By Julian Shea

England captain Jamie Peacock believes young Super League players should go abroad to learn rugby and life skills, as he did 10 years ago.

Captain for the one-off Test against France, Peacock said his game had been shaped by a spell in Australia.

"The competition in Super League reserve games isn't up to scratch," the Leeds forward told BBC Sport.

"Kids should go there and learn life skills. That can help your playing career - it's something I'd advise."

Peacock, 30, was speaking after his appointment as new England captain.

"It's a great moment in my career. I cannot wait to lead the side out against France and I feel an incredible passion about representing my country," added the player.

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"Jamie is the right man for the job, he always gives his best when playing for his country," said coach Tony Smith.

Smith is set to name his 18-man squad on 23 June for the match in Toulouse and is expected to pick a full-strength team, rather than experiment too much, ahead of the World Cup which starts in Australia in October.

Peacock made his England debut at the 2000 World Cup, an overambitious 16-team tournament staged across England, Wales and France, which is not remembered as a huge success.

The myth of Australia being unbeatable has been well and truly debunked Jamie Peacock

But Peacock is more confident Australia will ensure the 2008 event is more professional affair.

"We've seen what happened with the rugby union World Cup, and we saw at the Olympics that Australia can organise an event," said Peacock.

"Being their number one sport, it'll be taken seriously, and also the game is stronger throughout the world than it was in 2000, so it'll be a hell of a lot better.

"England also seem to be a lot more organised - not taking away from what happened in 2000 but then international rugby was just coming back to the fore after being out for a while.

"Things needed changing, those things have happened now and things are a lot more professional."

When Rugby League World magazine picked its world XIII in 2006, Peacock was the only British player included.

He has been named International Forward of the Year for the last two years, and is arguably the British player most highly rated by the Australians.

And although those feelings are mutual, he is not overly respectful of Australia any more.

Peacock says Australia's air of invincibility has gone

"Tony Smith pointed out to me that James Graham has never lost against them throughout his career, so the myth of them being unbeatable has been well and truly debunked.

"They're the best team in the world but we know they're beatable."

Peacock will have to wait until November for his next chance to try and beat Australia, and before then there is the more immediate concern of a friendly against France.

And Peacock believes there are still squad places up for grabs.

"I imagine there's still a few question marks," he said.

"Four months is a hell of a long time in sport.

"People can go completely out of form, or teams can have a late surge into the play-offs, so I don't think there's anything set in concrete from the squad that will face the French."