England coach Brian McDermott has urged his players to remain patient and stick to their game plan as they face Papua New Guinea in Wollongong on Friday, needing a convincing victory to keep their Rugby League World Cup semi-final hopes alive. For the first time in tournament history, England risk missing the knockout stages unless they overturn a 68-point deficit against rivals Samoa and hope Tonga defeats Samoa on Sunday.
Blueprint for a big win
McDermott emphasized the discipline that saw England thrash France 82-0 last weekend after a scoreless first 22 minutes. "We don't start looking for things outside of how we want to play," he said, noting the side's ability to accelerate in the second half. Papua New Guinea, by contrast, led Samoa 14-6 at halftime last Saturday before collapsing to a 64-6 defeat.
Selection changes reflect attacking intent
Warrington winger Matty Ashton retains his place, while Hull KR's Jez Litten is preferred at hooker over Super League Man of Steel Brad O'Neill, who drops to the bench alongside Zach Eckersley. McDermott described the decision as a "hard call" based on the best fit for the game plan. Morgan Knowles returns from a calf injury and the recent birth of his third child, adding physical presence missed in the 30-12 loss to Tonga on 17 October.
Women's team targets semi-final spot
England women's prop Vicky Whitfield believes their 78-0 loss to reigning champions Australia was the "best preparation" for a winner-takes-all Pool A clash against Samoa on Friday (06:45 GMT). The victor will meet New Zealand in the semi-finals. Whitfield said the heavy defeat sharpened their defensive structures against Australia's varied attack, and the squad is focused on securing a fifth consecutive semi-final appearance.
