Rugby League World Cup 2013: snubbed France have point to prove against ...

Ten of their current squad played in the last mid-season game in 2010 and a

few more also suffered the embarrassment of two defeats in last year’s

end-of-season triangular tournament which also included Wales, arguably the

biggest disappointment of the World Cup. A 44-6 group game defeat was

followed by a 48-4 defeat in last November’s final in Salford.

Almost a year to the day since then, France get the chance to right a few

wrongs and leave the English with a proverbial bloody nose.

England coach Steve McNamara, however, is busy trying not to put too much

emphasis on previous commanding victories, and is keen to play down any

conflict in the past, saying: “Those games have gone. All the signs suggest

they are going to be a threat moving forward.”

The quarter-finals kick off on Friday at Headingley with Scotland taking on

holders New Zealand. Scotland have gone through the group stages unbeaten,

with two wins and a draw, but are nevertheless expected to get a harsh

lesson in top-flight rugby from the Kiwis.

New Zealand’s dual-code superstar Sonny Bill Williams, however, has been

complimentary about the Bravehearts’ half-backs, Man of Steel Danny Brough

and Brisbane Broncos’ Peter Wallace, saying: “They have a great kicking

game. Their No 6 [Brough] has been on fire.”

Australia are expected to cruise into the semi-finals when they meet USA in

Saturday’s other quarter-final at Wrexham, kicking off at 1pm.

The fourth quarter-final at Warrington on Sunday at 3pm will not be for the

faint-hearted, with Samoa and Fiji having produced some of the most brutal

rugby of the tournament.

Rugby League World Cup 2013: snubbed France have point to prove against ...