We have a team to trouble the French, insists upbeat Robinson

ENGLAND today move into World Cup semi-final mode, with head coach Brian Ashton claiming: “We have a team to trouble the French.”

While most red rose supporters would have anticipated a showdown against New Zealand at Stade de France next Saturday night, England’s biggest Six Nations rivals now loom large.

Both previous World Cup meetings — in 1991 and 2003 — went England’s way, although France recorded back-to-back tournament warm-up victories over them during the summer.