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Australia begin their Rugby World Cup campaign against Georgie with Eddie Jones fighting both the critics and a series of on-field problems.
The enormous personality of Jones offers protection to this struggling Wallabies side who are short on experience but still packed with talent to make some noise in France. Jones has become embroiled in a war of words with ex-England fly-half Danny Cipriani, with the Australia head coach labelling his allegations as “f****** nonsense”. But the main concern is no victory since he return home and an untested Carter Gordon tasked with inspiring this giant on the big stage.
Follow live score updates, analysis and reaction from the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux below. Get all the Rugby World Cup odds and the latest tips and odds here.
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HALF TIME: IRELAND 33-8 ROMANIA
TRY! IRELAND 33-8 Romania (Johnny Sexton try, 41 minutes)
And Ireland make them pay!
Try five of the half for Ireland, scored and converted by their returning skipper. Hugo Keenan is halted as he tries to counter attack but Romania are penalised at the breakdown, allowing Jamison Gibson-Park to tap and go into open green pasture.
The scrum half is hauled down but, as has been the case all half, has plenty of support, Bundee Aki brushing off one tackler and tossing to his fly half for the run in. Sexton gets up looking at a wounded paw, his hand having been trapped awkwardly under Jason Tomane’s body after scoring, but it doesn’t look like there’s major damage as he trots down the tunnel at the interval.
Ireland 26-8 Romania, 39 minutes
A vital carry from Critian Chirica, emerging the cocoon of a messy scrum with Romania under pressure to allow space for a punt up field.
But Romania fail to find touch…
Ireland 26-8 Romania, 38 minutes
A better kick from Keenan, probing the space left vacant by Romania’s absent full back, and Keith Earls is an ever willing greyhound after the hare. A fumble on the floor is all that presents another Irish score.
Ireland 26-8 Romania, 37 minutes
There were a few remarks last night about how far these World Cup balls seem to carry, and James Lowe’s thumping left boot has been employed plenty of times to flip the field so far. But his back three colleague Hugo Keenan is caught out by the extra amplitude, flighting his kick too far and grimacing as it travels out on the full.
TRY! IRELAND 26-8 Romania (Bundee Aki try, 35 minutes)
But Romania can’t hold out for long!
Shorn of a member of their backline, Romania are struggling out wide as Ireland play to width, Bundee Aki accelerating away from lumbering lock Stefan Iancu. A dummy and a dive and Aki is over as Vaovasa tries in vain to salvage matters for a second time in quick succession.
Johnny Sexton’s conversion from the left is a good’un.
Ireland 19-8 Romania, 32 minutes
Held up! What work from Hinckley Vaovasa, seemingly outmatched as Joe McCarthy clatters into him in the carry. Vaovasa manages to get his shoulder beneath the ball as the Ireland lock tries to ground to prevent what looked a certain try.
YELLOW CARD! Marius Simionescu is sent to the sin bin! Ireland 19-8 Romania, 32 minutes
And Romania lose a man. The Oaks’ forwards are offside as they hare after a punt upfield, and after Johnny Sexton takes a quick tap, full back Marius Simionescu is deemed to have cynically made a mess of the resultant ruck. It seems a touch harsh on the replay, with Simionescu trying to vacate the space, but Nika Amashukeli is always an assertive official and you can understand his judgement.
Ireland 19-8 Romania, 29 minutes
Ireland don’t quite get things right in the midfield and cough up possession. Prop Iulian Hartig requires a new boot, with his having burst. He’s back amongst things as Romania throw a lineout near halfway.
Ireland 19-8 Romania, 28 minutes
Even when Ireland do things badly it is seeming to work out well. Tadhg Furlong is intercepted by Jason Tomane, thrusting out his hands at the right time to cut off the prop’s past, but Furlong is immediately over the top of the centre as he hits the deck to win a jackal penalty. Ireland back down towards Romania’s 22.
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