England Are Heavy Favourites Against France but Must Avoid ‘Tripping Up’ in Pursuit of World Cup Lifeline

England face a crucial Rugby League World Cup clash against France on Saturday, 24 October, knowing that victory alone may not be enough to keep their semi-final hopes alive. After losing their opening match to Tonga, Brian McDermott’s side must improve their execution and score heavily while hoping other results go their way.

England Face a Must-Win Test After Tonga Defeat

England’s 2026 Rugby League World Cup campaign has reached a critical stage after a disappointing 30–12 defeat to Tonga in their opening fixture. The result has left Brian McDermott’s team with little room for further mistakes as they prepare to face France at HBF Park in Perth on Saturday.

England entered the tournament with ambitions of reaching the semi-finals, but their loss to Tonga means their route forward is now considerably more complicated. They must win their remaining group-stage matches against France and Papua New Guinea and hope results elsewhere keep them in contention.

The pressure is therefore not simply about recovering from one defeat. England must deliver two strong performances while ensuring that their campaign does not unravel through avoidable errors.

France’s Heavy Defeat Offers England an Opportunity

France also suffered a difficult start to the tournament, losing 78–4 to Samoa. That result has increased expectations that England can respond with a convincing victory, particularly given their recent record against the French.

England have won their last 23 meetings with France, including a 40–8 victory in Toulouse in 2024 and a 64–0 success in 2023. Those results underline the historical gap between the teams, although past encounters cannot guarantee what will happen in Perth.

France will be eager to respond after their heavy defeat and will have their own reasons to approach the match with greater urgency. England must therefore avoid assuming that their opponents will simply roll over. A fast start and disciplined performance could be essential to establishing control.

Brian McDermott Warns Against Chasing the Scoreboard

England head coach Brian McDermott has acknowledged the unusual challenge created by the tournament’s cross-group format. Teams in the combined Groups B and C do not all face one another, making points difference potentially decisive if the relevant sides finish level.

McDermott has warned against allowing the need for a large victory to disrupt England’s normal approach. His concern is that an excessive focus on the scoreboard could encourage rushed decisions, unnecessary risks and the very mistakes that undermined the team against Tonga.

England must still attack with purpose, but they need to build their performance through sound decision-making and better execution rather than trying to force every opportunity. The objective is to play effectively first and allow the score to reflect that improvement.

Execution and Discipline Are England’s Immediate Priorities

England showed attacking promise against Tonga but failed to turn enough of their opportunities into points. Errors with the ball, penalties and inconsistent execution in the final stages of attacking sets allowed Tonga to gain control of the contest.

Those shortcomings will need to be addressed against France. England have players capable of creating opportunities, but possession and attacking ambition will count for little if moves repeatedly break down before they produce tries.

Hooker Brad O’Neill has stressed that the team must retain its mentality rather than become consumed by the points difference. His comments reflect the need for England to remain composed, improve their execution and trust the game plan, even with their tournament hopes under pressure.

An Unchanged Squad Must Deliver a Different Result

McDermott has retained the same 19-man matchday squad that faced Tonga, showing faith in the group to correct its mistakes rather than making sweeping changes after one defeat.

Full-back AJ Brimson remains part of the starting line-up, with captain George Williams and Harry Smith continuing in the halves. Brad O’Neill is also retained at hooker, while Jack Welsby is again named among the interchange options. Mikey Lewis remains outside the matchday squad.

The selection places responsibility on the existing group to demonstrate that the opening defeat was not a fair reflection of its potential. Familiarity and continuity may help, but England must translate those advantages into a more controlled and productive display when the match begins.

World Cup Survival Depends on More Than One Victory

England’s match against France is scheduled for Saturday, 24 October, at HBF Park in Perth, with kick-off listed for 7.35am UK time. Their final group-stage fixture will be against Papua New Guinea on 30 October.

Winning both matches is essential to keeping England’s hopes alive, but progression is not entirely in their hands. They also need favourable results elsewhere, particularly from Tonga’s meeting with Samoa, before the final semi-final picture can become clear.

That is what makes the encounter with France so important. England are expected to have the quality to respond, but they cannot afford to let pressure dictate their decisions. A convincing win would restore some confidence and keep their campaign alive; another stumble would leave them facing an increasingly likely early exit from a tournament in which they have historically reached at least the semi-finals.