'A really good player' - Hull KR's Jez Litten bringing best out of England team-mate Brad O'Neill

The recently crowned Super League Man of Steel has gained a greater appreciation of Litten's all-round ability since joining forces with the Hull KR man on England duty.

“Jez is a really good player,” said O'Neill.

“I've learnt that over the last couple of years but working with him, he probably shows different sides – his rugby knowledge, his smarts and just as a person as well.”

He said: “He's a really good bloke off the field and we're getting on pretty well.

“He's a very skillful, running, attacking threat of a nine and is really tough in defence as well.

“His whole game's pretty good. He can do both sides of the game pretty well.”

O'Neill was given the starting role for last week's defeat to Tonga – leaving Litten to settle for a second-half cameo – and has been retained for Saturday's clash with France.

But the Wigan Warriors hooker is taking nothing for granted in the early stages of his battle with Litten, pictured, for the number nine shirt.

“The way you push each other in training and on the field creates the competition,” he added.

“I feel like we've got strength in depth in the 23-man squad.

“There are players challenging for spots all the way through the team.

“It's only good for us and will benefit us in the long run.”

England's semi-final hopes are hanging by a thread heading into the second round of group fixtures.

Brian McDermott's side must beat France and Papua New Guinea convincingly to stand any chance of qualifying, while also relying on Tonga to defeat Samoa on the final weekend.

But O'Neill has echoed his head coach's insistence that England cannot afford to become distracted by the points difference they need to overturn.

“We have discussed what is required but at the same time we are still taking it game by game,” he said.

“I feel like the mentality can't be any different to what we had against Tonga.

“The preparation won't be any different mentally – we can't go into this game thinking about points difference.

“We've got to go into this game hard-nosed like we did against Tonga and hopefully if we do our jobs well enough, we're going to get the win.

“But we've got to treat them with the same respect as well.

“We know we are going to have to play really well in these next two games to qualify but I'm very confident in the lads that we can do it.”

England face a French side smarting from a 78-4 defeat to Samoa. O'Neill is expecting a strong reaction from familiar foes.

“I feel like we play France in Super League most weeks with Catalans and Toulouse so there will be some familiar faces,” he said.

“We're expecting a great game at the weekend.

“France are coming off a loss like us as well so they are going to come firing.”