England thrash France to keep alive World Cup hopes — SkimNews
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- England thrashed France 82-0 in Perth, scoring 14 tries to keep their World Cup semi-final hopes alive after an opening loss to Tonga.
- Herbie Farnworth and Dom Young each scored hat-tricks, becoming central figures in England’s offensive surge during and after a tight first quarter.
- AJ Brimson was named player of the match for his relentless runs, defensive stability, and crucial assists, culminating in a late try.
- Hugo Savala converted 13 of 14 goals, contributing 26 points and ensuring England surpassed Samoa’s 74-point margin over France earlier in the tournament.
- England must now defeat Papua New Guinea and rely on Tonga beating Samoa next Sunday to advance, as points difference remains critical.
- France made repeated errors under pressure and failed to score, continuing their semi-final drought since 1992 despite sporadic threats.
Why it matters: England avoids immediate elimination with the largest win of the tournament, but still depends on other results; a 150-point deficit behind Samoa means even this 82-0 victory isn't enough without external outcomes favoring them, raising stakes for their final group match.
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