the assistant coach of the Tongans, you

2:19:18 > 2:19:23can hear it on the BBC rugby league podcast and a couple of days. He was

2:19:23 > 2:19:26talking about the reception they got a Christchurch airport when they

2:19:26 > 2:19:29landed, it was like the Beatles had arrived.

2:19:29 > 2:19:40The passion is therefore Tonga. The passion is there for Tonga.

2:19:46 > 2:19:51England could do with a little more efficiency and tightening things up,

2:19:51 > 2:19:57they could do with finishing on a high.Wayne has always been critical

2:19:57 > 2:20:01of the Burgess boys, reckons they lose the ball too much and give away

2:20:01 > 2:20:05silly penalties. Unfortunately Tom has done nothing to say he has

2:20:05 > 2:20:08change. It is an aspect of their game, they give up the ball easily

2:20:08 > 2:20:10sometimes.

2:20:14 > 2:20:21Three gone, three to go. Boudebza behind the 40 metre mark. Perceval

2:20:21 > 2:20:44Haddad tracked. -- Percival had it trapped. I think you can see

2:20:44 > 2:20:53Margalet being carted off with an injury.Elementary, dear Watson.

2:20:53 > 2:20:59Those things should not be happening for 18 which will aspire to win the

2:20:59 > 2:21:04World Cup.You watched murder on the Orient express last night. That is

2:21:04 > 2:21:09not Watson, is it? About Dave watches, he said he fell asleep but

2:21:09 > 2:21:14they tell me it is a good movie. I was very tired and I missed about

2:21:14 > 2:21:18an hour and 15 minutes of it. That was Hercule Poirot, not Doctor

2:21:18 > 2:21:23Watson. I can't even watch it again because I woke about the final act,

2:21:23 > 2:21:25I know how it finishes!

2:21:30 > 2:21:33-- I woke up at the final act.

2:21:41 > 2:21:45If anyone is looking to finish the stronger, you would put your money

2:21:45 > 2:21:50on the French. Going out not with a whimper. Going out with a bit of a

2:21:50 > 2:22:03bang. Mickael Rouch put down ten metres out. Here comes Fages again.

2:22:03 > 2:22:10Put the flat ball in for the urge and the surge. Now it is for

2:22:10 > 2:22:14Alberta, chipping into the goal area. Ratchford taking no risks with

2:22:14 > 2:22:22that, made sure it was out of play. It is a banana kick, watch how he

2:22:22 > 2:22:28takes this on the inside of the ball. Two Twell back to the winner.

2:22:28 > 2:22:36That is retro's only option, to knock it dead, creating a repeat set

2:22:36 > 2:22:43of all France. -- that is Ratchford's only option.

2:22:43 > 2:22:46You were right before, Brian, the amount of times they have given up

2:22:46 > 2:22:52the ball, the French, but found energy to holding windows, or when

2:22:52 > 2:23:01they get the ball, to look like they have energy.From 26-6 at 36-6, I

2:23:01 > 2:23:05think it is less than satisfactory from England. They have got the job

2:23:05 > 2:23:08done in terms of winning and steering through to the

2:23:08 > 2:23:10quarterfinals, but you should imagine Wayne Bennett will be

2:23:10 > 2:23:15scratching his head. He will be speaking to us at the end of the

2:23:15 > 2:23:17game.

2:23:26 > 2:23:29Boudebza is on and just over the line, they will have to retreat ten

2:23:29 > 2:23:33metres for this play the ball.

2:23:51 > 2:23:56The referee looked as though he was going to blow up straightaway. Then

2:23:56 > 2:23:59he held and had a look and decided he was going to give that as a

2:23:59 > 2:24:08knock-on. Too rushed.Looking at the three games England have played in,

2:24:08 > 2:24:12it is the last 20 minutes they struggle to score. Against

2:24:12 > 2:24:16Australia, they struggle. Against Lebanon last week at the 26-6,

2:24:16 > 2:24:21Burgess scored, then they could not put points on. Once again today, I

2:24:21 > 2:24:25am being critical because I think they have the ammunition, the

2:24:25 > 2:24:30forwards, the skill, I am being critical because I expect them to do

2:24:30 > 2:24:34better.It is decision-making. I have been slightly disappointed with

2:24:34 > 2:24:40England in the second half. They have to have the element of clinical

2:24:40 > 2:24:45nurse, even if they are playing football, people have to be in the

2:24:45 > 2:24:51right place. They have executed pretty well.When they have done it

2:24:51 > 2:25:02well, they have looked world-class. Gale comes left, Widdop is involved

2:25:02 > 2:25:03again.

2:25:17 > 2:25:25Gale 40 metres from his own line, into the final 19 seconds. Percival

2:25:25 > 2:25:32could not get it in. A little kick over the top by Fages, he might have

2:25:32 > 2:25:38been going on Super League rules with the advantage played. That is

2:25:38 > 2:25:48it, anyway. That is it. 36-6. Job done in terms of a win. The first 40

2:25:48 > 2:25:55minutes for the most part terrific. Two minutes' aberration when they

2:25:55 > 2:26:00conceded a try. The second half, although they have not conceded and

2:26:00 > 2:26:04have scored two, less than satisfactory, you would have to say.

2:26:04 > 2:26:10A lot in there to have Wayne Bennett scratching his head. I think the

2:26:10 > 2:26:14second-half performance was probably five out of ten. How poorly they

2:26:14 > 2:26:16kicked, and a lack of decision-making in terms of

2:26:16 > 2:26:23direction. What is our purpose?I am not being overcritical, we play New

2:26:23 > 2:26:28Guinea and the trapdoors commodes. You had to get it right. Probably

2:26:28 > 2:26:31Tonga in the semifinal, better teams coming up. I am confident England

2:26:31 > 2:26:37will be better, I am happy with how they executed the start of the first

2:26:37 > 2:26:41half and up the 30 minute mark I thought their skill levels were of

2:26:41 > 2:26:46the highest level.I would probably endorse them. I want to see them do

2:26:46 > 2:26:51it consistently for 80 minutes. They have shown the ammunition and some

2:26:51 > 2:26:54tries early, absolutely breathtaking. The skill and the way

2:26:54 > 2:26:59they set them up. But in this World Cup, Tonga showed the other night

2:26:59 > 2:27:03they are stronger by New Zealand, they have been able to do that.

2:27:03 > 2:27:07Australia seem to be able to compete for 80 minutes, that is why they are

2:27:07 > 2:27:10favourite for the tournament and why England has to keep climbing the

2:27:10 > 2:27:14mountain and get better. I admire their players, there are plenty of

2:27:14 > 2:27:20them. We will hear from Gareth Widdop

2:27:20 > 2:27:32again, down there with Brett to get his views. Let's catch up with

2:27:32 > 2:27:37Gareth Widdop. REPORTER: A much better performance from England, not

2:27:37 > 2:27:40quite clinical and the second top that you must be played

2:27:40 > 2:27:41quite clinical and the second top that you must be played quite --

2:27:41 > 2:27:44pleased questionably. We will, we need to put in the 80 minute

2:27:44 > 2:27:49performance. The first half was really good, competed well, for ten,

2:27:49 > 2:27:5250 minutes in the second helper at turning the ball over, which we

2:27:52 > 2:27:57can't afford.We keep improving each week, if we can will give ourselves

2:27:57 > 2:27:59every chance. At the start of the game it looked

2:27:59 > 2:28:08like you came out with confidence to chant your arm, and it worked?It

2:28:08 > 2:28:11did, we have worked on it in training. We moved the ball around,

2:28:11 > 2:28:15scored a viewpoints. The key is doing it for 80 minutes.You were

2:28:15 > 2:28:20playing full-back, your thoughts on that position? You had a great day

2:28:20 > 2:28:24out, the difference between playing six and one?It has been a long time

2:28:24 > 2:28:28since I have pulled on the number one jersey, you run around more and

2:28:28 > 2:28:33I am better for the run, that is for sure.

2:28:33 > 2:28:36Quarterfinals next week, PNG on Sunday, a physical challenge?They

2:28:36 > 2:28:41are a great team, they have played really well in the last few weeks

2:28:41 > 2:28:46and it will be tough, but for as it is about making sure we're doing our

2:28:46 > 2:28:50job individually, if we do that we will get the job done.

2:28:50 > 2:28:56Thank you, Gareth. We have the French have, Theo Fages. Can you

2:28:56 > 2:29:01tell us how proud you are of your country and your team-mates?You

2:29:01 > 2:29:06know, we are proud to wear the shirts, to represent France. It is a

2:29:06 > 2:29:11bit disappointing this year, for us. Now we are looking to do a bit

2:29:11 > 2:29:16better than we did. Especially today, we knew it was our last

2:29:16 > 2:29:21chance to qualify and we started the game poor, and against a quality

2:29:21 > 2:29:27side like England you can't do this. It was a great experience, we have a

2:29:27 > 2:29:32young side and it is a learning curve.Even though you are playing

2:29:32 > 2:29:37against worldwide great players, what have you learned the most?The