We're halfway through the first half, and they are having a much-needed water break. Emily Scarratt, absent with a head injury, is bringing the water bottles on for England. She should be back for the World Cup.

Rachael Burford
England World Cup winner on BBC iPlayer

How good is Maud Muir at the moment? Big strong carries, getting on the front foot. England want to get France on the back foot tonight.

Nick Heath
Commentating on BBC iPlayer

The power is something that that French pack are struggling to deal with.

It's shades of Le Crunch in April, with England taking a healthy lead early on - but France came roaring back that day, can they do the same tonight? It's very hot as well and England will do well to keep up with the intensity of this start.

Another infringement from the hosts sees Harrison boot it into touch, offering another lineout opportunity at close range...

Joanne Grizet is involved as France try to run it back at England from inside their own half, but aknock-on gifts England a scrum on the 10 metre line.

The first scrum sees a bit of finger-pointing from the front rows that the referee isn't keen on, she has a quick word and they go again.

Oooof! Hooker Amy Cokayne shunts opposite number Manon Bigot back a couple of metres with a mighty effort in open play, just letting her know she's around.

France make a spirited reply, getting into the England 22 but again England can repel the attack. Zoe Harrison even looks like she might take a drop-goal attempt but opts out.

Maud Muir makes a surging run, the England forward effort has been relentless so far.

There's a rapid burst through the middle from Zoe Harrison that takes England to 10 metres out, but a push on a player without the ball gives England another poenalty which the fly-half boots to touch.

Zoe Harrison gets it under way, and after a ruck on the France 22 the hosts clear but England come straight back . There's an exchange of box kicks until Natasha Hunt is topped in her tracks, gaining a penalty for England which they kick toi the 22.

Rachael Burford
England World Cup winner on BBC iPlayer

This is a huge opportunity for both team to assess where they are. There are combinations to test out. And does the training translate onto the pitch?

The teams are out, welcomed out onto the pitch by a phalanx of fireworks. It's a decent atmosphere, and with the sun having gone down the lights are taking effect as the teams pause for the anthems.

We're all set!

Here's someone we won't be seeing tonight - England captain Marlie Packer. She was sent off for a clumsy clear-out against Spain, and she is serving a one-match ban.

The good news is that she'll be available for the World Cup opener against the United States on 22 August.

Image source, Reute

Image source, PA Media

England have not lost since being beaten in the most recent World Cup final by New Zealand in 2022.

The Red Roses are on a 26-match winning streak since then, but head coach John Mitchell is more concerned about England's performance about France tonight, rather than maintaining that winning run.

"We always respect France, but the scoreboard doesn't matter this week, the performance does," he said.

"There will be some aspects of this performance that we can learn from and get better."

The game is kicking off at 21:10 local time, and hopefully it will have cooled off a little for the players, and fans, as temperatures were in the mid-30s earlier on.

One piece of good news, though - England captain Zoe Aldcroft called correctly at the tos, and the Red Roses will kick off.

This is the second of two warm-up matches for England before the Rugby World Cup starts on 22 August.

Last weekend, the Red Roses ran in 15 tries in a 97-7 victory over Spain in Leicester.

More from England wing Abby Dow, who told BBC Sport's Sara Orchard how important tonight's game against France is to the Red Roses' World Cup preparations:

"I would include this game in our World Cup. We've finished our pre-season now, we're into our games and this one is just as important as [the opening World Cup game in] Sunderland.

"The same way as if you sat down in a couple of weeks' time and asked what we want out of the Sunderland game, it would be the same things as we want here.

"These are important games that we want to win and we want to put our best foot forward. We'll go in with the same mindset always."