England Start Litten, Knowles vs Papua New Guinea — SkimNews
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- Jez Litten starts at hooker for England against Papua New Guinea on Friday, his first start of the tournament after coming on as an interchange and scoring in the 58th minute against France.
- Morgan Knowles returns from injury to start at loose forward after missing England's first two matches, while hooker Brad O'Neill drops from the 19-player matchday squad following England's 82-0 victory over France on Saturday.
- Brian McDermott's England need victory in their final Group B and C match on Friday to keep their semi-final hopes alive, then face a two-day wait for Tonga's clash against Samoa.
- Samoa beating Tonga would knock England out of the group stage at the tournament for the first time in history, given England's head-to-head record against Tonga.
- Tonga are guaranteed to finish above England after two wins, including a 30-12 victory over McDermott's side in the tournament opener.
- England can still advance on points difference if they beat Papua New Guinea by a large margin and Tonga secure a convincing victory over Samoa.
- Herbie Farnworth keeps his place in the centres alongside Hugo Savala after a hat-trick of tries against France, while Victor Radley drops to the bench from the No 13 jersey he wore in that match.
Why it matters: England's route to the semi-finals runs through a large win over Papua New Guinea on Friday and a convincing Tonga victory over Samoa, because Tonga are already guaranteed to finish above them after beating England 30-12. Litten and Knowles's starts put a first-time tournament hooker and an injury returnee into a match where margin, not just the result, counts.
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