That brings an end to Samoa's World Cup campaign. It means that the winner of Sunday's final Pool D match between Japan and Argentina will join England in the playoffs.
FULL TIME! 18-17. England see out the remaining minutes, before Farrell hoofs the ball into touch. It was a nerve-racking win for the Roses, who had never lost to Samoa before, but needed a try in the final 10 minutes to snatch a victory. The Pacific Islanders produced their best performance of the tournament, but fell agonizingly short of a historic victory.
So close for Samoa! A wonderful set of offloads puts fullback Paia'aua on a terrific run down the left wing, but he is tackled metres short of the tryline and loses the ball forward.
CONVERSION, ENGLAND, FARRELL! 18-17. Having wasted a penalty minutes ago, Farrell makes no mistake with his conversion in front of the poles. England have the lead with just over five minutes to play.
TRY, ENGLAND, CARE! 16-17. England are over! It's a typical scrumhalf's try for Care, who goes over untouched after sniping from behind the scrum.
England get a penalty and opt for another scrum. Time is ticking away for the Roses to capitalise on the yellow card.
England get a penalty for offsides near Samoa's tryline. They opt for the scrum, looking to exploit their numbers advantage.
YELLOW CARD! Samoa are down to 14 for the next 10 minutes. Tumua Manu is sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle, minutes after Samoa were warned by the referee.
Samoa get a penalty from the restart scrum. Leali'ifano kicks up to the halfway line.
PENALTY MISSED! There's more drama as the shot clock runs out just as Farrell begins his approach to the kicking tee. The score stays 11-17 and a water break is called by the referee.
England get a reprieve as the TMO highlights an off-the-ball tackle from Samoa. It's only a penalty, but Samoa are on a final warning. Farrell opts to have a shot at goal.
There's a strong carry from Ollie Lawrence to give England momentum from the lineout. However, Chessum loses the ball forward when carrying out wide.
England get a penalty just beyond the halfway line. Marcus Smith kicks down to Samoa's 22.
PENALTY, ENGLAND, FARRELL! 11-17: Farrell takes the points and narrows the gap.
NO TRY, ENGLAND! Itoje into a gap and he offloads. The player is into a gap and scores but the pass was forward. England have another penalty!
Farrell finds touch in the corner and England secure the set-piece. They squeeze forward before it is turned over two metres out WOW> Penalty Samoa!
The subsequent set-piece is secured and England drive forward before going blindside. They are stopped, change direction and then they are held up and Samoa have the ball. WOW! The TMO is involved and replays suggest that they did score but it was not one movement. England now have a penalty!
Itoje secures an England set-piece but Engalnd go backwards. They earn a penalty and get extra yards after some silly Samoan play!
George finds Itoje for an England line-out clearance before Samoa steals it. Samoa then secure a penalty at the breakdown via Sopoaga. Great work!
PENALTY, SAMOA, SOPOAGA! 8-17: Lima Sopoaga slots the easy kick!
Samoa clears a line-out on the England 22 and they make good ground. They string 15 phases together before earning an offside penalty. Engalnd are warned for repeated offences.
Great work by England to get it back and secure a penalty. They go for the 22 and get the maul going. It's a slow ball but eventually they progress before it's intercepted. Samoa makes good ground before messing it up inside the England 22.
Samoa with a good line-out clearance before Maro Itoje tries to grab the ball but spills it.
Kick-off! We are back underway in the second half.
HALF-TIME: ENGLAND 8-14 SAMOA. Against all expectations Samoa leads at the break after catching England by surprise. We expect to see England back after the break.
England with a penalty and they go for the corner. Brave!
England clear a scrum outside their 22 and then they give away a penalty at the breakdown. Are they rattled?
Samoa think they have another try but the Assistant is correct in ruling that Ah Wong is OUT on the line!
Samoa have another penalty for dangerous play in the build-up to that try. They go to the corner.
CONVERSION, SAMAO! 8-14: Lima Sopoaga adds two more!
TRY, SAMOA, AH WONG! 8-12: Under a penalty advantage Samoa go for the cross-kick into the corner and Ah Wong grabs the ball before touching down with a few centimetres to spare! WOW!
Samao clear a scrum five metres from the England line and almost mess it up before going wide. After some chaos they earn an offside penalty and go for the corner.
Samoa come again and this time they mess it up on the line as they spill it forward. THAT WAS CLOSE!
CONVERSION, SAMOA! 8-7: Lima Sopoaga adds two more!
TRY, SAMOA, AH WONG! 8-5: Great work by Samoa to clear imminent England danger in theri own half. They make their way into the England half and they Ah Wong is OVER IN THE CORNER!
PENALTY, ENGLAND FARRELL! 8-0: Farrell converts a penalty after some more England pressure and Samoa forced into an error.
A first miss of the tournament for Jonathan Taumeteine - and that's a horiid penalty really, sliced wide from pretty much dead in front. A let off for England.
Farrell fails to nail the conversion.
TRY, ENGLAND, CHESSUM! 5-0; Lovely running from England, stretching Samoa wide, the ball reaching Chessum on the wing and he races over to open the scoring.
England with the early possession, pressing Samoa hard.
KICK-OFF! The match is underway.
While we wait for kick-off, Wales have claimed a 43-19 victory against Georgia in the first of today's Rugby World Cup triple-header. The Dragons were already assured of a quarter-final place, but the bonus-point win sees them secure top spot in Pool C and a playoff against the team that finishes second in Pool D.
Captain Owen Farrell requires two more points to become England’s all-time leading point-scorer, and end Jonny Wilkinson’s 22-year reign.
The referee for today’s game is Andrew Brace from Ireland. The United Rugby Championship referee has shown the joint fewest cards – just one yellow in the two matches he has officiated at. Brace will be assisted by Georgia’s Nika Amashukeli and Ireland’s Chris Busby. Brian MacNeice, also from Ireland, is the TMO.
Samoa coach Seilala Mapusua has named an all-new front-row of Jordan Lay, Sama Malolo, and captain Michael Alaalatoa and a new second-row of Sam Slade and Brian Alainu’u’ese for the match in Lille, among nine changes to his starting XV from the team that lost 28-22 against Japan. Only Theo McFarland, Fritz Lee, Steven Luatua, Jonathan Taumateine, Tumua Manu and Duncan Paia’aua retain their places. Former New Zealand flyhalf Lima Sopoaga returns to the starting lineup from injury.
Samoa: 15 Duncan Paia'aua; 14 Nigel Ah Wong, 13 Tumua Manu, 12 Danny Toala, 11 Neria Fomai; 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Jonathan Taumateine; 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Fritz Lee, 6 Theo McFarland; 5 Brian Alainu'uese, 4 Samuel Slade; 3 Michael Alaalatoa (c), 2 Sama Malolo, 1 Jordan Lay. Replacements: 16 Seilala Lam, 17 James Lay, 18 Paul Alo-Emile,19 Sootala Fa'aso'o, 20 Alamanda Motuga, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Christian Leali'ifano, 23 Miracle Fai'ilagi.
Even though England have nothing to gain from this match, head coach Steve Borthwick has named 13 of the starting XV from their opening round win over Argentina, with Jonny May and captain Owen Farrell, playing at 12 outside George Ford, the only changes from that side. Loose forward Tom Curry earns his 49th Test cap after returning from a two-game suspension for his red card in England’s World Cup opener.
England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Joe Marchant, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Owen Farrell (c),11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Jamie George, 1 Ellis Genge. Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 George Martin, 20 Billy Vunipola, 21 Danny Care, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Ollie Lawrence.
This is the ninth time the two sides have met on a rugby pitch – and the first since 2017, though they played one another in the 1995, 2003 and 2007 editions of the tournament. England have never lost.
England have already secured top spot in Pool D and a place in the quarter-finals. Samoa are in fourth place and need a win, and a draw from tomorrow’s match between Japan and Argentina, to stand a chance of joining England in the last eight. Third place, and automatic qualification for the next World Cup, is also up for grabs for Samoa.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this World Cup Pool D match between England and Samoa at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille.
