League: England gain momentum toward Kiwis clash

England, while anything but convincing, put in an impressive second-half performance to get their Four Nations campaign off to a winning start against France in Doncaster.

Their win also gave them some momentum in building up to the crucial meeting with the Kiwis.

Richie Myler touched down twice as England came from behind to beat France 34-12 yesterday. Tries from Vincent Duport and Kane Bentley put France 12-4 ahead at halftime and the visitors were on course for a first win over England in more than 27 years.

"I was not concerned," England coach Tony Smith said. "We were a bit anxious and put a bit of pressure on one another."

The game turned in England's favour after the break, thanks to teenage halfback Myler's two quick tries. Kevin Sinfield, Ryan Hall and Tom Briscoe also got on the scoresheet, adding to an earlier try from Lee Smith in the 12th minute.

"We just had to settle down and build some pressure on the French," Smith said. "We knew if we did that they would struggle. This is a new team, and it takes a little bit of time to get the combinations - and that showed tonight. We go up about three rungs in class next week (against Australia)."

France's woes were compounded when Jean-Phillippe Baile was sent off for a high shot on Myler late in the game. Prop David Ferriol had earlier been put on report after dropping with a forearm in a tackle in the second half.

New Warrington signing Myler dug England out of their predicament, offering good support to Sinfield and scoring after a strong run from the Leeds skipper.

The win adds weight to England captain Jamie Peacock, who said splits in the team which affected their World Cup ambitions in Australia no longer existed.

England were hit by a rift between players from his own club (Leeds) and St Helens, but Peacock said: "I would say that the team spirit is better than it was and we're starting off with a lot more unity this year than there was last year.

"That's happened because people realise the last World Cup wasn't as good as it should have been on or off the field. Individually, players have to realise how they can contribute more to the team as a whole and towards us winning. That can be helped by getting to know someone better and not sitting with your own team-mates all the time, and everyone has shouldered the responsibility of doing that."

"I do feel we could have made more of an effort to get to know each other and everyone eventually realised that," Peacock, 31, added.

"Now there are fewer players from St Helens and Leeds but both sets of players from these clubs know that we need to mix more if we're to make progress. Everyone in the squad needs to mix more and you can already see that by the way people are sat on the coach which is always a good sign because the lads are mingling well."

"It was a good thing to bring it out into the open but I do think it was blown out of proportion. For me people are more interested in the human side of things which sell newspapers. It was a better story than saying we didn't do well because we played too many games. Saying we didn't do well because there was a rift in the camp sounded better. It was there but it wasn't as bad as it was made out to be."

"There are a number of different reasons why we didn't do well at the last World Cup and I could be stood here a long time talking about them," Peacock added.

"Now we've got a vision. They [the Rugby Football League] are starting to show they have a plan and not just year by year but for the long-term future.

"A large majority of this squad will feature in the next World Cup because there are a lot of young players here. I realise I won't have much longer playing internationals and I won't have many more opportunities to win something so I feel even more desperate to achieve that with England."