Litten and Knowles return as England chase Papua New Guinea win
England have made changes for their final Rugby League World Cup group match, with Jez Litten coming into the starting side at hooker and Morgan Knowles returning from injury.
The result that matters is simple. England must beat Papua New Guinea on Friday 30 October, at 09:05 GMT in Wollongong, Australia, and also hope Tonga beat Samoa. Only then can England still reach the men's semi-finals. Their campaign has swung between extremes. Tonga beat them 30-12 in the opening match, before England crushed France 82-0 in their second.
Knowles missed the first two games with a calf injury. He now returns to the starting line-up, which means Victor Radley drops to the bench to make room. Litten, a Hull KR player, takes over at hooker. That is the number nine shirt in rugby league, the player who feeds the ball from scrums and stays close to the action after each tackle.
The hooker's shirt was worn by Brad O'Neill against France, but he has now dropped out of England's 19-man matchday squad altogether, according to BBC Sport. Matty Ashton keeps his place on the wing. Zach Eckersley is again not in the matchday squad. Brian McDermott remains England's head coach.
Selection in rugby league is often about finding the right balance between attack and defence over a long tournament. Players who are fresh and fit can make a big difference in the last quarter of a game, when tired legs start to show. Knowles coming back after two weeks out gives England a fit body in a key role, while Litten's place reflects a straightforward call on who starts at hooker.
The England women's team has also made a change for its must-win final group game. Georgia Roche replaces Jenna Foubister at half-back, the pair who pass the ball and steer the attack. Half-backs have a big say in how quickly a team moves the ball, so the switch will be watched closely.
For England's men, the task is clear. A win would keep the semi-final dream alive, and a defeat would end it. Friday's game will show whether the new faces can help them get the job done.
