The vibrancy of youth is being called upon by Tony Smith, whose England team will have an average age of 24 for tomorrow’s opening Gillette Four Nations fixture against a stronger but no less beatable France than the side they overwhelmed in June.

A dozen of those who featured in the 66-12 rout of Les Tricolores, in what Smith denied at the time was an experimental line-up, are retained for the game in Doncaster. The half-back pairing of Richard Myler, 19, and Danny McGuire is maintained, which means no place for Sam Tomkins, despite the Wigan Warriors stand-off’s hat-trick of tries on his international debut against Wales on Saturday.

The versatile Kyle Eastmond, 20, has nudged ahead of Tomkins in the pecking order with his selection among the substitutes. The St Helens youngster, often compared to Jason Robinson, was overlooked by Smith for the mid-season match in Paris but had an outstanding second half of the domestic season and scored all Saints’ points, with a try and three goals, in their engage Grand Final loss to Leeds Rhinos.

“If we opted for Sam in that position he’d do a good job, but we think the combination of Richie and Danny is right for this match,” Smith said. “Kyle’s comfortable in a lot of positions and he’ll bring versatility from the bench. If we get injuries or somebody is not at their best, we know we can introduce him. He’s very good at running with the ball and taking the opposition on.”

At 26, McGuire is the comparative veteran of a back line in which the Leeds stand-off is also the only survivor of last year’s World Cup semi-final defeat by New Zealand. Tom Briscoe, 19, the Hull wing, completed his meteoric rise, after scoring two tries in the 48-12 win over Wales and replacing the injured Sean O’Loughlin in the Four Nations squad, by leapfrogging Peter Fox to earn a starting call, although he and Ryan Hall are more naturally left- sided wings.

Kevin Sinfield, one of five Leeds players who start, is recalled at loose forward and as the Super League’s top goalscorer resolves a problem with place-kicking in the squad. Lee Smith, who was also discarded after the World Cup, returns at centre.

There is a more familiar look to the pack, with Jamie Peacock, 31, and Adrian Morley, 32, in the front row. Gareth Ellis, 28, of Wests Tigers, is partnered in the second row by Sam Burgess, 20, who will be joining him in the NRL at South Sydney Rabbitohs next season.

“There is some terrific talent in there, a few new faces and some old heads,” Smith, the England coach, said. “I’m really pleased with the squad we’ve selected.”

England (to play France at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster): S Briscoe (Hull KR); T Briscoe (Hull), L Smith (Leeds), M Shenton (Castleford), R Hall (Leeds); D McGuire (Leeds), R Myler (Salford); A Morley (Warrington), S Moore (Huddersfield), J Peacock (Leeds, captain), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), S Burgess (Bradford), K Sinfield (Leeds). Interchange: K Eastmond (St Helens), J Roby (St Helens), J Graham (St Helens), B Westwood (Warrington).