Wherever and whenever the journey ends, it starts here.

Ireland begin their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign against Romania on a sweltering afternoon in Bordeaux.

The pre-match markets make Ireland favourites to beat Pool B’s weakest side by somewhere in the region of 60+ points, but Andy Farrell is leaving nothing up to chance, naming a virtually full-strength side for the tournament opener.

And yes, that means Johnny Sexton back on a rugby pitch and back in the number 10 jersey for the first time in six months.

Kick-off is at 2.30pm. We’ll have the latest team news in a moment…

LATE CHANGE: The 42′s Murray Kinsella is the Stade de Bordeaux and he has news of a late change to the Irish 23.

Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw has been ruled out of his side’s World Cup opener against Romania in Bordeaux.

The Leinster man had been named on the Irish bench in the number 23 shirt but he has now been withdrawn. Ireland say the move is “precautionary.”

Connacht wing Mack Hansen comes into the Irish matchday 23 in place of Henshaw.

TEAM NEWS: In case you missed it when it was named on Thursday, here’s that Ireland team.

What a day for Joe McCarthy who makes just his second senior Ireland start!

Ireland

• 15. Hugo Keenan
• 14. Keith Earls
• 13. Garry Ringrose
• 12. Bundee Aki
• 11. James Lowe
• 10. Johnny Sexton (captain)
• 9. Jamison Gibson-Park

• 1. Andrew Porter
• 2. Rob Herring
• 3. Tadhg Furlong
• 4. Joe McCarthy
• 5. James Ryan
• 6. Tadhg Beirne
• 7. Peter O’Mahony
• 8. Caelan Doris

Replacements:

• 16. Rónan Kelleher
• 17. Jeremy Loughman
• 18. Tom O’Toole
• 19. Iain Henderson
• 20. Josh van der Flier
• 21. Conor Murray
• 22. Jack Crowley
• 23. Mack Hansen

TEAM NEWS: Here’s how Romania will line out.

Romania

• 15. Marius Simionescu
• 14. Nicholas Onutu
• 13. Jason Tomane
• 12. Fonovai Tangimana
• 11. Tevita Manumua
• 10. Hinckley Vaovasa
• 9. Gabriel Rupanu

• 1. Iulian Hartig
• 2. Ovidiu Cojocaru
• 3. Alexandru Gordas
• 4. Adrian Motoc
• 5. Stefan Iancu
• 6. Florian Rosu
• 7. Vlad Neculau
• 8. Cristian Chirica

Replacements:

• 16. Florin Bardasu
• 17. Alexandru Savin
• 18. Gheorghe Gajion
• 19. Marius Iftimiciuc
• 20. Dragos Ser
• 21. Alin Conache
• 22. Tudor Boldor
• 23. Taylor Gontineac

The teams are on the pitch in the Stade de Bordeaux and — in keeping with last night’s opening match — we’ve just had the choral arrangement of Ireland’s Call.

It’s different anyway, that’s for sure.

KICK OFF: Here we go! Johnny Sexton gets us underway in Bordeaux.

Nika Amashukeli is the match referee.

1 mins – An early Irish lineout, and a little blip from Rob Herring whose throw is off the mark and allows Romania to turn it over.

TRY FOR ROMANIA! Ireland 0-5 Romania (Rupanu, 2′)

What a start for Romania! The third-lowest ranked side at the World Cup lead the world’s top-ranked side after just two minutes.

Keith Earls can’t get to a kick down the wing quickly enough, Romania out-half Hinckley Vaovasa gathers, and pops it back inside to his out-half Gabriel Rupanu to run it in under the posts.

Rupanu’s conversion should a simple one, but he somehow drags it wide.

𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐒𝐀𝐖 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆!? 🤯

Romania go 5-0 up against Ireland after two minutes!#IREvROM | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/zCAUUDleTC

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) September 9, 2023

TRY FOR IRELAND! Ireland 7-5 Romania (Gibson-Park, 5′)

If you’re going to go behind to a shock early try, there’s only one way to respond – and Ireland strike back immediately.

Jason Tomane — brother of former Leinster man Joe — misses a tackle, Garry Ringrose dances through, and Jamison Gibson-Park is right there on his shoulder to take the pass and run in the try unopposed.

Sexton converts. Ireland lead. And breathe.

𝐆𝐈𝐁𝐒𝐎𝐍-𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊! 🟢

Ireland hit back and take the lead through Gibson-Park and Sexton's conversion. #IREvROM | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/QeurNwPvZc

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) September 9, 2023

10 mins – Solid scrum from Romania just outside the Irish 22 and they thunder through the phases with some big carries. Keith Earls get his body position spot on at the breakdown and pounces to force Romania flanker Florian Rosu to hold on and concede the turnover penalty.

TRY FOR IRELAND! Ireland 14-5 Romania (Keenan, 12′)

Just like Jamison Gibson-Park before him, Hugo Keenan marks his World Cup debut with a try — and it comes off the back some brilliantly accurately Irish attack play in the Romania 22. Peter O’Mahony make a lovely tip-on pass, James Ryan moves it on just as quickly, and Keenan squirms through the covering tackle to force his way over the line.

𝐇𝐔𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎! 🟢

That's more like it from Ireland!#IREvROM | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/0DNSWv3diB

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) September 9, 2023

15 mins – Great work from Joe McCarthy there who takes the plaudits of his team-mates. Romania win their own lineout cleanly, but McCarthy is there to hold up the maul and win Ireland the put-in to the scrum.

TRY FOR IRELAND! Ireland 19-5 Romania (Beirne, 17′)

Ireland are in again — and it’s Tadhg Beirne on the wing who scores! The build-up starts and finishes with James Lowe. He spots space in behind the Romanian line and kicks through. Keith Earls very nearly scoops it up to score, only for the ball to get caught under his studs, but Hugo Keenan is hot on his heels to secure possession. Ireland recycle patiently, and Lowe loops the final pass out to Beirne who is unmarked on the wing to score.

Sexton’s conversion attempt is from right in the corner, and he has his first miss of the day.

𝐓𝐀𝐃𝐇𝐆 𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐑𝐍𝐄! ☘️

Finishing it like a winger!#IREvROM | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/F1XBDTnjS8

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) September 9, 2023

21 mins — PENALTY! Ireland 19-8 Romania

Romania prop Iulian Hartig carries the ball into contact, but Bundee Aki is offside, and Romania will have an easy chance to get some more points on the board here. Rupanu converts.

Just having a quick water break here before Johnny Sexton gets us back underway…

23 mins – Ireland very nearly have their fourth try, and they’re getting good, clean, quick ball at the ruck which Romania can’t really live with. Lowe backs himself one-on-one with a little stutter step, and while that beats full-back Marius Simionescu, Jason Tomane is covering across. Lowe turns back inside to try to find Earls, but the ball is lost forward. Scrum Romania.

26 mins – Another chance goes a-begging. James Lowe catches a long Romanian kick with the sun in his eyes and launches an Ireland counter-attack. Hugo Keenan and Tadhg Beirne both make ground, but when Lowe tries to find Gibson-Park back on the inside, the scrum-half has just overrun the line slightly and the ball goes to ground.

28 mins – Tadhg Furlong is playing both sides of the ball! His pass in midfield is intercepted by Jason Tomane, but when Tomane is tackled, it’s Furlong who is right there again to pounce and force the turnover penalty.

32 mins – YELLOW CARD! Romania full-back Marius Simionescu is sent to the bin for an infringement with Ireland on their try-line. It comes from a quick tap penalty by Sexton, with Lowe right there to support him. Penalty Ireland, and Romania down to 14 for the next 10 minutes.

33 mins – So close for Joe McCarthy. He tries to drive over the line but Hinckley Vaovasa makes the tackle and holds him up.

TRY FOR IRELAND! Ireland 26-8 Romania (Aki, 34′)

Off the restart, Andrew Porter flicks the ball out the back door to Ringrose, and when it makes its way to Bundee Aki, he backs himself all the way. Manumua has to drift wide to cover the pass to Lowe and that’s the only invitation Aki needs to go it alone and score.

Sexton converts and Ireland have the bonus point secured with a few minutes to spare in the first half.

𝐁𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐄! 💥

Showing all his power here to score his 12th try for Ireland!

Brilliant by Andrew Porter in the build up!#IREvROM | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/5AqEecFTkX

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) September 9, 2023

TRY FOR IRELAND! Ireland 33-8 Romania (Sexton, 40′)

Johnny Sexton gets in on the act on his return to rugby – but as he slides in under the post, maybe a touch casually, Jason Tomane is coming behind him to try make a tackle. Tomane’s knee catches Sexton’s hand, and the Ireland out-half doesn’t look best pleased. It looks like a sore one, but hopefully nothing serious.  

After a couple of moments, Sexton dusts himself off to convert.

𝐒𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐎𝐍! ☘️

Scores under the posts before half-time!

Bit of a sore hand for his troubles. #IREvROM | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/dBh997bZHJ

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) September 9, 2023

HALF TIME: Ireland 33-8 Romania

Rupanu’s early try aside, that was largely business as expected for Ireland — five tries, bonus point secured, and a performance that was good without being anywhere near great.

Back in a few minutes.

SECOND HALF: Vaovasa gets us underway for the second half in Bordeaux.

TRY FOR IRELAND! Ireland 40-8 Romania (Herring, 45′)

Sexton lasers a penalty into the corner, and Herring finds Ryan from the lineout, but Romania hold firm initially. It’s back for an Ireland penalty for an offside, and at the second time of asking, Ireland drive over — it’s Rob Herring who comes up with the ball. Sexton converts.

TRY FOR IRELAND! Ireland 47-8 Romania (O’Mahony, 50′)

Another fine Ireland try, and it’s time it’s Peter O’Mahony who is on the end of Gibson-Park’s zipped pass to score. Sexton converts again, and Ireland’s next score will bring up the 50-point mark.

57 mins – Romania are knocking on the door for a second try but as they try to break through the final line of Irish defence, they’re pinged for sealing off, and Ireland clear.

59 mins – Sexton kicks the ball through for Tadhg Beirne to try to chase down but Vaovasa gets there first and then jinks through what feels like four Ireland tackles, running the ball back almost to the halfway line before he runs into Sexton.

60 mins – Ireland subs: A couple more Ireland changes as Hansen and Murray come on for Earls and Gibson-Park. We already have a new front row of Loughman, Kelleher and O’Toole, as well Van der Flier and Henderson also on in the pack. 

TRY FOR IRELAND! Ireland 54-8 Romania (Sexton, 63′)

Johnny Sexton does it again! Joe McCarthy tries to dive over himself but Romania are putting in some huge tackles – not all of them legal – on their tryline. Murray digs it out for Sexton, and although Bardasu gets down low with the chop tackle, Sexton’s momentum carries him over the line for his second of the afternoon.

He converts again, and now has 24 of Ireland’s 54 points.

65 mins — Ireland substitution: And that’s Sexton’s final act of the afternoon — he’s replaced to a huge ovation with Jack Crowley coming on to steer Ireland home for the final 15 minutes.

67 mins – Joe McCarthy has had more than one chance to score on his World Cup debut and he surely must have thought that this was the one, but as he dived from the corner, Romania full-back Marius Simionescu absolutely thumped him into touch. Some hit.

TRY FOR IRELAND! Ireland 61-8 Romania (McCarthy, 68′)

And now Joe McCarthy has his try! Romania fluff the lineout and McCarthy dodges a tackle and runs it in to score. Jack Crowley slots a straightforward conversion for his first World Cup points, and Ireland are closing in on the pre-match spread which started at 62 points.

TRY FOR IRELAND! Ireland 68-8 Romania (O’Mahony, 70′)

A perfect 10 for Ireland — and Peter O’Mahony, who has only scored one Ireland try since the 2019 World Cup, now has two in the same afternoon.

Crowley is in deputising at scrum-half, Henderson tips it on, and O’Mahony is waiting for it on the wing and dots down.

It leaves a nice little tester for Crowley on the sideline and he judges it perfectly.

TRY FOR IRELAND! Ireland 75-8 Romania (Aki, 75′)

75 minutes played, 75 points for Ireland, and it’s Bundee Aki with his second of the afternoon. Mack Hansen steps in at first receiver, Aki takes his pass at full tilt, swerves one tackle and jinks around another and scores.

Crowley converts as expected, and after some stout resistance, Romania’s defence has started to badly tire in these last few minutes.

79 mins – Peter O’Mahony is named Player of the Match.

80 mins – The clock is in the red, but Ireland want one more try – they’ll have to go the length of the pitch here…

TRY FOR IRELAND! Ireland 82-8 Romania (Beirne, 80+3′)

And they get it! Crowley dinks a ball over the top, Aki does brilliantly to collect, Ringrose is there in support, and as he unselfishly draws the final tackle, it leaves Tadhg Beirne to run in unopposed for his second, and Ireland’s 12th, try of the afternoon.

Crowley slots the conversion with the final kick of the game — and that’s it. Ireland are up and running with a 74-point win!

FULL TIME: Ireland 82-8 Romania

Ireland take the applause of the Bordeaux crowd after a job well done. It wasn’t the perfect performance by any means, and you can be sure Andy Farrell will have a page full of work-ons for next week, but a 12-try, 74-point win is hard to sniff at — and Romania certainly showed no lack of heart in the fight, until that sapping summer heat allowed Ireland to run up their scoring difference late on.

Murray Kinsella has already filed his on-the-whistle report from the Stade de Bordeaux – you can read it in full here:

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Now, where’s that after-sun? 

Andy Farrell’s Ireland notched a new record World Cup victory margin as they put Romania to the sword in a slick, cohesive, and fun performance that the players clearly enjoyed in front of 41,170 people in Bordeaux.

Transport issues meant some Irish fans missed the start of the game and while Ireland took a little time to get into full flow in the 35°C heat, they were irresistible when they did. The Romanians scored an early try but it was all one-way traffic from there on as Ireland ripped their defence to shreds in scoring 12 tries.

That’s all from our minute-by-minute coverage but we’ll have lots more reaction and analysis from Bordeaux throughout the evening.

Thanks for joining us.