England will make sure no thoughts of possible semi-final are brought to mind

The Leeds Rhinos player, the tournament’s leading try-scorer with six, insists they do not need to guard against self-conceit as they head into the crucial game at Wigan tomorrow night.

A likely semi-final against holders New Zealand awaits and England are a massive 1-300 to defeat the French.

But Hall insists there is no chance of them taking their opponents lightly.

“The same question was probably asked before we played Ireland – a lot of people asked how we would be motivated,” he said. “But that’s a load of rubbish because we are playing for England.

“You are playing for your country so that’s all the motivation you need.

“Every time you do that it is a special occasion; it’s made special throughout the week leading up to it with the shirt presentation and things like that.

“So, as soon as you get on the field you are ready to go. If we think about New Zealand too soon then we might get found out.

“It’s like at club level and if you compare it to the Challenge Cup and an early round against a Championship One side, you have that mentality. But at this level it will bite you.”

England coach Steve McNamara has recalled prolific Wigan Warriors winger Josh Charnley for Leeds-bound Hull FC wideman Tom Briscoe, who had played in the last two games against Ireland and Fiji.

Hooker James Roby is also back in the 19-man squad with Leeds utility man Carl Ablett left out, but there is no return for Melbourne Storm stand-off Gareth Widdop.

It is a further frustration for the Halifax-born player deemed one of the best half-backs in the NRL yet only given a couple of brief substitute appearances here.

It suggests Hall’s Leeds colleague Rob Burrow, the livewire hooker, did enough off the bench against the Fijians to retain his place for France.

On his own prolific spell, Hall maintains he does not gain any particular personal pride.

“You are in a position where you are kind of relied on to score; wingers are expected to be the highest scorers of the tournament,” he said.

“But it is nice to be up there even though there is a bigger picture.

“It has been a great start, but we did lose against Australia and that’s what I think more about rather than where I am in the try-scoring charts.

“It was nice to win against Ireland and Fiji because a lot of hard work had to go into those games.

“But we had a long time aiming up towards Australia and we came up short again.

“We keep learning every time we lose against them and, hopefully, we can put it right in the next three weeks.”

As the battle for that right-wing berth between Briscoe and Charnley continues, England’s record try-scorer – dubbed WBW (World’s Best Winger) – continues to shine on the left.

“I wouldn’t call it a nickname; I’d call it a tag some people use,” added the 25-year-old.

“None of my team-mates call me it. It would be quite embarrassing if they did.

“Sometimes it can set you up for a fall. If you have a bad game it’s like ‘he is not that anymore’.

“It’s a nice pressure, though, because you know you have got to be at your best form always. Otherwise I will get dropped.

“As for consistency, I try hard and keep practising. You can’t rest on your laurels.

“There’s three world-class wingers in our squad with Josh and Tom too. I am not taking my place for granted.”

France coach Richard Agar has made three changes to his squad as he looks to stun the hosts.

He brings in Damien Cardace, Cyril Stacul and Younes Khattabi for Benjamin Garcia, Kevin Larroyer and Frédéric Vaccari.

Meanwhile, Scotland, one of only three unbeaten sides remaining in the tournament, will look to cause the biggest shock in World Cup history by defeating holders New Zealand at Headingley tonight.

Henderson marching with 
the Bravehearts: Page 20.