Piers J Morgan: wow, just wow, im out of breath watching, what an opening 10 mins, great defense by Eng.

England have already made 51 tackles - a huge opening effort.

But for the first time in the match they have ball in hand and are looking dangerous.

They're up to the halfway line as Katy Mclean puts a grubber kick through and it's collected by wing Kay Wilson.

England on the front foot here but there goes the referee's whistle.

Marjorie Mayans draws the penalty for holding on.

Kat Merchant
2014 England World Cup winner on Radio 5 live sports extra

What an excellent passage of play. France look dominant at the moment, happy to play the phases. Big shout out to Kay Wilson, who is handling Eliodie Guiglon really well and getting over the ball very quickly once the tackle is made.

France have had 84% possession in the first 10 minutes, but they're yet to score. That's the crucial thing for England.

A decent push from England in the scrum but the French pick up and continue to make headway.

The ball is eventually lost forward by Caroline Ladagnous and we'll reset for another scrum.

France are now 10 metres short. They have an overlap on the left-hand side but Shannon Izar can't get the ball out in the tackle and the move comes to an end.

Great defence from England as Rachael Burford works hard in the breakdown to disrupt the ball.

Tense opening minutes here in Belfast.

The rain is pouring down at the Kingspan Stadium which will make both teams' tasks a lot harder this evening.

A loose pass from full-back Montserrat Amedee but it's picked up and France are enjoying the better of these opening exchanges.

They're still in possession through centre Caroline Ladagnous with England in full-on defence mode.

We're in the 10th phase now...

England concede their first penalty of the game as Rachael Burford is pulled for not releasing.

France have a line-out just on England's 22-metre line but it's hoisted far too high and England reclaim the ball.

Tamara Taylor takes it up the middle before Katy Mclean kicks clear. Danger averted for now.

"I need it stationary," says the referee as the first scrum seems to be taking an age. It's not looking very stable from either side.

France eventually get the push on though and Safi N'Diaye picks up at the back.

App users need to click on the link above.

And they claim it with ease.

Emily Scarratt makes a few yards and pops the ball out to Lydia Williams on the wing - back after picking up a knee injury.

But France's huge number eight Safi N'Diaye is at it already, holding up the ball and earning her side a scrum.

First test for the two packs.

England have started as they mean to go on.

France are driven back on their first play of the ball.

Elodie Guiglion gets the ball clear and England will have a first shot at the line-out.

And we're off!

England fly-half Katy Mclean gets us under way.

And here's that vocal French support in Belfast...

Right, anthems are done on a damp night in Belfast.

The French one was a rather rousing I must say.

I even joined in. I knew that French degree would come in handy eventually.

Kick-off to come...

Double header tonight.

Live text and radio commentary over on 5 live sports extra.

Just click the link at the top of the page.

App users need to click on the link above.

Here come the reigning world champions England.

And France aren't far behind them. They're looking to make their first ever world cup final.

Will it be white or blue to take on New Zealand in Saturday's final?

Let me know via #bbcrugby

Image source, Getty Images

France, as we've come to expect, made the semi-finals with relative ease.

But this stage of the competition has been their stumbling block for the past four tournaments

They lost in the semi-finals at the 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

New Zealand, Canada, Australia and England have all prevented the French from reaching the final.

It hasn't all been plain sailing for England thus far.

The team have come under scrutiny for their unreliable goal-kicking during the tournament.

Fly-half Katy Mclean and centre Emily Scarratt have been sharing the duties with mixed success.

But Mclean says it isn't a weakness...

Image source, Getty Images

France have suffered a significant blow as flanker Romane Menager, widely acknowledged to have been one of the players of the tournament so far, will miss the game.

The 21-year-old went off after 50 minutes in the USA's final pool defeat by England and has not recovered in time.

France: Amedee; Guiglion, Ladagnous, Poublan, Izar; Drouin, Rivoalen; Deshayes, Mignot, Duval, Corson, Forlani, Mayans, Annery, N'Diaye.

Replacements: Thomas, Arricastre, Carricaburu, André, Diallo, Le Pesq, Neisen, Pelle

Image source, Getty Images

England have made two changes as head coach Simon Middleton names his strongest side so far.

Rachel Burford returns at inside centre alongside England’s leading point-scorer at the tournament Emily Scarratt, with Lydia Thompson having recovered from a knee injury to return on the wing.

England's most-capped player, prop Rochelle Clark, will start from the bench with Vickii Cornborough given the starting loose-head shirt.

And after impressing against the USA, Abbie Scott starts in the second row alongside Tamara Taylor.

England: Danielle Waterman; Lydia Thompson, Emily Scarratt, Rachael Burford, Kay Wilson; Katy Mclean, Natasha Hunt; Vickii Cornborough, Amy Cokayne, Sarah Bern, Abbie Scott, Tamara Taylor, Alex Matthews, Marlie Packer, Sarah Hunter.

Replacements: Vicky Fleetwood, Rochelle Clark, Justine Lucas, Harriet Millar-Mills, Izzy Noel-Smith, La Toya Mason, Amber Reed, Megan Jones.