McIlorum set for England World Cup debut

Michael McIlorum is in line for his first World Cup appearance for England against Fiji on Saturday.

McIlorum, 25, made three appearances at the 2008 tournament for Ireland, and has been drafted in to Steve McNamara’s 19-man squad for Saturday’s final group game at the KC Stadium on Saturday.

The Wigan hooker, in for James Roby, is one of three changes to McNamara’s squad, with Wigan team-mate Lee Mossop also included, and Sam Burgess returning from a one-match ban.

Dropping out the squad alongside Roby are South Sydney forward Tom Burgess and Melbourne half-back Gareth Widdop.

McNamara said: “Mickey (McIlorum) deserves his call up.He has trained tremendously hard. He is an aggressive type of player, who will command the middle of the field.

“We have trained well and we are ready to put in a performance.

“I get the feeling the group on the verge of some really big performances and this will be one of them.”

The result of this game will determine England‘s quarter-final opponents. A win against Fiji is likely to pit them against the loser of France‘s clash with Samoa on Monday, while a defeat will see them take on the winner of that game.

Squad: Carl Ablett (Leeds), Tom Briscoe (Hull), George Burgess (Souths), Sam Burgess (Souths), Rob Burrow (Leeds), Rangi Chase (Castleford), Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield), Liam Farrell (Wigan), Brett Ferres (Huddersfield), James Graham (Canterbury), Ryan Hall (Leeds), Chris Hill (Warrington), Michael McIlorum (Wigan), Lee Mossop (Wigan), Sean O’Loughlin (Wigan), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds), Sam Tomkins (Wigan), Kallum Watkins (Leeds), Ben Westwood (Warrington).