[[**LIVESTREAM**]] Ireland v Romania Rugby Live Free Broadcast Rugby World Cup 2023 TV On 9 Sep 2023
Rugby World Cup 2023 Match Preview: Ireland v Romania
Where to watch Ireland vs Romania live stream, TV channel, lineups, betting odds for 2023 Rugby World Cup match
Ireland, who came into Rugby World Cup 2023 as the number one-ranked nation in the world, open their Pool B account against Romania, a side returning to the showpiece event after missing out on qualification four years ago.
The Irish boast a perfect winning record against their Eastern European opponents, nicknamed The Oaks, with nine wins in nine outings dating back to 1986, including three in past Rugby World Cups.
Andy Farrell’s side will want to make it four from four as they look to make a strong start in a very difficult pool.
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.
The current world No.1 team are riding a 14-game winning streak into this tournament and should have no trouble extending that against the 19th-ranked nation, against whom they’re unbeaten in nine previous meetings.
Thier most recent game saw the Irish prevail 44-10 in poolplay at the 2015 Rugby World Cup and Romania have never finished closer than 28 points.
Andy Farrell has named his squad for the opening game of the Rugby World Cup with Romania.
Captain Johnny Sexton will make his first competitive appearance in almost six months after being selected to start Saturday’s clash.
Fly-half Sexton missed his country’s three warm-up matches through suspension, having not played since injuring a groin as Ireland clinched the Six Nations Grand Slam against England on March 18.
The 38-year-old, who will retire after the tournament, will partner Leinster team-mate Jamison Gibson-Park on his long-awaited comeback in Bordeaux.
Ulster’s Rob Herring will start at hooker to fill the void left by Dan Sheehan’s foot injury, with Ronan Kelleher, who sat out last month’s wins over Italy, England and Samoa amid a hamstring issue, on the bench.
Lock Joe McCarthy – the least experienced international in Ireland’s 33-man squad – will make only his second Test start, alongside vice-captain James Ryan.
Wing Mack Hansen and world player of the year Josh van der Flier are notable absentees from the matchday squad, with Keith Earls selected on the right wing, Peter O’Mahony at openside flanker and Tadhg Beirne at blindside.
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.
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.
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