England men’s head coach Brian McDermott has opted for continuity in the face of mounting pressure, naming an unchanged 19-man squad for this Saturday’s pivotal Rugby League World Cup encounter against France. The decision comes in the immediate aftermath of a disappointing 30-12 defeat to Tonga in the tournament opener—a result that has sent shockwaves through the camp and left England’s prospects of reaching the semi-finals hanging in the balance.
Despite the tactical questions raised by the loss to Tonga, McDermott has kept faith in the personnel who took to the field last weekend. AJ Brimson will retain his position at full-back, anchoring a XIII that will again feature the versatile Jack Welsby among the interchanges. The decision signals a belief from the coaching staff that the current squad has the necessary caliber to rectify the errors of the opening round, provided they can sharpen their execution on the pitch in Perth.
The stakes for Saturday’s Group B-C match, which kicks off at 07.35 BST, could hardly be higher. Following the historic defeat to Tonga—the first time England has ever succumbed to the Pacific island nation—the margin for error has vanished. To maintain a realistic path to the knockout stages, England is now effectively required to secure emphatic victories in both their remaining group games: the upcoming test against France and the final group fixture against Papua New Guinea on October 30.
The complexities of the current World Cup format add another layer of anxiety for the England camp. Because of the points-differential requirements and the structure of the group standings, even winning both remaining matches may not be enough to guarantee progression. England faces the daunting prospect of a "wait-and-see" scenario, with their fate likely to remain uncertain until at least two days after their final game, when Tonga meets Samoa in the tournament’s last group-stage fixture.
For now, however, the focus remains entirely on the XV-man starting lineup. The team to face France includes AJ Brimson, Dom Young, Hugo Savala, Herbie Farnworth, and Zach Eckersley in the backs, with George Williams and Harry Smith maintaining their partnership in the halves. The forward pack remains anchored by Luke Thompson at prop, alongside Max King, Brad O’Neill, Junior Nsemba, Kai Pearce-Paul, and Victor Radley. The interchange bench consists of Jez Litten, Ben Currie, Ethan Havard, Sam Walters, Jack Welsby, and Matty Ashton, while Kallum Watkins, Mikey Lewis, and Ben Talty remain as reserves.
Luke Thompson continues his role in the front row as the team navigates the absence of Morgan Knowles, who remains sidelined following an injury sustained in the lead-up to the Tonga match. Meanwhile, the omission of Mikey Lewis continues to be a point of intense discussion among supporters and pundits. Lewis, who was a high-profile selection choice over 2025 Super League Man of Steel winner Jake Connor, finds himself out of the match-day 13 once again. Furthermore, the decision to stick with the half-back pairing of Harry Smith and captain George Williams has drawn scrutiny, particularly after the pair struggled to impose their authority against a physically dominant Tongan side last weekend. Whether the pair can find the necessary rhythm against France will be one of the defining narratives of Saturday’s match.
Strategic Shifts for England Women
While the men’s side has opted for stability, England women’s coach Stuart Barrow has taken a decidedly different approach. Ahead of a high-stakes blockbuster clash against tournament co-hosts Australia, Barrow has signaled his intent to disrupt the status quo with significant changes to his starting XIII.
The most notable alteration sees 19-year-old rising star Jenna Foubister handed the starting berth at half-back, replacing Georgia Roche. Foubister’s inclusion is a reward for a stellar domestic season in the Super League, where her playmaking abilities earned her the prestigious Woman of Steel award. The youngster, who marked her international debut with a try in a dominant 62-0 victory over Wales back in August 2025, will now be tasked with orchestrating the attack alongside Izzy Rowe.
Rowe, for her part, enters the match in scintillating form. In England’s opening 70-6 rout of Wales last Saturday, she delivered a masterclass, crossing for two tries and successfully converting nine, accounting for 26 points in total. That performance saw her equal the record for the most points scored by an individual England player in a Women’s World Cup match. The hope is that the combination of Rowe’s clinical finishing and Foubister’s creative vision will provide the spark needed to unsettle the reigning world champions.
Barrow’s tactical retooling extends beyond the halves, with two additional changes to the starting lineup. Molly Jones has been brought in to replace Georgia Wilson in the centres, while Liv Wood steps into the starting prop role in place of Mary Coleman. Lucie Sams has also been drafted into the interchange rotation.
The task facing the women’s team is monumental. Saturday’s clash in Perth, kicking off at 10.05 BST—immediately following the conclusion of the men’s fixture—pits England against an Australian side that has long set the benchmark in the women’s game. This meeting carries additional weight as it marks the first time England has faced the Australians since the two teams met in Las Vegas in March 2025. That previous encounter resulted in a record 90-4 defeat for England, a result that the squad will be desperate to move past as they seek to establish themselves as genuine contenders for the title.
The full squad for the women’s match against Australia features Fran Goldthorpe, Anna Davies, Molly Jones, Connie Boyd, and Amelia Brown in the backline, with the halves pairing of Izzy Rowe and Jenna Foubister. The forwards are led by Liv Wood, Keara Bennett, Hollie-Mae Dodd, Jasmin Strange, Eva Hunter, and Megan Williams. The interchange bench will be comprised of Jodie Cunningham, Vicky Whitfield, Georgia Roche, and Lucie Sams, with Mary Coleman, Georgia Wilson, and Lucy Murray named as reserves.
As both England teams prepare for their respective challenges in Perth, the atmosphere is one of intense focus. The men’s team is fighting for survival in a tournament that has already proven unforgiving, while the women’s team is looking to make a statement against the best in the world. Whether the men’s commitment to continuity pays off, or if the women’s bold changes provide the catalyst for an upset, Saturday promises to be a defining day for English rugby league on the global stage. Both squads are fully aware that the pressure of international competition offers no hiding place, and that the only way to answer the questions surrounding their form is through their performance on the field.
