Saturday 11 November 2017 15:23, UK
Ahead of Week 3 of the Rugby League World Cup, Phil Clarke picks out his three games to watch…
England v France (Sunday, 10am GMT)
The World Cup isn't like other rugby league competitions - you don't have to be consistent, and you don't have to play well for 30 games. England only need to be good enough for one or two matches - to follow the parallel of tournament football, where we've seen teams turn in average displays in the group stages, before peaking when it matters - at the business end of the competition.
Wayne Bennett's men have not played to their full potential so far - and, barring a seismic shock, should not need to against France in Perth. Their World Cup tests will come later. Les Tricolores lost 40-6 in Avignon the last time these two met - and the French are weaker 12 months on, with neither of their points scorers that day, Eloi Pelissier and Tony Gigot, available - but every team has one good game in them…
Bennett has obviously rotated his England squad - and I'm keen to find out whether Mark Percival can do enough at centre to oust either John Bateman or Kallum Watkins, with the quarter-finals looming. Elsewhere, we haven't yet seen any consistency between full-back and stand-off, with numbers 1 and 6 working together. Kevin Brown could play at stand-off, seven weeks after his last appearance there, for Warrington against Hull KR in the Qualifiers - while I'm pleased Jermaine McGillvary has been cleared to continue his impressive tournament…
New Zealand v Tonga (Saturday)
Tonga were many people's outsiders to reach the final before a ball was kicked - but a win against the Kiwis would grow their army of believers. Their last meeting in Rotorua eight years ago had the scores locked at 24-24 after an hour, before the hosts sealed it with three tries in the final quarter - but Kristian Woolf's side are much stronger on paper this time around.
The headline act should come when two of the World Cup's biggest backlines collide - the battle between the likes of Daniel Tupou, Manu Vatuvei and Mahe Fonua up against units like Gerard Beale, Brad Takairangi and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck could decide this one.
Papua New Guinea v USA (Sunday, 5am GMT)
Papua New Guinea are the most vibrant team in this tournament - and this promises to be the competition's most colourful contests. World Cups are about more than just who wins the trophy, but about experiences - for fans, coaches and players alike.
None of the Tomahawks side will have played anywhere like a sell-out Port Moresby, where I made my Great Britain debut back in 1990 - and even Brian McDermott, who has seen plenty of the world as a former Royal Marine, may not have sampled anything like this.
Castleford new-boy Garry Lo has been a revelation on the wing - and with former Leeds hookers James Segeyaro and Paul Aiton on the field, the Kumuls will be a creative force as well as a dynamic and destructive one.
I can't wait!
