A battle for top spot, or will France be happy to lose to England? | Robert Kitson

Whoever wins Pool C know they are likely to have to beat first Australia and then the All Blacks to reach the final – Les Bleus may prefer the other routeRarely, if ever, have England been involved in a World Cup fixture which their opponents would secretly prefer to lose. France’s players and coaches will not shout it from the Imperial Palace rooftops but they know an English win in the Pool C contest on Saturday will offer Les Bleus a slightly enhanced chance of success in the knockout stages.Not so much Le Crunch, then, and more L’Énigme. Finish second in Pool C and France will potentially …