England 42-18 France: Ryan Hall enters top five all-time World Cup try-scorers
Ryan Hall enters the top five all-time top try-scorers in World Cup history after crossing for two tries in England’s 42-18 victory over France at the University of Bolton Stadium.
The Hull KR winger sits alongside Valentine Holmes with 12, with Bob Fulton (13), Jarryd Hayne (14) and Billy Slater (16) ahead.
England ran in a total seven tries in Bolton to make it two from two in the group stages. Dom Young scoring two more to take his tally to four so far this World Cup.
The crowd of 23,648 was the highest to ever witness a game between England and France in this country.
On his first England cap, Marc Sneyd converted all seven tries for a 100% kicking record.
Match report including two tries for Ryan Hall
Shaun Wane made three changes to his starting XIII. Marc Sneyd was named alongside George Williams for his first cap. Hall replaced Tommy Makinson on the wing, while John Bateman returned from his suspension and replaced Mike McMeeken.
Andy Ackers and Mikolaj Oledzki were named on the bench, with Joe Batchelor as 18th man.
France were without star winger Fouad Yaha, with Matthieu Laguerre moved to the wing, and Benjamin Jullien named at centre.
It was the returning Hall who opened the scoring just six minutes into the clash. Sam Tomkins competed for a high kick to the corner from Williams, finding its way to Sneyd for him to feed the ball to the winger to score.
Hall bagged a brace just six minutes later. Space opened up on France’s right edge thanks to a long pass from Williams, allowing centre Herbie Farnworth to feed his outside-man to dive over.
Luke Thompson scored his second-ever England try to extended the lead to 18-0, thanks to superb footwork from Victor Radley, busting through the middle.
Arthur Mourgue scored France’s first try of the evening with 29 minutes on the clock. The talented youngster chasing his own grubber to ground the ball and score.
Substitute hooker Eloi Pelissier made it 18-12 just seven minutes until the break, going himself under the sticks and powering his way over.
HT: England 18-12 France
As expected, Wane was an animated coach in the changing rooms at the break and that saw England ramp it up in the second half. Elliott Whitehead scoring his third try of the tournament just five minutes in, with the hint of a forward pass from Bateman to assist.
Victor Radley then scored his first try in England colours just minutes later, grounding a neat kick from Ackers.
Kallum Watkins was forced from the field with a head collision soon after.
Jack Welsby, who came on in the second half at full-back, moved to the centres to replace Watkins and fed Young for England’s sixth try. The Newcastle Knights winger raced away 90 metres on 65 minutes for his second try not long after, making it a more-than-comfortable 42-12 lead.
France had the final say in the dying minutes, with a superb solo effort from Tony Gigot setting up Arthur Romano in the corner.
FT: England 42-18 France
Next up, England face Greece in Sheffield next Saturday, while France will meet Samoa in the final group match.
England: Tomkins, Young, Watkins, Farnworth, Hall, Sneyd, Williams, Burgess, McIlorum, Hill, Whitehead, Bateman, Radley. Bench: Welsby, Oledzki, Thompson, Ackers.
Tries: Ryan Hall (2), Luke Thompson, Elliott Whitehead, Victor Radley, Dom Young (2).
Goals: Sneyd 7/7
France: Escare, Romano, Langi, Jullien, Laguerre, Mourgue, Gigot, Dezaria, Da Costa, Belmas, Goudemand, Seguier, Garcia. Bench: Pelissier, Sangare, Springer, Le Cam.
Tries: Arthur Mourgue, Eloi Pelissier, Arthur Romano
Goals: Mourgue 3/3
Attendance: 23,648
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