Predicting the England starting line up against France

England meet France this Saturday in a mid-season international in Toulouse. The game represents a valuable opportunity for England to test out combinations and cast an eye over fringe players as their only competitive fixture before the end-of-season test series against Samoa.

The game is the latest in a historic rivalry which stretches back 90, with the fixture scheduled as part of a series of celebrations for the anniversary of Rugby League in France.

The first game between the two sides was held in 1934 at the Stade Buffalo, with England running out 32-12 winners on that occasion. England have dominated the fixture over the years, winning 44 times in the 54 games between England and France.

France, who have been victorious against England seven times, last won in 1981, winning 5-1 in Leeds. Since then, France have lost 22 consecutive games against England as the game declined in fortunes in the country. However, France has assembled arguably their strongest squad since 1981 and will be hoping to upset the odds.

With that in mind, we have predicted England’s starting line-up for the game this weekend, as the England side looks to maintain its dominance over their French counterparts.

QUIZ: Can you identify these 10 Rugby League grounds?

Jack Welsby

Jack Welsby is one of England’s key players and is certain to start the game against France. Welsby now has nine England caps to his name and is the side’s vice-captain.

Welsby has been an ever-present for St Helens this season and has been crucial to their challenge at the top of the Super League table. He has scored 11 tries so far in Super League and has registered an impressive 14 try assists, giving him 25 try contributions in total, which averages out at one every 48 minutes.

Defensively sound and dynamic in attack, Welsby will be a cornerstone of the England side for years to come, given he is only 23 years old.

Tom Johnstone

Prolific winger, Tom Johnstone, looked destined to be one of England’s nearly men for many years. Despite proving himself to be a potent threat on the wing for several seasons a combination of unfortunately timed injuries and established players, such as Tommy Makinson, meant that Johnstone found opportunities at international level limited.

However, he has received more opportunities at international level recently. He played in all three of England’s wins over Tonga in last year’s autumn internationals and looks set to start on the wing in Toulouse this weekend.

Johnstone has five tries in his four appearances for England, including two in the first game against Tonga last season. With Tommy Makinson nearing the end of his career, Johnstone will be hoping to stake a claim to replace him on the wing permanently for England.

Sam Wood

Sam Wood is one of the surprise inclusions in the squad to face France. However, it is a call up which has been justified by Wood’s strong form in a Castleford Tigers shirt this season.

26 year old Wood joined the Tigers in the odd-season from the Huddersfield Giants and has been one of the standout performers in a mixed season for the Tigers so far. Wood has played 15 times for Castleford, scoring three tries and assisting four times.

Wood is a powerful presence in the centres and has contributed 1814 running metres and 51 tackle busts for Castleford so far. Herbie Farnworth will likely come back into the squad for the autumn internationals, but, with no NRL based players in the squad for the game against France, Wood has the chance to stake a claim for a more permanent place in the England squad.

Harry Newman

Harry Newman, like Johnstone, who is looking to establish themselves in the England side after a nightmare run of luck with injuries. Newman is undoubtedly one of the most talented young centres in England. However, at the age of 24, he now needs a run of games in Super League to prove that he can consistently live up to the expectations placed upon him,

Newman appears on course to put those injury issues behind him. He has appeared 11 times for the Leeds Rhinos this season and looks set to surpass his most appearances in a season, when he made 20 appearances in the 2019 season.

He has scored four tries so far this year, in a Rhinos side which has struggled for consistency at times. With a new head coach set to join the club, Newman will be hoping that an upturn in form for his club side will help him to establish himself as regular in the England starting side.

Ash Handley

Ash Handley is the second Leeds player we predict to make the starting line up against France and another who is perhaps unlucky not to have made more England appearances in his career so far.

Handley has been one of the most deadly finishers in Super League in recent years, yet has only made one appearance for England, which came in last year’s mid-season international against France.

Handley has scored several try of the season contenders already this season and is as dangerous from deep in his own half as he is near the opponents line. He has a strong combination with Newman from their time at the Rhinos and will be hoping to add to the hat trick he scored against France last year.

With Dom Young absent from this England squad, Handley will be hoping to stake a claim for a more permanent place in Shaun Wane’s thinking in Toulouse.

George Williams

George Williams is England’s captain and, arguably, their best player. He has been a stand out in Super League since returning to the competition with the Warrington Wolves and has played a key role in Warrington’s resurgence under Sam Burgess this year.

Mikey Lewis has been a standout player for Hull KR this season and his form means Williams cannot afford to become complacent. But it is highly unlikely that England will decide not to play Williams, with so few international fixtures on the calendar.

Don’t be surprised to see Lewis come off the bench in the second half though. Lewis impressed during England’s series against Tonga and Williams may benefit from not playing the full game.

Harry Smith

Wigan Warriors are the dominant force in English Rugby League currently, having swept the board, winning every trophy available to them in the last 12 months. Key to that dominance has been the form of Harry Smith, who has been instrumental in their return to the summit of the game.

Smith made his England debut in last year’s mid-season international against France, before appearing in all three of the end of season fixtures against Tonga. Smith was nominated for the prestigious International Rugby League Golden Boot, awarded to the player who has most impressed in the international season.

Smith missed out on the award to New Zealand’s James Fisher Harris, however, this does not take away from his impressive performances in an England shirt. Smith is also just 23 years old and looks set to be the heartbeat of the England side for years to come.

Luke Thompson

With 10 international caps, representing England and Great Britain, and at 29 years of age, Luke Thompson is one of the older heads in the England squad. The former St Helens man, who now plays for Wigan, via a spell in the NRL, has been one of the stand out performers in Super League this season.

Thompson returned to Super League for the 2024 season and is part of the conquering Wigan side. He has played 12 times for Wigan this season, scoring one try, and was part of the squads which win the World Club Challenge and the Challenge Cup.

Following the retirement of key players such as George Burgess and Elliot Whitehead, England’s pack is looking to move on from the line-up which included so many NRL based stars. With experience at the top level of Super League and the NRL, Thompson can help to bridge that generational gap.

Brad O’Neill

Winning international recognition caps off a remarkable ascent to the top of the game for Wigan’s Brad O’Neill. At 21 years old, O’Neill has won every trophy available to him, repeating the feat of Barrie-John Mather, who was the last player to win all available domestic trophies at a similar age.

Now, O’Neill will receive his first England cap and he will surely be keen to carry on lifting silverware at international level. O’Neill is a key cog in the Wigan machine, having made 13 appearances so far this season. He has scored two tries and created one in Super League this season.

Daryl Clark and Josh Hodgson dominated the number nine role for England for a long time, however, O’Neill looks set to make the shirt his own as England build towards the 2025 Ashes and the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.

Matty Lees

Matty Lees is another player whose relatively young age hides a wealth of experience. At 26, he is entering his best years as a forward, however, he has already achieved a great deal in the game. Lees is a multiple Grand Final winner with St Helens and has played over 150 times for their first team since making his debut in 2017.

Lees has six England caps to his name. He played three times in the 2021 World Cup and was ever present in England’s 3-0 series win over Tonga, coming off the bench in the first game and starting the final two tests.

Lees is one of the key components of a strong St Helens side and has made 12 appearances for the Red Vee so far this season. He will be hoping to impress against France to secure his starting berth in the England side this autumn.

Ben Currie

Ben Currie is another player who feels like he has been around the international scene forever. However, at 29, he still has plenty to offer the England side.

Currie made his international debut with Ireland in 2013 as an 18 year old and has gone on to win nine England caps, having switched international allegiance in 2017. He has scored three tries in an England shirt and featured six times during England’s run to the 2017 World Cup final in Australia.

Currie is a regular starter for Warrington, having made 12 appearances so far this season. He may face pressure for his place at the end of the season, however, if Junior Nsemba is able to continue his impressive performances for Wigan.

Matty Nicholson

At 20 years old, Currie’s Warrington team mate and back row partner, Matty Nicholson, is another who appears to have a long future ahead of him in an England shirt.

His appearances for Warrington have not only caught the eye of the England selectors this season, with Nicholson heavily linked with a move to the NRL in the close season, with the Canberra Raiders seen as a likely destination.

Nicholson has been ever present for Warrington since returning from an early season hernia operation. He has made 11 appearances, scoring two tries, and formed an impressive partnership with Currie.

With Elliot Whitehead retiring and returning to Super League from the Raidrers, Nicholson could be his long-term successor for both club and country.

Elliot Minchella

Elliot Minchella’s call up to the England squad is a testament to the power of hard work and determination. Minchella has had to take a the road less travelled to make it to this point, but he has been a standout performer in a Hull KR side who continue to challenge at the top of Super League.

Minchella started his career at Leeds, before dropping down to the Championship with the Sheffield Eagles and Bradford Bulls. His form with the Bulls earned him a move to KR and he has never looked back since returning to Super League.

Minchella is a key playmaker in KR’s deadly spine and has formed a strong combination with Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten, Tyrone May and Niall Evalds. With first choice loose forward, Victor Radley, absent for this game, England will be hoping Minchella can step up to stake his claim.