Jamie Peacock
Former England captain on BBC Two

This is an opportunity for players, everybody will want to compliment the team. If they don't get it right, they might not play again.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at University of Bolton Stadium

The headlines will have been more to Shaun Wane's liking this week in England's preparations to face France here today.

The ex-Wigan boss made a point about "negative" media coverage after their thumping 60-6 win over Samoa in Newcastle last Saturday.

The hosts were underdogs heading into that game but are heavy favourites for the meeting against France, who are ranked ninth in the world... a place below Serbia!

This is the 32nd fixture between the two sides, with Les Bleus seeking a first victory in 32 years.

Speaking of statement wins...

England made the perfect start to the World Cup last Saturday, running in 10 tries against Samoa in what ex-England international Jon Wilkin described as a “stunning” performance on this week’s Radio 5 Live Rugby League podcast.

Enjoy the best moments again in the video below.

Australia were pretty special last night, proving their status as favourites for the World Cup with a 15-try demolition of Scotland.

While nobody was really surprised by the result - Scotland's team is contains several part-time players - the attitude and clinical finishing from the Kangaroos was incredible.

Josh Addo-Carr took even more headlines with four more tries to add to his tally, the final one being the pick of the bunch.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at University of Bolton Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

Way up in the main stand at Bolton today but the conditions are ideal for a spot of rugby league action.

It's crisp and dry and with Marc Sneyd out there for England today, he might enjoy his first Test cap.

Meanwhile, the toss has just taken place and it was France skipper Ben Garcia who was doing a lot of the gesticulating afterwards.

Does that mean he called correctly?

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Two

Tune in to BBC Two now to watch coverage of England v France.

Alternatively, you can click on the play icon at the top of this page to view it online.

You can also listen to commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

There are several changes for England compared to the side that hammered Samoa last week.

John Bateman is back from suspension and lines up in the second row, while Salford duo Marc Sneyd and Andy Ackers will make their Test debuts.

St Helens forward Joe Batchelor and Wigan centre Kai Pearce-Paul are the two players from the 19-man squad announced by Shaun Wane on Thursday to miss out. I'd be amazed if they don't feature against Greece next Saturday.

England: Tomkins; Young, Watkins, Farnworth, Hall; Sneyd, Williams; Burgess, McIlorum, Hill, Whitehead, Bateman, Radley.

Interchanges: Welsby, Oledzki, Thompson, Ackers.

France: Escare; Romano, Jullien, Langi, Laguerre; Mourgue, Gigot; Dezaria, Da Costa, Belmas, Goudemand, Seguier, Garcia.

Interchanges: Pelissier, Sangare, Springer, Le Cam.

Image source, Getty Images

England captain Sam Tomkins plays his club rugby with Catalans Dragons, so it's no surprise to see him having a laugh and a joke with some of the French team before today's game in Bolton.

Michael McIlorum is another Dragon starting for England but Mike McMeeken, the third member of the Catalans trio in the England squad, gets a rest today.

Speaking of which - let's have a look at the line-ups, shall we?

The first game of today's triple-header at the Rugby League World Cup has just finished and, after losing to Australia last weekend, Fiji have bounced back with a dominant win over Italy.

It's Scotland up next for them, while Italy round off their group fixtures against holders Australia. Eek.

France are the next obstacle for England to negotiate on the road to Old Trafford.

An England victory should be enough to secure a quarter-final spot as Group A winners, barring an unlikely sequence of results to follow.

If you’re here to follow the game live, you’re in the right place for TV, radio and text coverage. Kick-off in Bolton is at 17:00 BST.

The old adage is that a good performance by the host nation will help a sporting tournament spark into life.

England did that and plenty more seven days ago, thrashing much-fancied Samoa in the opening game of the Rugby League World Cup.