England eye anniversary silverware

England are hoping to mark the 40th anniversary of the country's last major rugby league triumph by lifting some silverware.

When Kevin Sinfield leads his team out for Sunday's final of the autumn international series against France at the Salford City Stadium, it will be 40 years exactly since the late Clive Sullivan held aloft the World Cup.

England second row forward Jamie Jones-Buchanan thinks that triumph will be in the minds of the 2012 team on Sunday, and he said: "That group of men are seen as heroes and legends in the game and we now want to emulate what they achieved when the opportunity comes our way next year."

Victory at Barton would cap another remarkable year for Jones-Buchanan's Leeds team-mate Sinfield, who captained the Rhinos to victory in both the World Club Challenge and the Super League Grand Final.

Sinfield, who has scored 40 points in his first two matches as captain, admits the long-term aim is the World Cup but insists his side are not taking their eye off Sunday's game, which will be England's last full international before taking on Australia in Cardiff next October.

"I think representing your country is huge," he said.

"Being given the honour of leading the team has been the biggest moment of my career, without a shadow of doubt, and to have a chance of lifting some silverware at the end of it is not only great for myself and the squad but for English rugby.

"The World Cup is in the back of everybody's mind and I think we're building for that but, being really honest, our focus is on Sunday's game.

"I think the aim of this tournament was to squeeze everything we could out of it in terms of building towards next year and we're not quite there yet."