England Suffer Defeat to Tonga in Rugby League World Cup

England's Rugby League World Cup campaign has taken a hit after their 30-12 defeat to Tonga, but coach Brian McDermott has surprisingly chosen to stick with the same team for their next match against France.

The decision comes as England face a tough task in trying to salvage their chances of reaching the semi-finals. Despite being defeated by Tonga, the team's performance was not entirely dismal, with AJ Brimson scoring one of England's two tries.

Full-back AJ Brimson retains his place in the starting lineup, while Jack Welsby is among the interchanges. This means that Luke Thompson will continue to play at prop, a position he has held onto despite Morgan Knowles being ruled out due to an injury sustained before the Tonga game.

In another notable decision, Mikey Lewis remains on the bench as one of the half-backs, with Harry Smith and England captain George Williams continuing in their roles.

The defeat to Tonga has significantly increased the pressure on McDermott's side to perform in their upcoming matches.

To reach the semi-finals, England must now secure victories in both of their next two games, against France and Papua New Guinea, with a substantial margin likely required given the World Cup format.

This would ensure that even if they win these two games, their fate may still not be sealed until later, when Tonga face Samoa in their final group game.

Meanwhile, England women's coach Stuart Barrow has made a significant selection change ahead of their match against Australia, with Jenna Foubister set to start at half-back.

Foubister, just 19 years old, had an impressive campaign with Wigan Warriors last season, earning her the title of Woman of Steel after a standout year in the Super League.

The unchanged England team will face France in their upcoming match, despite suffering a defeat against Tonga earlier this week.

In a notable achievement, Jenna Foubister equalled the record for the most points scored by an individual English player in a Women's World Cup match, showcasing her impressive skills on the field.

Additionally, there are two other changes to the starting lineup, with Molly Jones replacing Georgia Wilson at centre and Liv Wood taking over from Mary Coleman as prop. This new formation will likely bring about some exciting developments in the upcoming game.

England will take on France for the first time since their record defeat against Australia in Las Vegas last March, a 90-4 loss that left a lasting impact on the team's performance.