ENGLAND captain Jamie Peacock is warning his team to expect a passionate clash with the French in Saturday’s Gillette Fusion international in Paris.
The mid-season Test will be the first opportunity for both countries to make a fresh start following their World Cup flops and Peacock believes France could have an ace up their sleeve in new coach Bobbie Goulding.
The former St Helens and Great Britain scrum-half, who took over from Australian John Monie after the French finished the World Cup with the wooden spoon, was a fiery character in his playing days and Peacock is expecting him to transfer that energy and enthusiasm onto his team.
“He played with a lot of passion so I’d expect them to play with a lot of passion,” he said. “They will have a point to prove after the World Cup and there should be a lot of intensity in the match.”
Peacock witnessed at first hand the destructive power of the French forwards during Leeds Rhinos’ 32-30 defeat by Catalans Dragons in Perpignan on Saturday.
Nine members of that Dragons team will line up against Peacock’s men at Stade Jean Bouin and the Rhinos’ front-rower is warning his players to prepare for a tough battle.
“I expect it to be a bit confrontational and physical like they are when they play for Catalans,” he added. “It will be an interesting challenge.”
Although the serious business of international rugby league will not start until the Four Nations at the end of the season, Peacock believes Saturday’s Test is an important stepping stone.
England coach Tony Smith has included four uncapped players in his 19-man squad, 12 of whom are under the age of 25, and Peacock says Saturday’s game will be the perfect preparation for the bigger tests to come.
“It’s a very important game,” he said. “It’s important for some of the younger players to show they can make the step up.
“It’s away from the field that things change – you’re not with your normal teammates, you’re not in your normal routine – and how you adjust to that is the key to putting in a good performance internationally.
“These youngsters are not just makeweights, they’re here for the future and, if they play well, the position could be theirs.”
Castleford loose-forward Joe Westerman, a last-minute addition to the squad, is one of those hoping to lay down a marker for the future.
The 19-year-old trained with the squad at Stade Jean Bouin yesterday after joining up with them on the eve of their departure from Manchester Airport on Monday evening.
He got his chance following the withdrawal through injury of Wigan captain Sean O’Loughlin and was shocked to get the call.
He said: “It was a bit of a rush. I found out Sunday afternoon with a phone call from my coach, Terry Matterson, who told me to ring Tony because he had been unable to get hold of me. It was a massive surprise.”
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