Rugby League World Cup 2013: England can be champions - Agar

France coach Richard Agar believes quarter-final opponents England are capable of winning the World Cup.

Yorkshireman Agar will attempt to defeat his home country in Saturday’s quarter-final at Wigan’s DW Stadium.

But he believes Steve McNamara’s side have improved since losing their opening game

28-20 to tournament favourites Australia.

Agar said: “They’re capable on the day, if they get their best performance out, of beating Australia or New Zealand.”

The winners of Saturday’s quarter-final will face New Zealand at Wembley seven days later.

And England captain Kevin Sinfield believes the experience of Super League’s play-off system will give England’s players an edge in the knockout stages.

All but one of England’s 23-man squad – Castleford’s Rangi Chase – were involved in this year’s domestic play-offs, won by Wigan.

“It certainly ramps up now for everybody,” Sinfield said. “We know it’s do or die.”

Sinfield captained Leeds to a semi-final defeat at eventual double winners Wigan, who could have six players in the England side against France.

He added: “I know they have it in the NRL but a larger majority of our squad have been involved in the play-off system over the last couple of years than probably most other teams. They’re used to this sort of football.”

Coach Steve McNamara used all 23 players during England’s three group games, and has not ruled out further changes if they progress.

He said: “You pick the best 17 for the opponents you are playing that week. It doesn’t mean it will be the same for next week because it will be different opposition and different needs for each game.”

McNamara has confirmed that winger Josh Charnley will win his fourth cap at the expense of Tom Briscoe.

And Huddersfield centre Leroy Cudjoe will maintain his record of having played in all of England’s matches at the 2013 World Cup – 48 hours after becoming a father.

Cudjoe spent the squad’s day off by the bedside of partner Jenna as she gave birth to their first child and was back in camp on Friday morning.

Agar, meanwhile, will give three-quarters Damien Cardace and Younes Khattabi their first run-outs of the tournament in a bid to freshen up a struggling team.

France qualified for the last eight by finishing third in their four-team group, but scored only 15 points in their three matches.

“We’ve left a couple of guys out because we felt their effort wasn’t up to scratch and there’s been some guys in the squad that are chomping at the bit to get a run,” Agar said.

England:


S Tomkins (Wigan); J Charnley (Wigan), K Watkins (Leeds), L Cudjoe (Huddersfield), R Hall (Leeds); R Chase (Castleford), K Sinfield (Leeds, capt); S Burgess (South Sydney), M McIlorum (Wigan), J Graham (Canterbury Bulldogs), B Ferres (Huddersfield), B Westwood (Warrington), S O’Loughlin (Wigan).
Replacements:


G Burgess (South Sydney), R Burrow (Leeds) or J Roby (St Helens), L Farrell (Wigan) or L Mossop (Wigan), C Hill (Warrington).

France (Catalan Dragons unless stated):


M Escare, D Cardace, Y Khattabi (Carcassonne), V Duport, C Greenshields (North Queensland); T Bosc, W Barthau; J Fakir, K Bentley (Toulouse), R Casty, O Elima (capt), S Raguin (St Esteve), G Mounis.
Replacements:


J-P Baile, T Gigot (Avignon), M Simon, A Maria.

Article source: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/442907/Extraordinary-Joe-Launchbury-looking-like-a-Martin-Johnson-replica

Rugby League World Cup 2013: England can be champions - Agar