France v England predictions and rugby league tips: Farrell can strike first

Free rugby league tips, best bets and analysis for France v England in Perpignan.

Where to watch

BBC1, 3.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Liam Farrell first tryscorer
1pt 12-1 bet365

Match preview

Had the pandemic not intervened England would today be embarking on their quest for World Cup glory against Samoa.

As it is, Sean Wane’s men are in Perpignan to take on a France side buoyed by a stellar domestic campaign for their two clubs, Catalans Dragons and Toulouse.

The Dragons reached their maiden Super League Grand Final earlier this month, narrowly losing out to St Helens at Old Trafford, while Toulouse will join them in the top flight next season after winning promotion from the Championship.

The two clubs provide all but one of France’s 20-man squad to take on England – Salford’s Morgan Escare is the sole exception – although coach Laurent Frayssinous is without a number of first-team players.

The same can be said of Wane, who has opted for an experimental England side shorn of its NRL stars and a number of first-choice domestic-based individuals. John Bateman is the most-capped Englishman with 16 appearances.

A handicap approaching 20 points is tough to decipher. England should be too good despite their absences but it is hard to know how cohesive they will be with up to a dozen debutants.

It may therefore be worth chancing second-row Liam Farrell in the first tryscorer market. Farrell scored nine tries in Super League for Wigan this term – his best return since 2015 – and has crossed the try line three times in ten international appearances.

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