Tomkins forced out to sidelines

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Sam Tomkins and Joe Westerman are the two young Englishmen who will miss out in Tony Smith's selection for the Test against France tomorrow. The 20-year-old Wigan half-back and Castleford loose forward, who is a year younger, will be on the sidelines at the Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris, but Smith believes the time with the squad will still do them good.

The England coach said he was still unsure about his starting 13, particularly his props, although everything points to Adrian Morley and James Graham being on the field at kick-off, with Sam Burgess and Eorl Crabtree in reserve.

The French coach, Bobbie Goulding, has named a side containing nine players who were not at the World Cup, including a debutant scrum-half in Limoux's Mickael Murcia.

Two England players from the World Cup have been hit by long-term injuries. The Warrington hooker Micky Higham will not play for 12 weeks after suffering a torn bicep, while Hull winger Mark Calderwood will be out for six weeks with a torn pectoral.

Former England forward Andy Lynch has signed a three-year contract extension at Bradford, while Will Sharp has a one-year deal at Harlequins and Stuart Jones two years at Castleford.