HATS OFF TO GEORGE
and wouldn’t speak. Ash Handley was good. I thought him and Matty Ashton both went really well on the wings on debut.
“It’s been a good week and a good performance. I’m really proud to see 13 young Englishmen debut like that, but we won’t get carried away.
“My talk beforehand was all about Tonga and those guys today have put a good step forward towards that.
“I know we can get a lot stronger. That’s what excites me. This is a really, really young team with so many debuts.
“I’ve been really impressed with how they adapted.”
As soon as Williams sent in a chip for Handley’s fourth-minute opener, it was one-way traffic.
France did come up with some brutal defensive hits, full-back Tanguy
Zenon levelling Wigan scrum-half Harry Smith at one point, but they were outclassed and still haven’t beaten England since 1981.
Wigan centre Jake Wardle needed treatment after smashing into advertising boards in the first half but he scored a debut try, as did clubmate Ethan Havard.
Earned
Smith finished with a try and nine goals while Warrington hooker Danny Walker and Wigan’s Kai Pearce-paul also crossed, Williams slotting the last conversion.
Jack Welsby impressed after switching to full-back in Tomkins’ absence.
He was one of only three survivors from the World Cup with Williams and Pearce-paul, while Ben Currie earned a recall. England have plenty of players to come back into contention for that Tonga series.
But Wane has been left with plenty to ponder given the quality of some of his young guns, many of whom have come through the England Knights system.
France boss Laurent Frayssinous admitted: “It’s a nice, good reality check about where we are.
“The scoreboard is pretty tough. It’s a learning curve for a few kids.
“They really need to play week in, week out like all the England boys do in the Super League.
“We have some young players who either play in the French comp, Championship or two or three games in Super League in a season. They need more.
“We’ll take our medicine.”