2.06pm Ireland’s Rugby World Cup campaign is off to a flyer with a comprehensive, six-try defeat of Japan in Northampton early on Sunday afternoon leaving them just 80 minutes away from a guaranteed quarter-final spot.
To read the rest of Brendan O’Brien’s on the whistle report, click on the link below.
Thanks again for following, talk to you all again soon on our next liveblog.
1.53pm Ciara Griffin: Very controlled and dominant opening game from Ireland. Brittany Hogan is the deserved player of the match – relentless work rate from the number 8 all day. 6 tries and 6 conversions from Ireland to secure a memorable opening campaign win.
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1.52pm Brendan O’Brien: That’s a good start to this World Cup for Ireland. Could have been dodgy had Japan scored a third try midway through the second-half but so many positives overall and they’re now just 80 minutes away from a quarter-final place
Ireland’s Enya Breen scores her sides sixth try of the match. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady
Final score: Ireland 42 Japan 14. Six tries, six conversions and a bonus point sees them build momentum with Spain to come at the same time next Sunday.
A record points tally scored by Ireland in a World Cup match.
Stay tuned to our website for full match report from Brendan O’Brien in Northampton, and plenty of reaction to come as well.
79mins The Fields of Athenry is ringing around the stadium. Great start this for Ireland, with room for improvement. Ireland back to 15 players following Djougang’s yellow card.
78mins Ireland looking for another try for the road.
74mins Ireland’s Brittany Hogan named player of the match. The crowd and her teammates seem to be pleased with that decision.
71mins Japan looking to make the most of the player advantage. But Ireland regain possession and hack the ball clear. Back come Japan though.
Ireland’s Linda Djougang, Brittany Hogan, Aoibheann Reilly and Edel McMahon. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady.
63mins Could well be Enya Breen’s first touch and she claims a try close to the posts. Dannah O’Brien makes it six successful kicks out of six. Surely game over now.
TRY FOR IRELAND!
63mins O’Brien with another great kick to the corner. Ireland on the charge.
61mins Penalty against Ireland instead and Japan’s yellow card has been whiped out.
NO TRY!
TMO reviewing the try!
61mins Penalty try for Ireland after putting a lot of pressure on Japan from a strong rolling maul.
60mins Japan foul on the endline as Ireland looked certain to score so a penalty try is awarded. Again, Scott Bemand’s side were right to kick to the corner rather than take the three points from the penalty.
PENALTY TRY IRELAND!
59mins Penalty Ireland. Again they look to be heading to the corner rather than settling for three points.
56mins Brendan O’Brien: Complete momentum shift at the hands of Eve Higgins. Great defensive read on the Irish line to intercept and run the length of the field to score under the posts.
Ireland’s Fiona Tuite celebrates try score with Eve Higgins. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady
53mins A huge score for Ireland and what a try by Higgins. Reads a loose Japan pass and races the length of the pitch to score a try and give Ireland some much needed breathing space. O’Brien coolly fires over the conversion. Just when it looked like Japan may score to make it a seven point lead, Ireland counter to lead by 21.
TRY FOR IRELAND!
53mins Brendan O’Brien: Interesting point in the game now. If Japan score again it could suddenly be a one-score contest after such a great first-half for Ireland. Work to be done
49mins Big penalty for Ireland as Japan threatened to reduce the deficit even further.
Eve Higgins of Ireland is tackled by Japan players Sora Nishimura, left, and Moe Tsukui. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
43mins Japan finally find a way across the endline, thanks to Kawamura. Otsuka sends over her second conversion of the game.
TRY JAPAN!
42mins Great kick to the corner and Ireland with some early defending to do. Ireland standing firm on their line, so far. Japan inches away.
41mins Right, the half time cups of tea are gone and the action is back underway.
SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY!
12.44pm Brendan O’Brien: Ireland will be happy with that first half performance already securing a bonus point at 28 – 7. Great accuracy from the boot of O’Brien.
HALF TIME!
39mins Brendan O’Brien: Great line break from Higgins to cut through the Japanese defence. Draws the remaining defender to put Tuite away over the line.
Just rewards for a solid support line from Tuite. Ireland put themselves in a comfortable position leading into the 2nd half.
Ireland’s Béibhinn Parsons celebrates try score with substitutes. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady
BONUS TRY FOR IRELAND!
33mins Brendan O’Brien: Hate to say we told you so, but those lineout gremlins really bit Ireland there.
That opening Japan try all came from another botched throw from touch inside their own 22.
Work to do for the highly-rated Alex Codling who will become Munster’s full-time forwards coach after this World Cup.
32mins Ciara Griffin: Well earned try from Japan – worked through the phases and strong finish from the centre.
29mins And the pressure tells as Hirotsu scores Japan’s first try. Otsuka sends over the conversion.
TRY JAPAN!
29mins Great tackle by Flood stops Japan before the line. Ireland under pressure though.
27mins Ciara Griffin: Parsons back doing what she does best for Ireland.
Good heads up rugby from Japan, spotting the space in the back field. Will look to put pressure on the Irish set piece.
25mins Great set piece from Ireland. Scrum on the left finishes with a try on the right with Parsons finishing the move. O’Brien makes no mistake with the conversion, three kicks out of three now for her.
TRY FOR IRELAND!
24mins Ciara Griffin: Very strong defensive set from Ireland and strong set piece accuracy. Excellent clearance kick from O’Brien
23mins Brendan O’Brien: Ireland’s lineout issues have helped Japan get back into this after a very rocky start. Some good tactical kicking from Japan has played its part in that too but Ireland’s defence has stood up so far.
21mins Good defending by Ireland to hold Japan up short near their line. Ireland scrum now and O’Brien booms a kick to the halfway line. Great kick.
17mins Ciara Griffin: Ireland starting very strong with real intent in the ball carries and putting a lot of pressure on Japan. Two well executed tries. Reilly is really adding pace to the Irish ball allowing them to get front foot momentum and put Japan on the back foot
13mins Japan finally mount an attack, but it comes to nothing. Loose pass goes out over the sideline for an Irish line-out.
Ireland’s Amee Leigh Costigan scores her sides first try. Pic: Joe Giddens/PA Wire.
11mins And it was the correct decision to head to the corner. Ireland claim the line out and their powerful maul allows Jones to cross the endline. O’Brien adds the extras.
TRY FOR IRELAND!
9mins Penalty Ireland. Looks like it could be a great chance for three points but O’Brien heads to the corner.
8mins Ireland on the attack again but this time Costigan is held up down the left wing.
5mins Quick passing right to left and Costigan barges her way through, hands off her opponent and applies the finish. O’Brien adds the conversion. Great start for Ireland.
TRY FOR IRELAND!
3mins Here is a how the teams line up.
Ireland (v Japan): S Flood; B Parsons, A Dalton, E Higgins, AL Costigan; D O’Brien, A Reilly; N O’Dowd, N Jones, L Djougang; R Campbell, S Monaghan; F Tuite, E McMahon, B Hogan.
Replacements: C Moloney-MacDonald, E Perry, S McGrath, E Corri-Fallon, G Moore, E Lane, E Breen, A McGann.
Japan: S Nishimura; M Matsumura, M Furuta, H Hirotsu, K Imakugi; A Otsuka, M Tsukui; S Kato, A Kuge, W Kitano; Y Sato, O Yoshimura; M Kawamura, I Nagata, S Saito.
Replacements: K Taniguchi, M Mine, N Nagata, A Sakurai, K Hosokawa, M Abe, M Yamamoto, S Hatada.
3mins Ireland almost in for a try but it’s dropped on the line and Japan hack the ball clear.
1min Brendan O’Brien in Northampton: It’s a sunny 21 degrees at Franklin’s Gardens but the humidity is off the charts.
1min We are underway and Ireland are straight on the attack.
KICK OFF!
11.55pm And now for Ireland’s Call in front of a huge Irish following.
11.54pm And here come the teams. And now it’s time for the anthems, starting with Japan’s.
11.49pm Speaking to RTÉ ahead of kick-off, Ireland head coach Scott Bemand says they are in the “right place to get our best game out there.”
11.43pm Welcome one and all to our liveblog.
My name is Andrew Horgan and I will be talking you through the best of the action as Ireland take on Japan in the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Kick-off is fast approaching and to get you in the mood, below is some pre-match reading for you to enjoy.
Women’s Rugby World Cup: Ireland vs Japan preview, pools, fixtures and favourites.
Pool-by-pool guide: All you need to know about the Women’s Rugby World Cup.