Bentham's positioning then??? Even if the French player caught it he was going to be in the way.

I know it’s only a desperately poor France team but Widdop looking excellent at fullback.

They look a different team with Widdop & Gale linking up rather than one split either side. Superb handling. Everything stops when it gets to Bateman unfortunately. Percival looks world class & is more than holding his own physically. It will be different against the southern hemisphere teams.

Good start against a bit of a rabble that wouldn't trouble half a dozen sides in this comp.
Nice hands and the fluidity is what we want and is IMHO the best way to beat the other teams going forward and ultimately Australians in the final if we get there.
Widdop excellent at FB, Brown doing really well, Gale better and Roby makes such a massive difference, Hodgson shouldn't get in the 17 frankly as he's offered virtually nothing as many have said.
Percival has done alright too.
Hope Graham gets a long rest this game.

Good job he scored then when it was a 2 on 1 for England and a walk in if he passed.

What is wrong with France?
They're an absolute disgrace.

France in, damn soft try though.

Finally some constructive criticism of Bateman from the commentary team.

I have a concern about how little the lads seem to be enjoying this. They look anxious and unhappy. Even after tries, there’s little sign of team spirit. It’s very dour. They should be enjoying this, but the body language is grim.

To me they just look like they know they have a professional job to do, against a team that have spanked on a pretty regular basis. I think they've played very well and fluently, apart from a few minutes near the end with the drop ball and a penalty near the line and the soft try. The backs line speed with the ball has been quick and crisp when spreading it & the forwards have been running very hard on to the ball with great intensity, making big meters after contact.
I like what Widdop has done at FB as well, he's really added an extra dimension in attack and been good under the high ball.
Also the difference Roby makes can't be underestimated, his distribution, his decision making and knowing when to run and when to pass are excellent and far better than Hodgsons.

Not fussed about 'enjoying it', being serious, focusing on error free but quality rugby comes first. First half is always important when we've being fairly disappointing overall and making sure we do what we're supposed to so aside from a few errors I'm happy.
When we're scoring great tries against a top side in the same manner then you'll see 'enjoyment'.

We always look better when Roby is on the pitch.

Good start but started to become disorganised as the half went on. Hard to properly judge who is making a claim to stay/get in the team for next week given the poor quality of France but Widdop at FB looks better than reverting to Lomax and his questionable fitness.

Would like to see McMeeken more involved otherwise he'll struggle to force his way into the 17 next week.

World class? He's playing against a load of championship standard players.

I mean, that's just ridiculous at a supposed International level. A try straight from a scrum.
France should be made to swim home.

Good try that, great pass.

That's the kind of mistakes we've got to get rid of. Not setting up properly for the last tacke and getting caught wit the ball, the better teams will punish mistakes like that.

Jesus France, just hold onto the ball for a few sets.

England have been woeful since "all about me" Gale went off. Intact I think it's 6 6 in the half hour he's been off the field.

It always deteriorates.

We really have gone to pieces a bit. This is what I mean about looking anxious. We look like a team who have no confidence, no cockiness. Despite the score line we look more like a team who are frightened of losing than a team who are enthusiastic about winning.

Nah France have been woeful, England have just dropped intensity slightly & generally not been as good and clinical as they were for most of the first half and have made a few poor decisions and mistakes.

McMeeken with another KO there. Thought he'd really stand out this match but hasn't really put his name forrward.

Try for me from all those angles.

A lot of disruption from changes to the playmakers has made it all a bit scrappy.