England routs France 82-0 to keep Rugby League World Cup hopes alive

OPA WIRE, Oct 24 (OPA) — England produced a clinical performance on Sunday, scoring 14 tries to dismantle France in a must-win fixture. Herbie Farnworth and Dom Young each recorded hat-tricks, while Hugo Savala proved instrumental with the boot, converting 13 of 14 attempts to contribute 26 points to the final tally.

The victory was essential for England’s progression after a 30-12 loss to Tonga last Saturday left their tournament future in jeopardy. Captain George Williams led the offensive effort, orchestrating a series of breakthroughs that exposed a fragile French defense. By the interval, England had already established a 36-0 lead, effectively neutralizing any threat from their opponents.

Despite the lopsided scoreline, England’s campaign remains precarious. The team currently trails Samoa on points difference, meaning their path to the semi-finals depends on a victory against Papua New Guinea in Wollongong this Friday, combined with a Tongan win over Samoa next Sunday. England has never missed the World Cup semi-finals, and failure to secure a spot would mark a historic exit for the squad.

Coach Shaun Wane’s side showed signs of improvement, though early errors in the opening 20 minutes highlighted lingering inconsistencies. While the 82-0 margin surpassed Samoa’s 74-point win over France, England must maintain this intensity to overcome the significant points deficit. The squad now shifts focus to their final group stage match, knowing that their tournament survival is no longer entirely within their own control.