England v France: Teams
France will be looking to justify their inclusion in the Four Nations series when they take on England in the opening match.
By Lizzie Rose
Last Updated: 23/10/09 6:44pm
France will be looking to justify their inclusion in the Four Nations series when they take on England in the tournament's opening match at Doncaster on Friday.
The French were promoted to the expanded Tri-Nations series despite a catastrophic World Cup, which saw them finish last in the 10-team tournament.
New France captain Olivier Elima admits there is pressure on his side to bounce back and perform at the Keepmoat Stadium.
"The Four Nations is a big competition," he said. "We haven't been included since the start, so it's a great honour - and we will be doing our best to show we are worthy of our place.
"There have been a lot of critics saying, because we came last in the World Cup, we shouldn't be playing in the Four Nations - and that's why we definitely want to prove a point.
Heights
"It's really important for France to be playing at this level to get to the heights where Australia, New Zealand and England are."
France's post-World Cup campaign dealt the side more disappointment when Bobbie Goulding's first match in charge ended in a crushing 66-12 defeat at the hands of England.
There are just eight survivors from that defeat in Paris in June, with the coach able to call on Elima and a number of his Catalans colleagues who missed the 12-try rout.
Dragons prop David Ferriol, Sebastien Raguin, Dimitri Pelo and Jamal Fakir are all available - in addition to newcomer Clint Greenshields.
Elima admits the French are hoping to profit from the Dragons' late-season surge in Super League, which took them to within 80 minutes of the Grand Final.
"As a club with the Dragons, we travelled very well at the end of the season - so there's no reason why can't we continue with that," he said.
"Down the left it's the same side as the Dragons - because we have Thomas Bosc, Dimitri Pelo and probably Jean-Philippe Baile as well.
"It's definitely going to help, but everyone's going to have to step up to play against these big teams.
Quality
"We know that we have good quality as well. But we might have been a bit far from this height previously in international games, so we're just going to try and do our best."
The 13-strong Catalans party will not be joined by second rower Cyril Gossard, who pulled out this week with a knee injury, joining team-mates Greg Mounis and Cyril Stacul on the sidelines.
The Catalans' improvement was helped by Australian Greenshields, who qualifies for the French national side on the three-year residency rule.
The 26-year-old will make his debut at the Keepmoat Stadium and England coach Tony Smith admits he could be a threat.
"He's a class player and he's had a couple of terrific years for them," he said.
"He's dangerous and has a wealth of experience. He knows his opponents from New Zealand and Australia as well, so he'll bring a lot to their team. He's a big plus for them."
England team: S Briscoe (Hull KR); T Briscoe (Hull), L Smith (Leeds), M Shenton (Castleford), R Hall (Leeds); D McGuire (Leeds), R Myler (Salford); A Morley (Warrington), S Moore (Huddersfield), J Peacock (Leeds, capt), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), S Burgess (Bradford), K Sinfield (Leeds).
Replacements: K Eastmond (St Helens), J Roby (St Helens), J Graham (St Helens), B Westwood (Warrington).
France (probable, Catalans unless stated): C Greenshields; D Pelo, S Raguin, J-P Baile, V Duport; T Bosc, J Wynne (Toulouse); D Ferriol, K Bentley, R Casty, O Elima (capt), J Touxagas, J Fakir.
Subs (from): R Gaggliazzo (Carcassonne), T Sadoui (Carcassonne), S Martins, M Griffi (Toulouse), C Moly (Carcassonne).
Referee: Leon Williamson (New Zealand).