England need convincing win over France to keep Rugby League world cup hopes alive

England hooker Brad O’Neill insists his team has the belief and determination to secure a convincing victory over France on Saturday and keep their Rugby League World Cup campaign alive.

Following a disappointing 30-12 defeat to Tonga in their opening match, the world’s third-ranked side must beat France in Perth by a substantial margin to remain in contention for a place in the semi-finals.

Only two teams from Pools B and C will advance to the final four of the 10-team tournament, which is being held across Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

Despite the setback against Tonga, Wigan star O’Neill believes England showed enough attacking promise to suggest they can turn things around.

“Despite the result, I feel like the way that we wanted to play was on show,” O’Neill said. “There was just maybe a bit of lack of execution, and credit to Tonga’s defence as well.”

He added that England must continue to trust their approach and improve their performance in the crucial encounter.

“But I felt like the way we wanted to play was shown and we’ve just got to keep working on that.

“There is a real belief in our team.”

On paper, England have a strong advantage over France, having won their previous 23 meetings. Head coach Brian McDermott has also shown confidence in his players by naming an unchanged team for Saturday’s Pool B clash.

France, meanwhile, face an equally difficult challenge after suffering a heavy 78-4 defeat against Samoa in their tournament opener. They also need a significant victory to keep their qualification hopes alive.

However, French fullback Arthur Mourgue remains determined to see his side respond positively.

“We do have speed and some great forwards but compared with top-quality nations we are still a bit under them,” Mourgue said.

“But we’re not going away.”

Tonga Look to Build on England Upset

Following a midweek break, the second round of the Rugby League World Cup begins in Sydney on Friday, with Tonga aiming to maintain their momentum against Lebanon after their impressive victory over England.

Tonga playmaker Isaiya Katoa revealed that the team’s confidence had remained strong even before their opening-match triumph.

“Within our four walls, we had that belief already,” Katoa told reporters.

“We understand the potential of this group and I think internally we’ve just got a bit of a quiet confidence about us.”

The full list of teams for the second round is available in the latest matchday squad announcements.

Elsewhere in Pool B, Papua New Guinea will face Samoa at home, looking to build on their impressive 42-18 victory over Lebanon in their opening fixture.

Australia Prepare for Fiji Challenge

Defending champions Australia will take on Fiji in Brisbane on Saturday, with the Pacific island nation currently leading Pool A following a commanding 40-12 win over the Cook Islands.

The 12-time champions head into the match after edging New Zealand 24-22 in a thrilling opening encounter.

Australia head coach Kevin Walters has made several changes to his starting lineup, bringing in James Tedesco, Bradman Best, Sam Walker, Blayke Brailey and Lindsay Smith for the Fiji clash.

New Zealand, meanwhile, will look to recover against the Cook Islands in Christchurch without star fullback Kalyn Ponga, who has suffered a broken arm.

His absence opens the door for Keano Kini to take over at fullback as New Zealand attempt to get their campaign back on track.

With several teams already facing pressure after the opening round, the second week promises to be decisive in shaping the race for the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.