France vs USA LIVE: Rugby World Cup 2019 latest score, stream and updates from Pool C fixture

Follow all the live action as it unfolds from the the Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium

Rugby World Cup 2019 in numbers

Follow live updates from the Rugby World Cup as France look to make it two from two when they take on USA this morning.

The French came through an epic thriller against Argentina in their opening match, with Les Bleus now favourite to join England in qualifying for the quarter-finals.

But first they must overcome the challenge posed by Gary Gold’s USA side, who were thumped 45-7 in their opener against Eddie Jones’ men last week. Follow live updates below:

When is is?

France vs USA kicks off at 4.45pm Japan Standard Time, which is 8.45am BST, on Wednesday 2 October.

Where can I watch it?

ITV4 will be broadcasting the match, with coverage starting at 8.15am BST.

You can also live stream the fixture on your laptop, phone or tablet via the ITV hub.

Key Points

• France XV: Thomas Ramos, Alivereti Raka, Sofiane Guitoune, Gael Fickou, Yoann Huget, Camille Lopez, Maxime Machenaud; Louis Picamoles (c), Yacouba Camara, Arthur Iturria, Paul Gabrillagues, Bernard Le Roux, Emerick Setiano, Camille Chat, Cyril Baille.
• United States XV: Mike Teo, Blaine Scully (c), Marcel Brache, Bryce Campbell, Martin Iosefo, AJ MacGinty, Shaun Davies; Cam Dolan, Hanco Germishuys, Tony Lamborn, Nick Civetta, Nate Brakeley, Titi Lamositele, Joe Taufetee, Eric Fry.

[2 October 2019 04:59 · Samuel Lovett]

Hello all and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of this morning's Rugby World Cup clash between France and the USA.

We'll be bringing you all the live action, reaction and analysis - so make sure to stay tuned!

[2 October 2019 08:11 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Hello hello.

Sufficiently rested after a day off from World Cup rugby yesterday? Good to hear it, for we've two games to be consumed this morning, starting with a little Pool C tune in Fukuoka, with the USA hoping to challenge a much-changed France side.

Kick-off is little more than half-an-hour away...

[2 October 2019 08:16 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Team News - France

This is a very different French side to the one that squeaked past Argentina in their opening fixture, with Jacques Brunel making 12 changes.

Gael Fickou, Yoann Huget and Arthur Iturria are the only players to retain their places in the France side, with Louis Picamoles captaining the side from number eight.

[2 October 2019 08:24 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Team News - USA

Mauled and comfortably beaten by England, the USA will be looking to put up more of a fight today.

Eric Fry, Mike Te'o, Hanco Germishuys, Nate Brakeley and Bryce Campbell all come in to the starting lineup.

[2 October 2019 08:32 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

France's Fijian flyer...

Given how the USA were so thoroughly outmuscled by England, you could almost forgive France abandoning their flair game and keeping things in tight today, but this is an extremely exciting backline full of devastating open field runners.

Perhaps the best of them is Alivereti Raka, born in Fiji but now a French passport holder and into the World Cup squad after just two warm-up appearances. Speedy and almost impossible to put down, Raka is not the biggest Fijian-born wing knocking about but has power in abundance in a relatively compact frame, and defences simply haven't had a clue how to handle the Clermont Auvergne man in the Top 14 and Champions Cup in the last couple of years. He's recovered from a serious knee injury but seems to have lost none of his devastating athleticism, and Raka's a pretty handy aerial operator, too. 

[2 October 2019 08:39 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

The USA were really disappointing against England, but rugby is trending in the right direction in the country, and there's a rather sizeable Frenchman (who'd have hoped to be playing in this game rather than turning out at number eight for loan club Lyon) headed to New York in the new year.

Art de Roche on Major League Rugby, Bastareaud and where American rugby is going...

[2 October 2019 08:43 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Out onto the Fukuoka surface amble the two sets of players. How will France go today? Ever enigmatic, but on paper this backline is scintillating. Sofiane Guitoune is another favourite - such a silky and skillful operator at outside centre, with plenty of pace.

[2 October 2019 08:47 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

A moment of silence in memory of recently deceased former French president Jacques Chirac is observed beautifully.

Two passionately sung anthems, and it is time for the onfield festivities. Can the USA produce a World Cup shock?

[2 October 2019 08:48 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Off we go...

[2 October 2019 08:49 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

1 minute

Some pre-match rain has dissipated and the weather is overcast but dry, for the moment at least.

Camille Chat greets USA scrum-half Shaun Davies with a big shoulder to the mid-riff as the nine collects a lineout tap-down. USA need to get their set-piece right today.