England kept their Men’s Rugby League World Cup hopes alive in spectacular fashion, thrashing France 82-0 in Perth. After losing their opener, England knew only a massive win would do — and they delivered it, running in 14 tries to stay in the race for the semi-finals.
England Rugby League (Credits: BBC Sport)
England came into the match under real pressure. They had lost 30-12 to Tonga the previous Saturday, and watched Tonga and Samoa rack up huge victories in the meantime. Only a win by a huge margin over France would keep their World Cup dreams alive — and mission accomplished, even if the job is far from done.
England vs France: Farnworth and Young Score Hat-Tricks in 82-0 Rout
After a nervy opening quarter in which England looked weighed down by expectations, the floodgates opened with three tries in four first-half minutes. By half-time, England had six converted tries on the board, including a Herbie Farnworth hat-trick — England’s first World Cup hat-trick since Tommy Makinson against Papua New Guinea in 2022.
Captain George Williams broke the deadlock after 23 minutes, bursting through the line before a clever behind-the-back pass set up Dom Young to score in the corner. Full-back AJ Brimson, whose direct runs pierced France time and again, then led a breakaway to set up Matty Ashton for his seventh try in six Tests.
Harry Smith spotted a gap to send Farnworth over for his first try on 27 minutes, and Farnworth struck again nine minutes later. Williams powered over under the posts for 30-0, and then came England’s best move of the World Cup just before the break, with slick hands to the right before Young set Farnworth back in for his third.
England Rugby League World Cup Hopes Still Need Help
Eight minutes after the break, Young chased down a grubber kick to bring up 40 points, and the tries kept coming. Jez Litten, impressive as an interchange, scored, Victor Radley went over unopposed, and Mikey Lewis bagged a brace. Young raced through for his own hat-trick after a dreadful French short kick-off, Jack Welsby added try number 12, and Brimson capped a deserved performance with a late score.
Hugo Savala was also a key figure with superb kicking, missing only one goal from 14 attempts to add 26 points. The 13th try, scored by Lewis, ensured England surpassed Samoa’s 74-point winning margin against the French.
But England are far from perfect. They made six errors in the opening 20 minutes, and a better side than France — who have not reached the semi-finals since 1992 — would have taken advantage. After Samoa thrashed Papua New Guinea 62-6 earlier, England were a massive 150 points behind the Samoans on points difference.
Now England must do the same against Papua New Guinea in Wollongong on Friday, then hope Tonga beat Samoa next Sunday. The 82-0 win keeps the dream alive, but England still need work and a pinch of luck to avoid missing the World Cup last four for the first time ever.
Also Read: Samoa Thrash Wales 76-0 With 14 Tries to Set New Record at Women’s Rugby League World Cup
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
