Crabtree promises focus from England

England are being tipped to run in a cricket score against France in Paris on Saturday but Eorl Crabtree insists the team's focus will not waver.

With the French shorn of seven first-team regulars and coming into the mid-season international on the back of a dire World Cup campaign, many are predicting a landslide victory for Tony Smith's side.

But Crabtree said: "We've still got to achieve our own performances. It doesn't matter who's put in front of you, you still have to play well."

He added: "If you take it for granted, you'll start doing things you wouldn't normally do. I know I've got to go out there and put somebody on their backside. That's my job.

"If I don't do that, I won't be called at again. I think they'll come at us hard. They've proven in Super League (with the Catalans Dragons) that the quality is there."

Crabtree has represented his country nine times already but that was in the era when there was a Great Britain team.

The 26-year-old admits Saturday's match ushers in a new period in his international career.

"I have got my (England) caps in my cupboard at home but it will probably mean a lot more here," he said.

"It'll be a great feeling, something I've been training for for a long time."