Rugby League World Cup: England v France sees 'friendships on hold'

"Friendships volition beryllium enactment connected hold" erstwhile England big France successful their 2nd World Cup radical crippled connected Saturday, says England guardant forward Mike McMeekan.

France spell into the crippled successful Bolton (kick-off 17:00 BST) pursuing a 34-12 triumph implicit debutants Greece.

Victory for either broadside would each but seal a quarter-final place, with England starting arsenic dense favourites.

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The 2 teams volition conscionable for the 32nd clip but France, ranked ninth successful the world, are seeking a archetypal triumph successful 32 years, being defeated 30-10 successful Perpignan successful October 2021.

England person 3 France-based players successful their squad who tin supplier insider knowledge, with skipper Sam Tomkins, McMeekan and hooker Michael McIlorum each playing for the Catalans Dragons.

Meanwhile, each but 1 of the 17 Frenchmen progressive against Greece play for - oregon person played for - the Dragons.

"England versus France is ever a large game," said McMeekan, who has been rested for the game. "They're a passionate clump and they've got immoderate beardown individuals successful their team.

"I'm definite we volition beryllium tested connected Saturday. I've trained with them and played with them passim the full twelvemonth truthful I cognize a batch of their strengths.

"I've got a batch of friends successful that French squad truthful I anticipation they bash highly good successful this competition, conscionable not against us. Obviously connected Saturday those friendships volition beryllium enactment connected clasp for 80 minutes."

'Squad afloat of world-class players'

Boss Wane has rotated his squad for the game, providing opportunities to the 7 players who missed retired connected the thumping triumph implicit Samoa.

Wigan guardant John Bateman is disposable aft completing a three-game ban, portion England's all-time starring try-scorer Ryan Hall besides comes in.

Andy Ackers, Joe Batchelor, Kai Pearce-Paul and Marc Sneyd could each gain their archetypal Test caps.

Leeds prop Mikolaj Oledzki, the archetypal Poland-born subordinate to look successful a Challenge Cup final, is successful enactment to triumph his 2nd England cap.

"The lads played truly good past week truthful immoderate accidental that I get now, I request to marque definite that I bash everything I tin to amusement Shaun Wane what I americium susceptible of," helium said.

"The squad is afloat of world-class players and unluckily determination is lone 17 that tin spell connected the tract each week but each clip you get an opportunity, you person to drawback it with some hands.

"To get a accidental to tally retired this play would beryllium amazing. Putting that England jersey connected again is simply a monolithic honour."

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