However, they still face an uphill task in order to qualify for the semi-finals.

St Helens' Jack Welsby came off the bench in the second half and got among the try-scorers for Brian McDermott's side as they overcame a frustrating opening quarter to pile on the points against the French.

Herbie Farnworth's first-half hat-trick saw them lead 36-0 going into half time before taking their try tally to 14 after the break to run up an 82-0 scoreline

What is needed for England to qualify for Rugby League World Cup semi-finals

England are competing to advance from a combined Pool B/C table - the top two teams from the two three-team pools combined will progress - with Samoa and Tonga, to whom they lost 30-12 in the opening round of fixtures to put them onto the back foot.

They can now only match Tonga's total of four points and because the two sides have played each other, points difference is immaterial with head-to-head record giving Tonga the edge.

Points difference will, however, come into play when their record is compared to that of Samoa, but their dominant victories over France (78-4) and Papua New Guinea (64-6) coupled with England's defeat to Tonga have given them a huge advantage.

Samoa ended the second round of matches with a points difference of +132, with England's win now taking them to +64 going into the final round of fixtures.

England will face Papua New Guinea in Wollongong on Friday and must win while also boosting their own points difference.

They will then be forced to watch on as Tonga and Samoa face off in Sydney on Sunday, and they will need Tonga to win while taking Samoa's points difference down by enough to bring it below England's figure.

That would take England through in second place to face the winners of Pool A - likely to be hosts and defending champions Australia - in the semi-finals.