England vs France LIVE updates: Latest score and highlights from Rugby League World Cup

ENGLAND VS FRANCE: LIVE UPDATES FROM PERTH

England 0 France 0 – 1 min

We’re off and it’s a bad start for France. Jason Baitierihas had to go off with a head injury after just 40 seconds after a real heavy hit.

Ouch.

Moments away from kick-off

10:04: The players are out to a rapturous reception in Perth. France need to win by more than 25 points to qualify but they are pretty unfancied.

No better summed up by Jonathan Davies on the BBC. Asked to describe the side, he responded: “Average.”

Moments away from kick-off here. Anthems are being played.

Get your England shirt on, Phil!

09:50: Poor France. They’ve lost their opening two games and are up against an England side who are one of the pre-tournament favourites.

What’s more, the ref today is Phil Bentham. And he’s from… Lancashire.

Oh la la.

Changes afoot – and England don’t lack bite

09:30: Wayne Bennett has rung the changes ahead of this one – ensuring the fringe players all get a run-out.

Mark Percival, Kevin Brown, Mike McMeeken and Scott Taylor come into the squad with Ryan Hall, Kallum Watkins, Elliott Whitehead and Chris Heighington rested.

But the big bit of news this week surrounded Jermaine McGillvary. He is free to play after being cleared of biting Robbie Farah.

The quarter-finals*

09:15: All being well, England will face the Group C winners – Papua New Guinea – in the quarter-finals next Sunday.

England lost to Australia in their opening Group A game but beat Lebanon last weekend.

It means they are also likely to go through if they lose – because their points difference is vastly superior to France and Lebanon’s.

Got it? Good.

An hour to go…

09:00: So there’s an hour until England’s final group game against minnows France.

England will progress if they win after Australia beat Lebanon on Saturday.

But this is England. And this is a World Cup. And, well, the two don’t go together too well, do they?

Kick-off is at 10am – so go and get yourself a brew.

The teams

England: G Widdop (St George Illawarra); S Ratchford (Warrington), M Percival (St Helens), J Bateman (Wigan), J McGillary (Huddersfield); K Brown (Warrington), L Gale (Castleford); C Hill (Warrington), J Roby (St Helens), J Graham (Canterbury Bulldogs), B Currie (Warrington), M McMeeken (Castleford), S O’Loughlin (Wigan).

Interchange: A Walmsley (St Helens), T Burgess (South Sydney), S Taylor (Hull), G Williams (Wigan).

France: M Kheirallah (Toulouse); F Yaha (Catalans), B Ader (Toulouse), B Jullien (Warrington), I Bergal (Leigh); T Fages (St Helens, capt), L Albert (Catalans); M Herold (Limoux), J Boudebza (London), A Maria (Catalans), B Garcia (Catalans), J Bousquet (Catalans), J Baitieri (Catalans).

Interchange: T Margalet (Catalans), R Navarrete (Wigan), M Rouch (Limoux), N Djalout (Catalans).