Ireland vs Romania result, highlights, and analysis as Rugby World Cup favourites record massive points total

Jonathan Burnett

•
Ireland vs Romania result, highlights, and analysis as Rugby World Cup favourites record massive points total image

Ireland's 2023 World Cup got off to the perfect start in Bordeaux, crossing the try-line on twelve occasions to record a resounding 82-8 victory over Romania. Johnny Sexton, Peter O'Mahony and Bundee Aki were the standouts, each scoring two tries apiece as Andy Farrell's side showed the rest of the world just how dangerous they are at full tilt.

A shock was on the cards early on though, after Romania halves Hinckley Vaovasa and Gabriel Rupanu combined to capitalise on a loose ball, the latter opening the scoring inside the opening three minutes. Irish scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park soon replied with a try of his own though, and that set the tone for the rest of the match, with Hugo Keenan and Tadhg Beirne both finishing off perfectly-executed moves before the 20-minute mark.

The half continued in much the same way, as Aki and Sexton dotted down in either corner to open up a huge gap between the sides, with Ireland coming from behind to enter the break in total command, leading 33-8 having scored five tries to one. 

Rob Herring did likewise after half-time, bowling himself over from close range to take Farrell's side beyond the 40-point barrier early on. O'Mahony soon crossed for the first of his two tries, taking a flat pass to dive over untouched. Romania held out for the next 13 minutes, their longest period of the match, but Sexton soon had his second after finishing off a multi-phase move in the Oaks' 22.

That opened the floodgates for Ireland, who ran in four more tries in the shadows of full-time. Joe McCarthy crashed over before O'Mahony, Aki and Beirne all notched their second scores in the closing stages, with Sexton's replacement Jack Crowley knocking over each conversion to pull Ireland further clear, eventually winning by a massive 74 points.

Dominant start leads into tougher tests for Ireland

Romania were always billed as the weakest side in Pool B, but Ireland's 12-try dominance of the Oaks will still give this World Cup's 'group of death' plenty to think about in the coming weeks.

The sheer relentlessness of Ireland to hit every carry, tackle and breakdown like it was their last bodes well for the side's ability to match any opponent that comes their way, and with Tonga up next in Nantes, they'll certainly need to bring that physicality if they're to record maximum points once again.

Gallant Oaks give their all, but gain nothing in return

Romania went down to 14 players late in the first half following Simionescu's sin-binning, but despite Ireland continuing to run in try after try, the Oaks never gave up in their bid to keep the world number ones at bay.

Their first World Cup appearance since 2015 may have ended with a thrashing, but Romania can certainly hold their heads high knowing they did test Ireland at times, with Vaovasa in particular a stand-out with ball-in-hand.

It doesn't get any easier for the Oaks though, with defending champions South Africa up next!

The Sporting News followed the match live, providing live updates and commentary below.

Ireland vs Romania final score

  1H 2H FT
Ireland 33 49 82
Romania 8 0 8

Tries: Gibson-Park, Keenan, Beirne (2), Aki, Sexton (2), Herring, O'Mahony (2), McCarthy; Rupanu

Conversions: Sexton (7), Crowley (4)

Penalties: Rupanu

Ireland vs Romania full commentary, highlights

FT: And that's all from us! A huge, huge statement of intent from Ireland, who win their opening game at a canter with tougher tests to come. Andy Farrell's side face Tonga in their next game, after which all eyes turn towards the crucial battles against neighbours Scotland and reigning world champions South Africa. Until then!

FT: There's the whistle, and a dominant afternoon comes to an end with Ireland scoring a whopping 82 points to 8, seeing off a valiant Romania side in convincing style! The second half continued the one-way traffic we'd seen for much of the first, with forwards Herring and O'Mahony getting Ireland going. Sexton, O'Mahony and Aki each crossed for their second of the game either side of Joe McCarthy's first five-pointer for his country, and a late, late effort beyond 80 minutes saw Tadhg Beirne finish off the scoring with Ireland's 12th. A statement victory to open the tournament by Andy Farrell's men, against a Romania side who started well but soon had no answer to what Ireland were throwing at them.

83 mins: TRY - Ireland 82-8 Romania! There's the icing for this 82-point cake! A chip over the top is collected on the charge by Aki, but he's dumped by Fonovai before offloading to Ringrose. He races into the back-field with Beirne in support, and sends his flanker under the posts to notch a 12th try! Crowley adds another two points, and the rout finally ends with Ireland's margin of victory a whopping 74 points.

82 mins: Hansen steps his way into the 22, but the ball goes down and Onutu comes away with it! He kicks ahead into the Irish half, but Lowe recovers possession as Ireland do their best to keep on playing at all costs!

80 mins: A knock-on in the ruck gives Ireland head-and-feed at the scrum, and Andy Farrell's side will be keen to launch one last attack as they look to break the 80-point barrier.

78 mins: Ireland win another penalty and kick towards the corner looking for try number 12, but Kelleher's throw from the line-out is spilled by Beirne and Romania can come away with possession!

76 mins: TRY - Ireland 75-8 Romania! We're in cricket-score territory now! From a line-out, Aki hits a hard, flat line off Crowley's pass and steps Simionescu to waltz over for a brace of his own! One-way traffic in Bordeaux, and Crowley adds the extras to Ireland's 11th try.

73 mins: The Oaks are torn open once again as Hansen and Lowe run loose into Romania territory, but Crowley's kick-pass from the next phase can't be taken by Beirne in the corner.

71 mins: TRY - Ireland 68-8 Romania! There's the way through! The ball is shifted right and Ringrose almost steps out of a table before being brought down with the line beckoning, but Ireland recycle possession at speed and Murray puts O'Mahony over for his second in the corner! Crowley converts, and that ever-growing gap between the two sides stretches to 60.

70 mins: A clever tip-on from Keenan gives Hansen space to run into, and he makes his way into Romania's 22 before being chopped down. It remains with Ireland though, who come back to the left and task their forwards with finding another way through.

68 mins: TRY - Ireland 61-8 Romania! He's not denied this time! Ireland keep the ball alive in the 22 as Murray offloads to McCarthy, who spots a gap, gallops through it and dots down for his side's ninth try of the game! Jack Crowley is on for Sexton at fly-half, and his conversion takes Ireland beyond 60 points.

67 mins: Another opportunity thwarted by Romania! Ireland ship the ball left and Hansen wraps around from the right edge to to find Lowe in the 22. He offloads to McCarthy outside hi, but the big second-rower is shunted into touch by Simionescu's massive hit!

65 mins: Van der Flier bursts through to spark another Ireland attack from deep, before offloading inside to his fellow flanker Beirne. Props Porter and Loughman then combine to put Keenan into open space, but his offload to Aki hits the deck as the chance of a ninth try goes begging.

63 mins: TRY - Ireland 54-8 Romania! Sexton at the double as Romania finally crack! The copious number of forward carries draws in the Romania defence, and Murray pops the ball out for his long-time halves partner Sexton to score his second of the match! The fly-half adds the two for his 24th points of this match, as Ireland pass a half-century of points.

62 mins: Substitutes Conor Murray, Ronan Kelleher and Mack Hansen all combine to take Ireland within 10 metres of the try-line off an attacking line-out, with Ireland looking to power their way over. The entire forward pack try to burrow their way over, but the Oaks are standing firm for now!

60 mins: Beirne's ambitious grubber ahead is fielded by Vaovasa deep in his own 22, and the Oaks' fly-half does brilliantly to glide past several challenges, stepping over halfway before being cut down and dispossessed on the floor!

58 mins: A powerful Irish maul off a line-out charges forward, with replacement flank Josh van der Flier breaking off and racing into the 22. He's isolated once tackled though, and Onutu does brilliantly to get over the ball and win a turnover penalty!

56 mins: Romania win a scrum penalty and drive towards the Irish try-line, but the maul eventually breaks down. The Oaks choose to carry hard for the posts instead, but they're penalised for a ruck infringement and Ireland survive!

54 mins: Ireland's recently-changed front row decimates the Oaks' scrum, allowing the backs time and space to pull off a set move. Aki and Keenan switch from left to right to feed Ringrose, but the outside centre loses the ball in contact to give Romania chance of a reprieve at scrum-time.

50 mins: TRY - Ireland 47-8 Romania! The leaders keep up the pace as Gibson-Park's cut-out pass is met by Lowe. He drives to within metres of the line before being grounded, but O'Mahony is on hand to crash over from the next phase and score try number seven! Sexton adds two more from the tee, as Ireland continue to assert their dominance in Bordeaux.

49 mins: A rushed Vaovasa clearance is fielded well by Keenan, who gets Ireland back on the front-foot immediately. Herring bursts onto a short ball to race through the line and offload to Aki, but the centre is chopped down inside the 22 by desperate cover defence!

46 mins: TRY - Ireland 40-8 Romania! The Oaks are penalised for offside on their own goal-line, and Ireland elect to tap and go from the penalty. Herring takes the first carry and burrows low, grounding the ball to score Ireland's sixth! Sexton converts to bring Andy Farrell's men up to 40 points, and they're in the mood to add plenty more in this second half.

45 mins: Gibson-Park dummies and darts towards the posts, with Aki arriving to help drive his scrum-half over. Romania hold firm though and the maul is pushed back, also holding up McCarthy over the line!

43 mins: Lowe takes a short-ball from Sexton but is smashed backwards by Tomane! He's pinged for offside however, giving Ireland another penalty which the captain can punt down-field.

41 mins: Vaovasa gets the second period underway for the Oaks, who welcome back Simionescu within a minute to return to their full compliment of 15 players.

HT: We return for the second half, and can Ireland pull away even further in the next 40 minutes to post a scoreline which will have the rest of Pool B worried?

HT: Five first-half tries give Ireland a commanding 33-8 lead at the break, surviving an early scare to establish total dominance in their World Cup opener! Vaovasa and Rupanu's combination in the opening minutes yielded a brilliant opening try for the Oaks, but Ireland soon restored parity thanks to Gibson-Park's five-pointer. Andy Farrell's men extended their lead through well-worked scores for Keenan, Beirne, Aki and Sexton, with the latter converting all-but one of his side's tries as the world number ones secure a bonus point 40 minutes early.

40 mins: TRY - Ireland 33-8 Romania! The cherry on top of a dominant first-half! A penalty for a high tackle is taken quickly by Gibson-Park, who offloads to Aki. He powers through the line once again and finds Sexton in support, who dots it down between the sticks before converting his own try to open up a massive 25-point lead at the break!

38 mins: Ireland exploit the space left by Simionescu's absence as they launch the ball wide, with Keenan kicking ahead for Earls to chase. Onutu gets back in cover for Romania, but neither of the two number 14's can pick up the ball cleanly and the knock-on decision goes against Ireland!

35 mins: TRY - Ireland 26-8 Romania! There's the bonus point! Aki hands off the defence to charge through the line, and Vaovasa deputising at full-back can't stop the Ireland centre from crashing over in the corner! Sexton adds the two this time, and there's some clear daylight between the two sides with half-time approaching.

33 mins: With a 15 to 14-plsyer advantage, Ireland power towards the Romanian line, but the Oaks stand firm and Vaovasa gets underneath the ball superbly to hold McCarthy up over the line!

32 mins: Yellow card! Romania are penalised for an offside kick-chase, gifting 50 metres worth of field position to Ireland. Sexton takes a quick tap and ships the ball wide, but it quickly goes to ground. However, Simionescu was offside again, and the referee sends him to the sin-bin for repeated infringements!

30 mins: A wildly awkward bounce from Lowe's clearance threatens to leave Romania exposed at the back, but Vaovasa recovers it to step through several tackles before offloading to Simionescu, and he returns serve with a long kick of his own!

28 mins: Tomane chances his arm to intercept a Furlong pass, but he's immediately wrapped  up by the Irish defence and is penalised after holding on in the ruck.

26 mins: Ireland have the Oaks stretched as Keenan returns a clearance at speed. Beirne and Lowe join him on the counter-attack to burst into the 22, but Lowe's final pass is again a poor one, going to ground for a Romania scrum!

25 mins: Romania win the scrum on their own five-metre line, but are soon pushed back to within inches by the Irish defence. Rupanu's box-kick is charged down, but the short length of the in-goals at the Stade de Bordeaux sees the ball bounce over the dead-ball line!

23 mins: Ireland miss out on the bonus-point try with the line begging! Good carries from Ringrose and Beirne open up space down the left, where Aki offloads wide to Lowe. He beats the first challenge before offloading inside to Earls, but the pass doesn't stick and Earls falls over the try-line empty-handed!

21 mins: PENALTY - Ireland 19-8 Romania. Romania manage to get the ball back from kick-off once again, with both Vaovasa and Fonovai putting in strong carries. Aki is caught offside in stopping the latter, and Rupanu slots over the three points on offer from the penalty to cut Ireland's lead to 11.

18 mins: TRY - Ireland 19-5 Romania! The Irish have a third! Lowe comes in off his wing to loop around the back-line before kicking ahead. The bounce evades both Earls and Keenan, but Ireland recycle possession quickly, passing wide to Beirne who scores in the corner with a finish more akin to a winger than flanker! Sexton pulls the conversion wide, but Ireland are firmly in control of this one now.

15 mins: An Irish knock-on from the kick-off gives Romania the chance to form a maul deep in opposition territory, but the ball goes to ground at the back to gift Ireland the put-in at scrum-time.

13 mins: TRY - Ireland 14-5 Romania! Ireland are over again as Keenan finishes a well-worked passing move! Porter, Aki and Earls all make massive yardage deep into Romania's 22, before O'Mahony and Ryan both keep the ball alive brilliantly to put the full-back under the sticks! Sexton slots over two more, and that's more like it from the world's leading side.

10 mins: Romania win a scrum on the edge of Ireland's 22 and hold firm to keep the ball. Tangimana and Rosa charge further into Irish territory with some big carries, but Earls wins a crucial turnover penalty to give his side a reprieve!

6 mins: TRY - Ireland 7-5 Romania! An immediate response from Ireland! They work the ball well to halfway, where the two centres Aki and Ringrose combine to burst into the back-field. Gibson-Park is on the latter's shoulder, and collects the inside ball to race under the posts and over! Sexton's conversion puts Ireland in front, with Romania's lead lasting less than three minutes!

3 mins: TRY - Ireland 0-5 Romania!!!! The Oaks start on fire in Bordeaux! Sexton kicks wide for Earls, but the bounce evades the winger and Vaovasa latches onto it from halfway. He darts down the left wing before passing inside to Rupanu in support, and the scrum-half dives over to put Romania into a shock lead! Rupanu can't convert his own try, but what a way to open this match regardless!

Kick-Off: Sexton has the ball on the halfway line, and boots it down-field to get Ireland's Rugby World Cup underway!

5 mins from kick-off: Here they come! Sexton and Chirica lead their respective sides out onto the pitch, and after the national anthems have been sung, we'll be underway!

10 mins from kick-off: The sun is beaming down over the Matmut Atlantique Stadium in Bordeaux, which is still slowly filling up ahead of kick-off in this Pool B opener!

15 mins from kick-off: A late change to the Irish 23 has seen another Leinsterman, Robbie Henshaw, drop out with a knock, and his place on the bench is taken by Connacht winger Mack Hansen. No alterations for Romania, as the Oaks prepare to be led out onto the Bordeaux pitch by captain Cristian Chirica.

30 mins from kick-off: Andy Farrell has named a strong line-up for Ireland, highlighted by the return of previously suspended captain Johnny Sexton. He's joined by Leinster team-mate Jamison Gibson-Park in the halves, with the Dublin-based side making up 10 of the starting XV including five of the seven players in Ireland's back-line.

45 mins from kick-off: Ireland will certainly be confident of showing that their world number one status is no fluke though, especially having beaten both the Springboks and Scotland in the past 12 months. Romania is on paper the easiest test Andy Farrell's side will face at this World Cup, but the Oaks will certainly be fired up as they attempt to make a mark of their own.

60 mins from kick-off: Pool B is shaping up to be the most competitive in Rugby World Cup history, with three of the world's five highest ranked sides all occupying the five-team group. It'll likely be a straight shoot-out between Ireland, South Africa and Scotland for the two top spots, with Romania making up the numbers alongside a Tongan side which includes several players with top-level international experience.

75 mins from kick-off: Unbeaten so far in 2023, Ireland come into the tournament having won  their last 13 matches in a row to rise to the summit of World Rugby's rankings. Romania, meanwhile, lost all three of their recent warm-up matches, and couldn't be facing a tougher test in their first World Cup match since 2015.

90 mins from kick-off: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of today's Rugby World Cup clash in Pool B, as Six Nations winners Ireland take on Romania!

MORE: All the previous sides to have lifted the Rugby World Cup

Ireland vs Romania line-ups

Captain, leader and Irish rugby legend Johnny Sexton returns to the side following a lengthy ban picked up towards the back end of the club season. The Ireland talisman slots seamlessly back into the number 10 jersey alongside Leinster team-mate Jamison Gibson-Park, while Keith Earls, who marked his 100th test cap with a try against England in the recent warm-ups, gets the nod on the right wing, with free-scoring James Lowe occupying the left edge.

Veteran prop Cian Healy's injury has sadly ruled the loosehead out of playing in a last World Cup. However, Andrew Porter has more than nailed down his spot in the number one jersey and starts up front alongside Rob Herring and Tadhg Furlong, with Healy's replacement in the squad, Nevada-born Jeremy Loughman, amongst the eight substitute players.

Ireland starting XV: Hugo Keenan, Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Johnny Sexton, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rob Herring, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O'Mahony, Caelan Doris.

Ireland replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson, Josh van der Flier, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Robbie Henshaw.

Romania already had a mountain to climb against Italy before Adrian Motoc's 10th minute red card, but the Biarritz lock has avoided suspension to start in the second row alongside Stefan Iancu. Captain Cristian Chirica wears the number eight jersey and will lead his side from the back of the Oaks' scrum.

Out wide, Tongan-born three-quarters Tevita Manumua and Fonovai Tangimana will add considerable power and punch to the Oaks' back-line, while 24-year-old flyhallf Hinckley Vaovasa will direct his side around the park.

Romania starting XV: Marius Simionescu, Nicholas Onutu, Fonovai Tangimana, Jason Tomane, Tevita Manumua, Hinckley Vaovasa, Gabriel Rupanu; Iulian Hartig, Ovidiu Cojocaru, Alexandru Gordas, Adrian Motoc, Stefan Iancu, Florian Rosu, Vlad Neculau, Cristian Chirica.

Romania replacements: Florian Bardasu, Alexandru Savin, Gheorghe Gajion, Marius Iftimiciuc, Dragos Ser, Alin Conache, Tudor Boldor, Taylor Gontineac.

MORE: Ireland's results so far in 2023 as Grand Slam winners head to World Cup

Ireland vs Romania TV channel, live stream

TV networks worldwide will be showing all 48 matches at the tournament live, including many on free-to-air television.

On social platforms alone, video content from the Rugby World Cup and organisers World Rugby drew more than 2.1 billion views in 2019 – almost six times the previous figure.

  TV channel Streaming
USA — Peacock
Canada TSN

TSN+

UK ITV ITV X
Australia Stan Sport Stan Sport
New Zealand Sky GO Sky GO
India — Fan Code
Hong Kong BeIN Sports BeIN Sports
Malaysia BeIN Sports BeIN Sports
Singapore BeIN Sports BeIN Sports

The tournament also has its own app, delivering highlights, news and more across the seven weeks of action in France.

MORE: How Ireland and Romania fared in their Rugby World Cup warm-up matches

Ireland vs Romania betting odds, prediction

The form and rankings of these two sides couldn't be more of a contrast at the moment, with everything gearing towards a resounding Irish victory. The sides last met at the 2015 World Cup in England, with Joe Schmidt's Ireland winning 44-10 at Wembley, scoring six tries to Romania's one.

It's safe to say the two have taken divergent paths since then though, with Ireland rising to the summit of World Rugby's rankings and never being better placed to break their unwanted quarter-final curse.

Romania's failure to qualify in 2019, and only reaching the 2023 edition thanks to suspensions for their European sides, suggests that anything other than a statement victory for Ireland would be a shock, and that's reflected in the odds given by our partner bookmakers.

Result Australia (Unibet) UK (BetOnSports)
Ireland win 1.001 1/1000
Draw 101.00 66/1
Romania Zealand win 67.00 100/1

Jonathan Burnett

Jonathan Burnett Photo

Jonathan is a freelance content producer and commentator for Sporting News UK, with a focus on international rugby tournaments like the Six Nations and Rugby World Cup. He also works as a commentator for StatsPerform’s football network, covering matches across Europe including the Champions League, 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the 2023 Women's World Cup. He’s a regular contributor to the history and statistics website Rugby League Project.

Jonny graduated from Leeds University with a journalism degree in 2021 and was Head of Media at Widnes Vikings RLFC in 2023. A self-confessed nerd of rugby league, union and football (soccer). Jonathan’s coverage across several sports can be found on the TSN site.