RLWC2021 – England v France: Team news, how to watch on TV & predictions

Josh McAllister
England v France

Everything you need to know – England v France. 

England’s second game of the World Cup tournament comes this weekend against France in Group A of the Men’s tournament.

Shaun Wane’s side picked up an emphatic 60-6 win over Samoa on the opening day of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. Meanwhile, France defeated Greece 34-12 in Doncaster on Monday.

Match details

  • England v France
  • Date: Saturday 22nd October
  • Kick-off time: 5pm
  • Venue: University of Bolton Stadium, Bolton
  • Group A

England v France team news

England 19-man squad: 1. Sam Tomkins, 3. Kallum Watkins, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Ryan Hall, 6. Jack Welsby, 7. George Williams, 8. Tom Burgess, 9. Michael McIlorum, 10. Luke Thompson, 11. Elliott Whitehead, 12. John Bateman, 13. Victor Radley, 14. Dom Young, 18. Chris Hill, 19. Andy Ackers, 21. Marc Sneyd, 22. Joe Batchelor, 23. Mikolaj Oledzki, 24. Kai Pearce-Paul.

France 19-man squad: 1. Morgan Escare, 2. Arthur Romano, 3. Samisoni Langi, 4. Matthieu Laguerre, 5. Fouad Yaha, 6. Arthur Mourgue, 7. Tony Gigot, 8. Jordan Dezaria, 9. Alrix Da Costa, 10. Lambert Belmas, 11. Bejamin Jullien, 12. Paul Seguier, 13. Ben Garcia, 14, Eloi Pelissier, 15. Justin Sangare, 16. Gadwin Springer, 17. Mickael Goudemand, 19. Corentin Le Cam, 23 Cesar Rouge.

What the two camps are saying

England head coach Wane said: “They’ve got some really good ball carriers, really big ones, so we need to make sure our defence is on.

“The Test last year was important to us, we got a lot from it and I expect the one on Saturday to be full on.”

France assistant coach Sean Long said: “It’s a massive test for us.

“We’re going to have to all play our best ever game to beat them, they are such a good team and well drilled.”

How can I watch the game on TV?

Every game across the men’s, women’s and wheelchair World Cup tournaments is being broadcast by the BBC.

Australia v Scotland will be live on both BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Saturday.

READ: How to watch every Rugby League World Cup game on the BBC

Odds and predictions

England go into this one as massive 1/80 favourites with Planet Sport Bet. France, who lost 30-10 to England at the end of 2021 in a test match, are 18/1 with the bookmakers.

Following their impressive World Cup opening win, Wane’s England look set to make it two from two so far this tournament.

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