| England (18) 42 |
| Try: Room 2, Thompson, Whitehead, Radley, Young 2 Goals: Sneyd 7 |
| France (12) 18 |
| Try: Mourgue, Pelissier, Romano Goals: Mourgue 3 |
England almost secured their place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a comfortable 42-18 victory over France in Bolton.
Shaun Wane’s side have won two from two games after beating Samoa in their opener and have a +78 points difference at the top of Group A.
They will be aiming for a clear passage to the round of 16 when they take on debutants Greece in their final group game at Sheffield next Saturday.
Winger Ryan Hall extended his try record for England with two in the opening 11 minutes, completing quick team moves into the corner, and Luke Thompson added a third try.
After their bad start, France fought back. Arthur Mourgue reacted quickest to a ricochet from his own grubber kick and Eloi Pelissier dug in from close range for an 18-12 half-time deficit.
But Elliott Whitehead and Victor Radley crossed early in the second half and winger Dominic Young added two more, including a superb try from the length of the pitch.
Arthur Romano scored a consolation for France late in the game.
England display a surge in the second half
The two teams were meeting for the 32nd time, but England maintained their dominance by claiming their 21st successive victory against France, last losing this game in February 1981.
The French, who will host the next World Cup in 2025, beat Greece in their opener and had only a converted try behind at the break, but England – as expected – ran away with the contest in the second period.
It started perfectly with Hall scoring twice in the opening 11 minutes, converting passes from Marc Sneyd, earning his first Test cap, and Herbie Farnworth for similar tries in the left corner.
It took Hall’s record try tally to 37 for England and the Hull man KR is now the third highest scoring player of all time on the international stage, alongside Australian great Darren Lockyer.
Forward Thompson then came unchallenged between the sticks after a line break from the brilliant Radley created the opportunity.
France responded by punishing England’s negligence with Mourgue and Toulouse hooker Pelissier both landing to knock out home support.
But any fears of a huge upset were allayed early in the second half when Whitehead converted his second try of the tournament off John Bateman’s offload and Radley claimed his first England try as he latched onto the spot kick. Andy Ackers.
The Newcastle Knights Young winger took his tally to four in the competition, his second of the game a sensational flurry following an interception deep in his own half.
Only an extraordinary combination of circumstances will now prevent England from reaching the quarter-finals.
Samoa will be aiming for their first victory against Greece on Sunday, before completing the group against France next Sunday.
#England #beat #France #reached #quarters