GIANTS coach Jon Sharp has defended the decision to send the England rugby league team to Russia for a European Nations Cup opener which turned out to be little more than a training session.

Two of Sharp's Huddersfield players, prop Eorl Crabtree and back row Stuart Jones, were among the scorers as England ran in 17 tries in a 98-4 drubbing of the host nation on an artificial pitch at Moscow's Olympic Stadium.

A third Giants player, full-back Paul Reilly, is also with Karl Harrison's squad, who today flew to France for Saturday's second group game in Avignon.

"It was always likely to be a one-sided match, but you can't beat the experience of playing representative football, whatever the opposition," said Sharp, who is assistant to Great Britain coach Brian Noble for the ongoing Gillette Tri-Nations series.

"It's about much more than the match, and the experience of going abroad as a group, working with other top-level players at different clubs and under different coaches just can't be bought.

"It's also good for the growth of rugby league in Russia, and by all accounts, the game is starting to take hold over there."

Sharp was speaking from Manchester, where Great Britain are preparing for their first Tri-Nations clash on Saturday against Australia, who beat New Zealand 32-12 at Loftus Road in London at the weekend.

Noble, Sharp and his fellow assistant Graham Steadman have just led a training camp in La Manga, Spain, and Sharp is delighted with the work so far.

"It was a more than worthwhile exercise. We got through a lot of training in good weather at an excellent facility, and we have gelled well as a unit," he said.

"Now we will continue our preparations in conditions we could well be playing games in."