McDermott Sticks With Same England Squad for Must-Win France Clash as Mikey Lewis Misses Out Again

England head coach Brian McDermott has doubled down on the side that was thrashed 30-12 by Tonga, naming an unchanged 19-man squad for Saturday's Rugby League World Cup clash against France at HBF Park in Perth. The decision comes with England's World Cup hopes hanging by a thread after last weekend's dismal tournament opener.

AJ Brimson retains the full-back jersey, with Jack Welsby again named among the interchanges and Luke Thompson starting at prop in the continued absence of Morgan Knowles, who was injured in the lead-up to the Tonga game. Veteran centre Kallum Watkins remains in the wider squad as he chases a cap at his fourth World Cup. But there is still no place for Mikey Lewis, the Hull KR star left out again despite England's attacking struggles. Wigan hooker Brad O'Neill insisted the squad still believes: "There is a real belief in our team," he said, adding that the game plan "was on show" against Tonga and only execution let them down.

France, humbled 78-4 by Samoa, have rung the changes. Toulouse playmaker Thomas Lacans is promoted to start at five-eighth with Cesar Rouge dropping to the bench, Romeo Tropis comes in at centre, captain Ben Garcia shifts from hooker to lock, and Julian Bousquet replaces Lambert Belmas in the front row.

McDermott has also taken aim at the tournament's reduced 10-team format, calling the jeopardy facing England "harsh" and noting that New Zealand, also beaten in their opener, still have a clearer path to the last four. With only two nations from Pools B and C reaching the semi-finals, England must beat France on Saturday morning — and beat them well — to stay alive.

In the women's draw, 19-year-old Woman of Steel Jenna Foubister will start at half-back for England against Australia on Saturday alongside Isabel Rowe, with Georgia Roche shifting to the interchange.