A good start from England - that kick-off was allowed to bounce deep in Samoan territory, and the English pressed them nice and high.

Good intent and early confidence from England.

Dene Halatau
Pitchside in Wollongong

The challenge for England is Samoa can attack from anywhere in the park, their pack is huge and their outside backs are like lightning.

It's going to be a tough night for England. If they get anywhere near this Samoa team, it's going to have to be Georgia Roche who has a cracking game.

England were offside from the kick-off against Australia. Can they do better here?

They can, nice and long. Off we go.

Dene Halatau
Pitchside in Wollongong

It's a beautiful atmosphere. It's windy down here so it looks like it is going to favour Samoa with the kicks going into this wind. Fran Goldthorp is going to have to take this into account.

The players are on the field in Wollongong, and the anthems have been sung.

It is a magnificent stadium, with one side of the ground an open grass bank with the sea right behind it. It's a beautiful view, but you could see from the national flags that the wind coming in from the beach is very strong.

What impact that has on the game remains to be seen.

There will be three English sides taking part in the Rugby League World Cup today - and the first of the trio have hopefully set the trend.

The England wheelchair rugby league team - reigning world champions - have comfortably beaten Wales 98-18 to open their campaign at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong.

England ran in 18 tries, with Robert Hawkins scoring 11. He did miss the conversion with the final kick of the game which would have brought up 100 points, but I think we can forgive him.

So England look well set to qualify from Pool A - as do Ireland, who thumped USA 110-10 in their opening game.

England prop Vicky Whitfield spoke yesterday about the challenge of facing an all-or-nothing match just six days after a humbling 78-0 defeat by world champions Australia.

"Yeah, it got us used to that quicker pace," she said. "Australia, they threw a lot of shape at us. So defensively, it was a great test for us to have going into this game. It got us used to that quicker pace, got us used to mapping off and being able to defend that, come out as defending that sort of shape. So yeah, it was the best preparation really."

England head coach Stuart Barrow, speaking to the media on Tuesday about Eva Hunter's injury: "Eve had a scan on Monday night, we are waiting on the results, but she is definitely out on Friday.

"She's still in her moon boot, but she is surrounded by good people and is relaxed."

On Jodie Cunningham, who suffered a nasty ear injury against Australia: "Jodie's ear is reattached. It was not pretty; you would not want your tea straight after seeing it.

"But she taped it up, got on with it [the match against Australia], then straight after the game they went straight to hospital, where they did a great job."

Image source, Getty Images

Georgia Roche replaces Jenna Foubister at half-back for their must-win final group game.

Foubister, 19, started against Australia after a superb domestic season where she was named Super League Woman of Steel.

But she struggled against the strength of Australia, so coach Stu Barrow has opted for the experience of Roche instead.

England head coach Stuart Barrow, speaking to the media on Tuesday about facing Samoa: "We knew we needed four points to reach the semis, and two points would likely come from here.

"It is do or die and no-one wants to go home."

On their heavy defeat to Australia last weekend: "We have a really young group, who will be better for this experience.

"They now know what the game looks like against the best in the world. It was humbling, but the response has been positive.

"The speed of the ball for Australia caught our girls out. The players were saying they have never played in a game so fast in their life. We have had to look at connectivity in our defence.

"It will be a different challenge on Friday. Against Australia our attitude was really good, we were still scrambling to prevent tries in the 69th minute when 70-0 down."

England have to beat Samoa to finish second in Group A and qualify for the semi-finals.

They beat Wales 70-6 in their opener, but were thrashed 78-0 by reigning champions Australia in Perth last weekend.

A win would earn England a semi-final spot, where they would most likely face New Zealand, who beat them in the last four of the previous World Cup in 2022.

England women: Fran Goldthorp, Anna Davies, Georgia Wilson, Connie Boyd, Amelia Brown, Izzy Rowe, Georgia Roche, Mary Coleman, Keara Bennett, Liv Wood, Lucy Murray, Hollie-Mae Dodd, Megan Williams.

Interchange: Jodie Cunningham, Vicky Whitfield, Hope Millard, Lucie Sams.

Reserves: Ruby Bruce, Evie Cousins, Molly Jones.

Image source, Getty Images

This is a huge day for English rugby league.

Both the men's and women's sides need wins to stand a chance of reaching the World Cup semi-finals. Defeat would not only be disappointing, but damaging for the game in this country.

Later today, the men take on Papua New Guinea - but first, the women face Samoa in a winner-takes-all clash in Wollongong.

Kick-off is at 06.45 GMT. Let's get to it.