England opens Bennett era with huge win

Ryan Hall extended his record-breaking try haul for his country to help Wayne Bennett make a winning start as England head coach.

The blockbusting Leeds winger touched down twice before halftime in Avignon to take his tally to 28 tries in 28 appearances and put his side on their way to a 40-6 victory.

However, England were made to work hard by a French side determined to impress their new head coach Aurelien Cologni, who in the build-up accused their opponents of disrespecting the hosts by flying in and out of Avignon on the day of the match.

France provided Bennett’s men with work-out they needed before taking on New Zealand in their Four Nations opener in Huddersfield next Saturday.

A solid performance from a pack led superbly by Scott Taylor, one of five players on debut, laid the foundations for a workmanlike victory in which Gareth Widdop scored his 100th point for his country.

And, with skipper Sam Burgess set to return from suspension, along with Warrington front rower Chris Hill and up to five players from champions Wigan, Bennett could have a selection poser for next week.

It was clear the French were fired up when punches were thrown from all angles in the third minute after they took exception to a forearm from Mike Cooper into the face of Benjamin Garcia.

Tempers quickly cooled after both captains received a lecture from referee Phil Bentham and, as England made the early running, Hall was denied a try by video referee Robert Hicks and Taylor was held up over the line.

The French opened the scoring when hooker Eloi Pelissier caught England napping at a play-the-ball.

But England fullback Jonny Lomax got Hall over for his first try on 25 minutes and Bennett’s men went in front for the first time four minutes later when hooker Daryl Clark forced his way over from close range shortly after entering the action from the bench.

As France began to lose their discipline, England cashed in on a wealth of possession in the last six minutes of the first half, with Tom Burgess proving unstoppable as he romped over form 10 metres out and Hall taking Gareth Widdop’s cut-out pass to score his second try.

With Widdop converting three of the tries, England were well in control at 22-6 at the break but the French were in no mood to throw in the towel and it took the visitors until the 68th minute to add to their score.

Kevin Brown marked his return from a six-year international exile by notching England’s fifth try and Bennett’s men finished with a flourish, with winger Jermaine McGillvary scoring his first try for his country and Widdop running onto Brown’s kick to wrap up the scoring with a converted try.

The only real disappointment for Bennett was the loss of acting captain James Graham with a head injury, the result of a dangerous late tackle, 10 minutes from the end and he will need a concussion assessment to prove his fitness ahead of the Kiwis game.