IRELAND get their Rugby World Cup 2023 campaign underway today with a clash against minnows Romania.
The Irish are looking to cap off a fantastic year which saw them win the Six Nations, including the Grand Slam, before rounding off their World Cup preparations with wins oiver Italy, England and Samoa.
- Kick-off time: 2.30pm BST
- Stream/TV: ITV 1HD/ITV X
- Ireland XV: Keenan, Earls, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe, Sexton, Gibson-Park, Porter, Herring, Furlong, McCarthy, Ryan, Beirne, O'Mahony, Doris
- Romania XV: Simionescu, Onutu, Tangimana, Tomane, Manumua, Vaovasa, Rupanu, Harting, Cojocaru, Gordas, Motoc, Iancu, Rosu, Neculau, Chirica
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- By Kieran Davies
Penalty – Gabriel Rupanu (Romania)
- By Kieran Davies
Ireland 19-5 Romania
21. Despite their dominance, Farrell's side are making some errors.
In a game like this, it may not matter so much but against the bigger sides they can ill afford this.
It gifts a penalty to Romania in a central position.
- By Kieran Davies
Ireland 19-5 Romania
19. Ireland are just looking to delay the pass until the player commits.
It allows them to work the ball from flank to flank.
Beirne was able to go over the line before a challenge came in.
Sexton sends the conversion just wide of the posts from a wide position.
Credit: Reuters
- By Kieran Davies
Try – Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
- By Kieran Davies
Ireland 14-5 Romania
17. Farrell will be happy with the reply from his side.
An early error gifted the Romanians a try but they have reacted well.
Putting their opponents under constant pressure now.
- By Kieran Davies
Ireland 14-5 Romania
15. From the kick-off Romania put some good pressure on Ireland, winning themselves a lineout, deep in Irish territory.
The men in green manage to turn the ball over however.
Scrum on their own twenty-two for Farrell's men.
- By Kieran Davies
Ireland 14-5 Romania
13. You can see the early tactics from Ireland.
They are looking to draw in the tackle before offloading.
When it works it gives them a number overload.
Sexton sends the conversion through the uprights.
- By Kieran Davies
Try – Hugo Keenan (Ireland)
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Ireland 7-5 Romania
11. Penalty is awarded to Ireland, Sexton kicks for touch.
Chance for Ireland to try and get their lineouts right.
They win this one and look to spread the ball right across the pitch.
- By Kieran Davies
Ireland 7-5 Romania
9. It's been an action-packed start to the game.
Romania are working through the phases on the Ireland twenty-two.
The one struggle for the men in white today will be not having a designated kicker to take advantage of any penalties today.
- By Kieran Davies
Ireland 7-5 Romania
7. It was important that Ireland replied immediately.
They showed how easily they can cut through this Romanian defence like a knife through butter.
The Romanians have showed they can capitalise on mistakes themselves though.
Credit: Reuters - By Kieran Davies
Ireland 7-5 Romania
5. It is an instant reply from the men in green.
Some great handling and offloads see Gibson-Park go over the line.
The upset dream lasted all of 60 seconds for the Romanians.
Sexton sends the conversion between the posts.
- By Kieran Davies
Try – Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
- By Kieran Davies
Ireland 0-5 Romania
3. Sexton looks for a tactical kick down the line but it is picked up by their opponents and they run in down the touchline.
As the cover comes across it is offloaded to Rupanu who goes over the lined unchallenged.
Sadly, after his try, Rupanu misses a routine conversion in front of the posts.
- By Kieran Davies
Try – Gabriel Rupanu (Romania)
- By Kieran Davies
Ireland 0-0 Romania
1. Ireland lose the first lineout of the game.
Romania kick the ball downfield, looking to get out of their own half.
Both sides are testing each other with kicks in the early stages.
- By Kieran Davies
Kick-off: Ireland vs Romania
We are underway in Bordeaux.
The Rugby World Cup is officially started for both nations.
Ireland get the game started.
- By Kieran Davies
Fans ready for their World Cup start
There is a real carnival atmosphere for this World Cup in France.
Both sets of fans are getting ready for the off.
This tournament is the pinnacle of rugby, the sides will be wanting to show us their skills today.
Credit: PA Credit: Reuters - By Kieran Davies
Romania face mission impossible in Bordeaux
The two sides have faced each other three times in previous World Cups with Ireland having won all the fixtures convincingly.
In total, the pair have squared up on nine occasions with Ireland having a perfect record against The Oaks.
Even the most optimistic Romanian fans will struggle to see their team beating the number one ranked nation in France today.
- By Kieran Davies
Irish with favourites in their sights
While France are the fancied team to win the tournament on home soil, Ireland will take great confidence from the most recent Six Nations.
Andy Farrell's side beat Les Bleus 32-19 in a monumental battle in Dublin.
It will be a far more difficult task beating the French in their own country with the fans behind them but Farrell knows that this Irish side of his can step up to the big occasion.
- By Kieran Davies
The Oaks looking to cause upset
Romania, nicknamed 'Stejarii', will be looking to upset the odds today.
In English the nickname translates to 'The Oaks'.
They find themselves ranked 19th in the world and in their previous encounters, they have struggled to trouble the Irish but the World Cup can do funny things to sides.
- By Kieran Davies
Getting back into the swing of things
Ireland's full-back is spending time getting back into the zone with his kicking.
Having not played for his country since March, Sexton will be looking to put in a good performance today.
So often his consistency with his kicking is integral to all that Ireland do.
Credit: Sportsfile - By Kieran Davies
Coach has his say on preparations
With expectations sky-high for the tournament, Ireland's coach has had his say on what he wants from his side:
You hear me say constantly ‘best laid plans and all that’, it’s 100 per cent that at a World Cup. The ones that get flustered with all that because they’re not ready for all different types of permutations are the ones that lose the plot. The key to progressing in a competition like this is staying calm, keeping your feet under you and making sure that you just roll with the punches and be the best version of yourself no matter what happens and have no-excuse mentality.
Andy FarrellIreland coach
- By Kieran Davies
Time to shine for Johnny
Johnny Sexton comes into this tournament, knowing this will be the last time he appears at the Rugby World Cup.
The fly-half already has legendary status for his nation, but will know that they have a real chance to do something special.
It would be the perfect sign-off to his career if he could help Ireland go all the way in the competition.
- By Kieran Davies
All eyes on the world number one side
Things could not have been going better for Andy Farrell's side over the last year or two as they have shot up the rankings.
It will be a strange feeling for the Irish to come into a major tournament ranked the number one side in the world.
Ireland will feel they have a point to prove, starting with disposing of Romania this afternoon in confident fashion.
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