Pool B of the 2023 Rugby World Cup kicks off on the Atlantic coast in Bordeaux, with Six Nations Grand Slam champions Ireland taking on European neighbours Romania. Andy Farrell's men are the world's number one side at the moment, and hope that 2023 will be the tournament in which they can finally go all the way.
Ireland have had a flawless year so far, dispatching all five of their opponents with relatively little difficulty to win the 2023 Six Nations. This included a comprehensive 32-19 victory over defending champions France, who could well prove to be Ireland's opponent in the quarterfinals — if Andy Farrell's side are successful in getting out of the 'group of death' that Pool B has rightfully been billed as.
However, Ireland will have more than enough faith in their own ability to top the group and reach the quarters, having beaten each of the Wallabies, Springboks and All Blacks in the past year, defeating the latter twice on New Zealand soil for an historic test series victory. A clean sweep in the recent World Cup warm-ups followed, with Italy and England both swept aside before a much-changed side edged Samoa 17-13 in Bayonne.
Romania haven't exactly taken the same high road in reaching the World Cup though. Penalties and suspensions for Spain and Russia respectively means the Oaks have essentially qualified on a technicality, and that's arguably been reflected in their preparation for the tournament, which began with a 31-17 defeat to the USA — who didn't even qualify. 56-6 and 57-7 thrashings from Georgia and Italy soon followed, and if Romania hoped they might get some respite once at the tournament, they're in the wrong pool.
Reigning world champions South Africa, a Scotland side playing their best rugby in a generation, and a Tongan squad including several former All Blacks and Wallabies are the other three sides in Pool B, meaning both Ireland and Romania will have their work cut out to make any sort of progress, making this opening match all the more vital as both sides look to start on the front foot.
MORE: All the previous sides to have lifted the Rugby World Cup
What time does Ireland vs. Romania kick-off?
Ireland and Romania face off in the Rugby World Cup 2023's Pool B opener, at the Matmut Atlantique Stadium in Bordeaux. The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. BST on Saturday, September 9, 2023.
Here are the kick-off times for this game around the world:
| Location | Date | Time |
| UK | Sat, Sept. 9 | 2:30 p.m. GMT |
| Australia | Sat, Sept. 9 | 11:30 p.m. AEDT |
| Canada | Sat, Sept. 9 | 9:30 a.m. ET |
| New Zealand | Sun, Sept. 10 | 1:30 a.m. NZDT |
| USA | Sat, Sept. 9 | 9:30 a.m. ET |
| India | Sat, Sept. 9 | 7 p.m. IST |
| Singapore | Sat, Sept. 9 | 9:30 p.m. SGT |
| Malaysia | Sat, Sept. 9 | 9:30 p.m. MYT |
| Hong Kong | Sat, Sept. 9 | 9:30 p.m. HKT |
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 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 some sizeable 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 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 quarterfinal 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 win | 67.00 | 100/1 |
