Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Ireland’s opening game of the 2021 Women’s Six Nations, with Adam Griggs’ squad in Cardiff to take on Wales.

Kick-off at Cardiff Arms Park is at 5pm, and we’ll have live updates throughout the game.

Wales come into the game on the back of a 53-0 hammering in France last weekend, while Ireland – who host the French in Donnybrook next weekend – haven’t played a competitive fixture in six months.

We’ve lots of great coverage on The42 to keep you entertained ahead of the game, starting with Murray Kinsella’s profile of 19-year-old sensation Beibhinn Parsons.

In the first part of our new series, Trailblazers, Daire Walsh looks at the founding members of the IWRFU.

You can also find our match preview here, as well as a look at today’s opponents, Wales, here.

Here’s a reminder of how Ireland line-up today, with Eve Higgins named to make her Test debut at centre.

#WomensSixNations

📄 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 🟢

Ireland Head Coach Adam Griggs has named his Match Day 23 for Saturday's @Womens6Nations game against Wales, including three uncapped players 🙌

More: https://t.co/VIBTiGyTF4 #ShoulderToShoulder #IrishRugby #WALvIRE pic.twitter.com/eltbx7iPqg

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) April 8, 2021

And here’s the Wales team.

#WalesWomen team to play Ireland
Warren Abrahams 🗨️We are all proud and privileged to represent the Wales jersey and our pain from defeat will make us stronger
FULL STORY 🗞️https://t.co/pNrTkXgLOE pic.twitter.com/MibqeWmLXM

— Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) April 8, 2021

We’re just 10 minutes from kick-off in Cardiff and the teams have made their way out onto the pitch.

Ireland’s Hannah Tyrrell kicks-off and we are underway in Cardiff.

TRY - Wales 0 Ireland 5 (Considine, 3mins)

Wales 0 Ireland 5

What a start from Ireland. Some really nice play as the visitors patiently work their way through a couple of phases, with some great work from Hannah Tyrrell before Considine bursts through two Wales defenders to dot down. Tyrrell’s conversion drops just short.

8mins: Dorothy Wall really making her presence felt in the early stages here with a couple of big tackles.

TRY: Wales 0 Ireland 10 (Parsons, 11mins)

Wales 0 Ireland 12

A superb solo score from Beibhinn Parsons. The 19-year-old picked the ball up just inside her own half and only had one thing on her mind, sprinting down the left wing and beating three Wales defenders on her way to the tryline. Tyrrell converts and Ireland are flying it in Cardiff.

TRY: Wales 0 Ireland 17 (Parsons, 15mins)

Wales 0 Ireland 17

Another really good try from Ireland, who won the ball back in the Wales half thanks to a great block and chase from captain Ciara Griffin. Ireland attack the Wales line in the right corner and when the opportunity doesn’t present itself, they rework the ball back to out-half Tyrrell, who floats a perfectly weighted cross-field kick to the far corner where Considine and Parsons are both in acres of space. Parsons collects the kick and bags her second try of the evening. Tyrrell fails to convert from a difficult angle.

TRY: Wales 0 Ireland 22 (Considine, 18mins)

Wales 0 Ireland 24

19mins: Another well-taken Ireland try and this one was all Eimear Considine’s work, bursting through a gap in the Wales defence and showing superb pace to race clear, although Wales will be desperately disappointed with some of their defensive work. Tyrrell, who has made an excellent start to the game, nails the conversion from a tight angle. This could get very ugly for the hosts if they don’t tighten things up.

Here’s Parsons’ wonderful first try. 

SENSATIONAL! 😍@ParsonsBeibhinn take a bow 👏👏👏#WomensSixNations #WALvIRE pic.twitter.com/2xq35kOPa0

— Women's Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) April 10, 2021

23mins: While we were rewatching that great Parsons try Ireland have just absolutely demolished Wales in the scrum. Adam Griggs’ team really are on top in every area so far here. 

TRY: Wales 0 Ireland 29 (Naoupu, 27mins)

Wales 0 Ireland 31

29mins: And there’s the bonus point. Sene Naoupu applies the finishing touch from close range following another good Ireland move, which included some really smart work from Kathryn Dane, with Tyrrell converting.

We’ve been so busy keeping track of all these tries that we haven’t had much time to point out just how strong the Irish pack have been. They are really bossing things and keeping Ireland on the frontfoot. Wales, meanwhile, have missed 14 tackles in just 30 minutes.

34mins: Lindsay Peat thinks she’s in for a try under the posts but a quick TMO check shows that she lost control of the ball before grounding. No try.

HALF-TIME: Wales 0 Ireland 31

Well, catch your breath after that. A dream first half from Ireland, who have made a mockery of any concerns they might be a bit rusty. Five tries in the bag already, and it could have been more. The Irish pack have been totally dominant and Adam Griggs’ team look really fit and sharp, while Parsons and Considine in particular have been so dangerous on the ball. Adam Griggs will be delighted with what he’s seen.

The second-half is underway.

46mins: Bit of a messy start to the second half, but Ireland get back into the Wales 22 via a lineout. They struggle to make any real ground, however, and after running into a few dead ends they get pinged and concede a penalty, Nichola Fryday going off her feet.. Better defence from Wales so far in the second half.

50mins: Ireland looking a little disjointed now. They go through the phases again around the half-way line, but the move breaks down with some poor hands from Lauren Delany, who hasn’t seen much off the ball out on the right wing. Wales have a few walking wounded too, which is breaking the game up a bit as they receive treatment.

54mins: Another error from Ireland, Fryday going off her feet after Ireland had worked the ball into the five-meter line. We’ve had a first Ireland change too, as Delany is replaced by Stacey Flood, who comes in to make her 15s debut.

57mins: Another couple of substitutions for Ireland as Brittany Hogan and Katie O’Dwyer replace Nichola Fryday and Lindsay Peat.

59mins: Wales make a rare foray into the Ireland 22 but it comes to nothing as the ball spills loose. Considine takes possession and produces a neat step to negotiate a bit of space, before an excellent kick from Stacey Flood gets Ireland back up the pitch. The game has really slowed down in the last 10 minutes. 

63mins: Another lengthy break in play as Siwan Lillicrap gets some treatment, but she’s be ok to continue. Ireland are currently camped in the Wales 22, but just can’t find that bit of quality. Parsons almosts gets through after coming in off the wing with a brilliant step but Ireland cough up possession again as Molony dives off her feet, and we’re still scoreless in the second half. 

68mins: Another dropped ball kills an Ireland attack, this time Enya Breen failing to collect under very little pressure. As good as Ireland’s first half performance was, they have been far too sloppy since the break, and that will worry Griggs ahead of the visit of France.

71mins: Aoife McDermott thinks she’s in for a try at the base of the post. The on-field decision is no try, and the TMO confirms the ball was lost forward. That was much better from Ireland though, moving the ball with a bit more pace and intent. 

TRY: Wales 0 Ireland 36 (Wall, 72)

Wales 0 Ireland 38

74mins: After all their huffing and puffing in the second half, Ireland get over with a simple, well-worked move off the back of a smart lineout. Ireland get into a good position just a few yards out, and Aoife McDermott moves the ball quickly out to Wall, who powers over from close range. Tyrell kicks the conversion.

79mins: Hannah Tyrrell has just been announced as player of the match, which is hard to argue with. She’s pulled the strings well and kicked superbly in very windy conditions. 

TRY: Wales 0 Ireland 43 (Tyrrell, 80)

FULL-TIME: Wales 0 Ireland 45

A strong end to the game from Ireland with those two late tries, but there is certainly plenty to work on. A blistering first half performance had the result wrapped up by half-time but Ireland looked off the pace following the restart, with a string of handling errors and sloppy mistakes. You imagine they won’t get away with that against France next week.

Still, Adam Griggs will be delighted to see his team record such a comprehensive victory given the time that had elapsed since their last game.

Thanks for joining our liveblog, we’ll have a match report and reaction from Cardiff shortly.