That rain plays a part straight away as England wing Claudia Moloney-MacDonald loses the ball in contact, before Jade Shekells makes yards for England with a thumping run down the middle.

Brian Moore
Former England hooker on BBC Two

There is a thin film of rain which is going to make handling a lot more difficult.

We are under way in Northampton!

Image source, Getty Images

Sara Orchard
Women's Rugby World Cup commentator on BBC Two

If you could bottle the energy at Franklin Gardens here now, you would make a fortune.

Image source, BBC Sport

It's a bit of a clash of the haves and the have nots.

Here come the players! A febrile atmosphere awaits the Red Roses.

Hit play at the top of this page for live BBC coverage from a wet and windy Franklin's Gardens.

Scotland have secured their place in the quarter-finals with a hard-fought 29-15 win over Fiji that also ends Wales' hopes of qualification.

Get all the reaction to that one here.

That would keep me busy - although England scored 97 points the last time I watched them...

Alastair Telfer
BBC Sport at Franklin's Gardens

The rain does not appear to be going away and it is very windy. That might affect any potential records.

England’s record World Cup winning margin is a 82-0 victory over Kazakhstan in 2010, with their highest number of points in a World Cup game (84) coming against Fiji in 2022.

New to rugby? Don't know your rucks from your mauls? Want to find out more?

We have got you covered with this excellent guide to the key terms you need to instantly become an armchair expert...

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Alastair Telfer
BBC Sport at Franklin's Gardens

I've spotted both Holly Aitchison and Emily Scarratt warming up. That should chill any injury concerns as both would have been expected to play after not starting the opening game.

Aitchison missed both warm-up games and the World Cup opener because of an ankle injury.

Her return is needed as Zoe Harrison is the only fit specialist fly-half, with Helena Rowland starting at 10 today.

A quick look suggests you can get 200/1 on a Samoa win today. Wow...

Image source, Getty Images

Samoa's Fa'asua Makisi On the financial challenges of getting to England and the relief of now being here:

"We don't hide away from the fact that we are a small nation which is still developing in rugby and we rely heavily upon sponsorships.

"If anything, it shows it means that much more to us to get here having to put in that little bit of extra work to get funding to come, and we're grateful to the union as well for doing as much as they can to get sponsorship.

"In our team we have some core values and one of the biggest is 'aiga', which means 'family' in Samoa, so for us to be able to play for our families, who can't be here with us and have supported us to get here, is really important to us."

Alastair Telfer
BBC Sport at Franklin's Gardens

On my way to the press box I noticed a big crowd enjoying some music.

These drummers certainly got the atmosphere going. The fan zone area also has a load of TVs and more live music.

Well impressed by the pre-game entertainment.

Cocktail time in St James. Northampton has caught World Cup fever - have you?

Let us know your thoughts on the tournament, this England side, who can stop them etc - fire away!

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Image source, PA Media

England have won their two previous meetings with Samoa by an aggregate score of 118-3.

But wing Claudia Moloney-MacDonald is preparing for a physical battle against the "unknown" at Franklin's Gardens.

"Maybe you guys expect us to win emphatically; I don't know if we have that same expectation of ourselves," she said.

"We expect Samoa to be hugely physical, and I think that presents its own challenge.

"It's a bit of a challenge with the unknown. We've obviously seen one game that they've played, but at a World Cup you expect every team to give everything against us."

Alastair Telfer
BBC Sport at Franklin's Gardens

Red cowboy hats can be bought in the official stadium shop and outlets. They are certainly a big hit.

The hats stem from a small group of Red Roses players, including Ellie Kildunne, Jess Breach and Megan Jones, who self-styled themselves as the cowboys.

A try from the any of the trio is usually met with a lasso celebration.

Supporters are clearly hooked, I see cowboy hats everywhere!

Dottie, 8, and Po, 10, (below) said their favourite players are Jones and Kildunne.

They both wanted cowboy hats so they could do the celebration later.

Image source, Getty Images

Runners-up, winners, third place, runners-up, runners-up, runners-up, winners, runners-up, runners-up.

England's record in the women's World Cup is...decent.

Sara Orchard
Women's Rugby World Cup reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Ranked 15th in the world and having been thrashed by Australia 73-0 in their opening game, Samoa's women would have every right to be nervous facing tournament favourites England.

However, the amateur Samoa side view this game against the world's number one-ranked team differently.

Describing the match against the fully professional Red Roses as their "mission impossible", head coach Ramsey Tomokino has challenged his players to try to "wilt the rose" and "cause the upset of the year".

"It's the ultimate David and Goliath story, so we've just got to take our five little stones and put faith in them and see what we can do," Tomokino said.