AS a former England boss now running Catalans, it’s little wonder Steve McNamara’s “fascinated” ahead of Saturday’s big World Cup clash.
He’ll have one eye on his Dragons charges with as many as a dozen in France’s side at Bolton. And the other on an England team he reckons has the best chance of tournament glory since even before his crew went so close in 2013. McNamara has turned Catalans into a Super League force since joining five years ago.
France hopes that will, in turn, benefit them as they seek to beat their old rivals for the first time in 20 meetings. He conceded: "It is interesting watching your players play for another team. It’s not just a couple from Catalans in this France side but a lot. It was interesting watching them against Greece on Monday and I’m fascinated to see them in a far bigger challenge on Saturday.
“They know they’re clearly underdogs against England but you can see they’re really keen to be part of their national team now. It wasn’t always the case. It was not too dissimilar to what we’ve had at times in England. The thing is at international level you have got to try and make it a step up from what they get at club level. I think, like we did with England, the French now are doing that.
“They have Laurent Frayssinous as coach, Trent Robinson’s involved, Ryan Carr’s there and Sean Long as well as the conditioning staff from the Dragons and Toulouse. It’s a good set-up and they’re happy to go into that. They had a camp in Bordeaux before they came across and there’s some good things happening.
"I’m really happy they have taken that on board and it’s progressed their programme like the England programme progressed years back. It does make a big difference. It’s great to see, not only for now but in laying foundations for the World Cup being in France in 2025, too.”
Current hosts England, of course, are only thinking about this tournament and building on their stunning Group A 60-6 rout of Samoa. McNamara, who coached them from 2010 to 2015, knows all about what it’s like playing in a home World Cup. England were painfully edged out by New Zealand in the dying seconds of an epic 2013 semi-final at Wembley.
Although they reached the final four years later under his successor Wayne Bennett, the ex-Bradford chief believes Shaun Wane’s current side is best-placed to bring home a first British success in 50 years. He said: “It’s as good a team as we’ve had for a long period of time. When I first saw the squad I actually thought I liked the look of it. It’s the strength of that 24 that’s really impressive for England and the connection they have with each other.
“They’re confident, clearly understand what they are doing and look fit and strong. They’ve as good a chance as they’ve had for a long, long time. One key thing when you pick a squad of 24 is you know you have seven players who don’t play. And seven very good players. But those players here look like they’ve fully embraced it.
“For example, Marc Sneyd’s really happy to be part of the group. Disappointed not to play last week, I’d imagine, but he gets his chance Saturday. Joe Batchelor’s the same. You can go through all of them and it’s the strength of that 24 that’s really impressive for England.”
McNamara says he sees similarities with his 2013 side, which included legends Kevin Sinfield, James Graham and Sam Burgess. He recalled: “I was so immensely proud of how we performed in that tournament. We got beat in the semi but that was still probably England’s best performance until that win over Samoa last weekend.
“It was how the highest level of sport should be, going down to the last seconds. Unfortunately, we were on the wrong side of it but there’s a lot of similarities with the current England group and their connection, drive and ambition. Yes, it was a horrendous experience for us. And it still hurts now. There’s a few players involved today who were there in ‘13. But hopefully that spurs them on even more to get it done this time.”
During McNamara’s reign as national boss, England faced an Australian side with potential future Immortals like Darren Lockyer, Greg Inglis, Billy Slater, Jonathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk. He added: “Other (Australian/New Zealand) players didn’t play for Samoa and Tonga, either. So, currently, the Australia and New Zealand sides have actually been weakened slightly by the allegiance of so many big players to play for their heritage country. Combined with England's strength and being at home, I just think they’ve as good a chance as they’ve had for a long, long period of time.”
McNamara doesn’t have any words of advice for Wane when it comes to the business end of the tournament - “he’s got it covered and been involved in enough big games all across the board” - but did make a telling point. The 51-year-old said: "What I will say is never under-estimate the impact, importance and relevance of a World Cup on home soil.
"The support is second to none. It raises the hairs on the back of your neck. I remember going to an England v Ireland game at Huddersfield which wasn’t the biggest game of the tournament but it was full. It was incredible. Those things are there to be taken advantage of. Clearly, the crowd’s behind England this time again so hopefully it continues.”
