England v France: Peacock sure England will display improved attitude

They nearly came unstuck in the Four Nations last year, trailing 12-4 at half-time before finally overcoming stubborn opposition at Doncaster.

But, in Steve McNamara's first game in charge of England at Leigh this evening, Leeds Rhinos prop Peacock knows there cannot be any repeat and they will not be fooled by the depleted nature of France's set-up.

"It will be physical as it always is with the French," he said.

"The last time we played them they beat us in attitude and enthusiasm.

"That's one area we need to be better at this time around but we've had a good week in camp and are all looking forward to getting out there together again to build on what we did in the Four Nations."

In the first international fixture since last year's Four Nations final defeat against Australia, Peacock will win his 16th England cap as he leads a side boasting three debutants in Huddersfield's Kevin Brown, Wigan's Joel Tomkins and Melbourne Storm's Gareth Widdop.

Alongside Test regulars like Adrian Morley, Kevin Sinfield and James Graham, he believes his former Bradford team-mate McNamara has assembled an exciting line-up.

"When I first started playing for England in 2000 we really struggled to get 17 together," he admitted.

"Now you're probably looking at two-and-a-half teams, so there's strength in depth and that's down to the intensity of the competition now in Super League.

"But one of the great things about international rugby league is that you get to play with people who you play against in Super League and people you admire and respect.

"It's exciting when you get to the back end of your career playing with the likes of Sam Tomkins and the new players such as Kevin Brown and Joel Tomkins, who have been fantastic this year."

France have suffered a raft of withdrawals due to injuries and coach Bobbie Goulding has suggested the game should be played at the end of the season to help Catalans Dragons, who provide the majority of Les

Tricolores' squad.

Peacock, 32, concurs – and not just because this year the fixture clashes with the football side's opening World Cup game against USA in South Africa.

"When England play I always want to see them do well and and we'll be trying to watch it as soon as our game is finished," he said.

"We'll try and get it in the dressing room maybe and then back at the hotel.

"But I do think Bobbie (Goulding) is quite right. To play at the end of the year against France would be good.

"This fixture puts a lot of pressure on Catalans as a club and it is probably unfair.

"I'd like to see us play against a Rest of the World side at this time of year. It'd be a great idea, exciting, a lot of people would watch it and it would be a difficult game for us."