ENGLAND expectedly put Greece to the sword in their final group game of the Rugby League World Cup at Bramall Lane in Sheffield.

The 94-4 outcome in George Williams’ first Test as captain highlighted the gulf in class between the established order and a newcomer to the global game.

With a quarter-final place already secured, most likely against Papua New Guinea, in Wigan next weekend and bigger fish to try, many wondered what could England head coach Shaun Wane learn from a dead-rubber against World Cup debutants Greece.

He decided to rotate his squad and handed debuts to St Helens second-rower Joe Batchelor and Wigan back-rower Kai Pearce-Paul, the latter in the centres, who both marked their appearances with tries.

Other changes featured Tommy Makinson at full-back, Jack Welsby at left centre, and another look at Andy Ackers at hooker.

Wane said before kick-off he wanted all players to have had their chance to put their hands up for spots in the knockout games.

The other side of the coin would have been to select his strongest side to allow players to continue to work on their combinations, and prey that no serious injuries were picked up in the process.

Surely Wane picked what he thought was his strongest 17 in the tournament opener against Samoa, the tie which had been expected to be the toughest contest of the pool phase.

So now it is a question whether any player not involved in that demolition job at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park on October 15 has forced a change in thinking from the performances against France and latterly Greece.

Wane does have a few nice headaches ahead of him. As with any coach, he will be pleased to be in the position going forward of having to leave players out who have shown good form.

You would say he has settled on most of his spine, with skipper Sam Tomkins at full-back, his Catalans Dragons teammate Micky McIlorum at hooker after both being rested against Greece, Williams in the halves after playing every minute so far and looking confident, while the England boss also looks happy with Sydney Roosters’ Victor Radley at loose forward - although under pressure from Saints’ Morgan Knowles - and he did collect an elbow injury that saw him leave the field in the first half and not return against Greece.

Saints’ Jack Welsby started at stand-off against Samoa and has played across the backline since, which has given Marc Sneyd a chance to press his claims and did himself no harm with a 30-point haul, a strong kicking game and a number of assists in a man-of-the-match display in Sheffield.

Unless there are injuries in the centres though – and neither of the first-choice pair Kallum Watkins or Herbie Farnworth played against Greece – it would seem Welsby is set to return to number six because it would be unfathomable not to have his prodigious talent in the side somewhere.

Dom Young, who scored four tries against Greece to add to his doubles against Samoa and France, and Tommy Makinson have the experienced Ryan Hall breathing down their necks for wing spots, while John Bateman being available after missing the first game could force a change in the second-row spots initially held by Mike McMeeken and Elliott Whitehead.

Up front it would appear to be a case who starts alongside Tom Burgess, and an argument can be presented for Matty Lees, his ex-Saints teammate Luke Thompson and the former Warrington pairing of Chris Hill and Mike Cooper, with bench spots likely for those who miss the cut.

Lees scored his first England try as his side opened their account in the third minute against Greece, and it was his physicality and speed off the line in defence – typical of his year with the Super League champions - that should have impressed Wane. Ditto for Knowles off the bench.

Wane would have kept an eye out for who stood up and made a difference when England only led 10-4 against Greece until the 25th-minute mark, though he would have to balance out his thinking on whether the scoreline would have still been so tight if he had selected his strongest team.

And again he would have been watching for who continued to do their jobs in the way he wanted as the scoring rattled up after the break when it would have been easy for the team to go away from its game plan and structures.

In the end, 17 tries were scored with Young’s four first-half efforts being added to by Burgess, two, Hall, two, Ackers, two, Lees, Williams, Makinson, Sneyd, Batchelor, Pearce-Paul and McMeeken, while Sneyd converted 13 of his attempts at goal.

Greece’s solitary try was scored by Cronulla Sharks outside back Siteni Taukamo in the 17th-minute after Pearce-Paul shot out of the line to leave a hole.