In the aftermath of a historic and humbling defeat — England's first ever loss to Tonga — coach Brian McDermott has chosen stillness over reaction, naming an unchanged squad to face France in Perth. It is a statement of faith in his players, a belief that character and execution, not selection, will determine whether England can salvage their World Cup campaign. The path forward is narrow and unforgiving, dependent not only on winning but on winning convincingly, and ultimately on results beyond England's control.
McDermott backs unchanged England squad despite Tonga shock
Their fate may not be sealed until two days after Papua New Guinea
Mark
So McDermott keeps the same team after losing to Tonga. That's a bold call—or is it just the only call he had?
Mimi
It's both, really. You don't make wholesale changes after one game unless something is fundamentally broken. He's saying the players are capable; they just didn't execute.
Luke
But they lost 30-12. That's not a close game. How much of that is execution versus being outmatched?
Mimi
Fair question. Tonga played well, but England also had moments where they looked disorganized. McDermott's betting that they'll tighten up.
Mark
What about the half-backs—Smith and Williams? They got beaten up by Tonga.
Mimi
They did. But you don't drop your captain and your half-back pairing after one match. That would send a panic signal through the whole squad.
Luke
So it's partly about morale and stability, not just football?
Mimi
Exactly. And there's no obvious replacement waiting. Mikey Lewis is on the bench, but he's controversial—some people think Jake Connor should have been picked instead.
Mark
What's the actual path forward for England now?
Mimi
Win big against France, win big against Papua New Guinea, and hope Tonga loses to Samoa. If all that happens, they're in the semis.
Luke
And if one of those things doesn't happen?
Mimi
They're probably out. The margins are that tight.
Mark
That's a lot riding on two matches.
Mimi
It is. But that's the World Cup format. One bad result and you're fighting for your life.
O Pulso
- A 30-12 opening loss to Tonga — England's first ever defeat to the Pacific nation — has thrown their entire World Cup progression into serious doubt.
- McDermott's decision to retain the same 19-man squad, including the half-backs who were overrun last weekend, signals a belief in the players rather than a rethink of personnel.
- England must now win their remaining two group matches against France and Papua New Guinea by large margins just to keep semi-final hopes alive.
- Even a perfect run may not be enough — their fate could hinge on a Tonga vs Samoa result two days after their final group game.
- On the women's side, teenager Jenna Foubister earns a starting berth ahead of a daunting rematch with Australia, the side that handed England a record 90-4 defeat just eighteen months ago.
In the aftermath of a historic and humbling defeat — England's first ever loss to Tonga — coach Brian McDermott has chosen stillness over reaction, naming an unchanged squad to face France in Perth. It is a statement of faith in his players, a belief that character and execution, not selection, will determine whether England can salvage their World Cup campaign. The path forward is narrow and unforgiving, dependent not only on winning but on winning convincingly, and ultimately on results beyond England's control.
Brian McDermott has stood by his players after England's jarring 30-12 defeat to Tonga in their Rugby League World Cup opener — a loss that marked the first time England had ever fallen to the Pacific nation. Naming an unchanged 19-man squad for Saturday's match against France in Perth, McDermott has signalled that the issue was one of execution rather than selection. Half-backs Harry Smith and George Williams retain their places despite being overpowered last weekend, while AJ Brimson continues at full-back and Luke Thompson starts at prop in the continued absence of the injured Morgan Knowles. Mikey Lewis remains outside the playing squad, with Jake Connor's claims still unacknowledged.
The mathematics of England's situation are stark. Victories over France and Papua New Guinea are now essential, and comfortable ones at that. Even then, England may have to wait on Tonga's final group match against Samoa to learn whether their efforts have been sufficient to reach the semi-finals.
The women's team faces its own moment of reckoning. Coach Stuart Barrow has promoted 19-year-old Jenna Foubister — Super League Woman of Steel — to start at half-back alongside the outstanding Izzy Rowe, who scored twice and kicked nine conversions in England's opening 70-6 win over Wales. Molly Jones and Liv Wood also come into the starting side. Their opponents on Saturday morning are reigning champions Australia, the same team who inflicted England's record defeat — a 90-4 rout in Las Vegas — just eighteen months ago.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Wales have made several changes for their second-ever World Cup match against Samoa on Friday, with Amberley Ruck, Zoe Heeley, Jade Mullen and Sian Williams all coming into the squad.
Brian McDermott has named an unchanged 19-man squad for England's Rugby League World Cup match against France in Perth on Saturday, standing by his players despite a jarring 30-12 loss to Tonga in their opening game. The defeat was England's first ever against Tonga, and it has fundamentally altered the mathematics of their tournament. Where they might have expected to advance comfortably, they now face a precarious path to the semi-finals.
The decision to keep faith with the same lineup—including half-backs Harry Smith and George Williams, both of whom were overpowered by Tonga last weekend—signals McDermott's belief that the problem was not personnel but execution. AJ Brimson remains at full-back, with Jack Welsby among the interchange options. Luke Thompson continues at prop, as Morgan Knowles has not recovered from an injury sustained before the Tonga match. Mikey Lewis, a contentious selection ahead of 2025 Super League Man of Steel Jake Connor, stays out of the playing squad.
The arithmetic of England's situation is unforgiving. They must defeat France this Saturday and then Papua New Guinea on October 30th to have any realistic chance of reaching the semi-finals. Even more daunting, they will likely need to win both matches by substantial margins. And even if they do, their fate may not be sealed until two days after the Papua New Guinea game, when Tonga face 2022 World Cup finalists Samoa in their final group match. That result could determine whether England's efforts have been enough.
On the women's side, England's coach Stuart Barrow has made a more significant change. Jenna Foubister, the 19-year-old Super League Woman of Steel, will start at half-back in place of Georgia Roche. Foubister scored on her debut in a 62-0 victory over Wales in August 2025 and will partner Izzy Rowe, who was exceptional in England's opening 70-6 win against Wales last Saturday, scoring two tries and kicking nine conversions for 26 points—equalling the record for most points by an individual England player in a Women's World Cup match.
Two other changes accompany Foubister's promotion: Molly Jones replaces Georgia Wilson in the centres, and Liv Wood starts at prop ahead of Mary Coleman. Lucie Sams is named among the interchanges. England's women face reigning champions Australia on Saturday morning in Perth, a meeting that carries its own weight of history. The last time these teams played, in Las Vegas in March 2025, Australia inflicted England's record defeat, a 90-4 rout. This Saturday's match kicks off at 10.05 BST, immediately before the men's game.
Wales, meanwhile, has made several changes for their second-ever World Cup match against Samoa on Friday. Amberley Ruck comes in for Ffion Lewis, Zoe Heeley shifts from centre to wing, and Jade Mullen enters the centres. Sian Williams also gets a start on the wing. Wingers Dani McGifford and Frances Layton, who both started against England, drop out, though Layton remains available on the interchange bench.
Citações Notáveis
McDermott has kept faith in his players as they prepare for Saturday's Group B-C match— Reporting on McDermott's squad decision
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