Sunday 12 November 2017 13:00, UK
Jermaine McGillvary scored twice as England produced their best display of the World Cup to cruise into the last eight, dismantling France by seven tries to one in a comfortable 36-6 victory.
Wayne Bennett's men exploded out of the blocks, scoring three times in the opening eight minutes. Fullback Gareth Widdop scored the opener, before Stefan Ratchford - selected on the wing - was followed over the line by James Graham, from a nice Luke Gale pass.
The St George-Illawarra halfback added all three conversions to put England 18-0 up - and the favourites maintained their point-a-minute start when Mark Percival crossed on 22.
Two minutes short of the half-hour, John Bateman was too strong for Lucas Albert for England's fifth try - but a brief period of French resistance had yielded their opener within five minutes; Benjamin Garcia with a dummy and spin from close range, to put France within twenty at the interval.
A scrappy second period saw England extend their advantage inside sixty seconds, as Julian Bousquet's knock-on was punished by McGillvary - but it would be another twenty minutes before Sean O'Loughlin's side crossed again; video referee Bernard Sutton denying Lucas Albert's effort for a Benjamin Jullien forward pass, before the ruling Huddersfield wing had grounded the ball correctly for his second - despite a valiant defensive effort from Fouad Yaha.
England finish Pool A runners-up - and now progress to face Papua New Guinea in Melbourne next Sunday.
