Smith uses French Test as dry run for England's World Cup campaign

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England coach Tony Smith will use next week's Gillette international in France as a dummy run for the trip to the World Cup in Australia at the end of the season.

Smith, who enjoyed a 100 per cent record in his four matches as Great Britain coach in 2007, is delighted to be facing the French on their own soil on Friday week, even though it will present his side with a stern test.

"We are going to spend a lot of time in airports and in transit later this year and we don't get chance to experience that very much," he said.

Dry run: Tony Smith is targeting the French

"It will be good practice for the World Cup. It also gives me a chance to get to know these people.

"We are only away for a few days but it will give me a bit of an insight. We are not going to get too many chances to warm up before the World Cup."

As expected, Smith yesterday named Leeds forward Jamie Peacock as his captain for the one-off Test at the official unveiling of the new England jersey at a lavish ceremony in Bolton Castle, North Yorkshire.

He will name the rest of his 19-man squad next Monday and has pledged to pick the team on form, giving players this weekend's Super League matches to press their claims for inclusion.

Meanwhile, rugby league is today mourning the death of former Great Britain international Dave Topliss.

The ex-Wakefield stand-off died suddenly at the age of 58 after collapsing during a five-a-side soccer match last night.

Topliss, a member of England's World Cup-winning squad in 1972 spent 13 years
with Wakefield from 1968-81 and won the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match in
their last Cup final appearance in 1979.

He also led Hull to Wembley and was in the team that beat Widnes in the Cup final replay of 1982. He finished his career at Oldham and also had stints in Australia with Penrith and Balmain.

Topliss scored 270 career tries and is the fifth highest scoring half-back behind Shaun Edwards, Alan Hardisty, Alex Murphy and Roger Millward.

He went on Ashes tours of Australia in 1973 and 1979 and captained Great Britain against the Kangaroos in 1982.

Topliss coached Wakefield from 1987-94 and also had a spell in charge of Great
Britain Under-21s in 1989.