That’s all from me - I’ll leave you with Andy Bull’s report from Kobe. Thanks for joining me. Cheerio.
Ireland go top of Pool A, and are in a three-way scrap with Japan and Scotland to make the quarter-finals. Win against Samoa with a bonus point, and they’re through - but whether or not they win the group is out of their hands.
Joe Schmidt says Johnny Sexton doesn’t have any new injury concerns.
“It was tactical [to take him off]. Forty minutes this week, 40-60 next week, and he’ll be just fine for the quarter-finals.” He also brushes off concerns about the ice pack Sexton had on his thigh. “He’s trying to cover his bases with the ice, he could have played on.”
He’s positive about the performance, blaming “the conditions - the ball was slipping through our hands like a bar of soap,” and added that Ireland showed enough going forward for him to feel satisfied.
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Sexton was keen to put a positive spin on things, but Brian O’Driscoll in the ITV studio isn’t buying it. “Eighteen handling errors is far too many from Ireland.” Paul O’Connell adds that Ireland simply aren’t creating enough, pointing to France and New Zealand’s performances yesterday.
Here’s Johnny Sexton: “Picking up the bonus point was exactly what we were looking for. Russia were well-organised, and made things really difficult. The ball was really slippy out there. Happy to get the five points, plenty to work on before Samoa.”
He also thanks the Irish fans, but somewhat frustratingly, he isn’t asked about his injury. It does seem that he was taken off as a precaution, nothing more.
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Full time! Ireland 35-0 Russia
Job done for Ireland, as they stagger away from a bruising contest with the necessary five points. It wasn’t the statement win they craved, but the conditions and opposition made things tough for Joe Schmidt’s side.
79 mins: Ringrose thinks he’s scored again, but the TMO chalks it off for a “clear knock on”. It wasn’t all that clear, in my humble opinion.
Rhys Ruddock gets man of the match, just reward for a battling performance in the back row.
TRY! Ireland 35-0 Russia (Ringrose)
Here’s the flourish Ireland have been looking for, Carty’s steal setting up a lightning break downfield. Larmour exchanges passes with Earls then offloads to Ringrose, who gallops clear to score. Carty converts.
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74 mins: Ireland 28-0 Russia A nice attacking move from Ireland, with O’Mahony, Aki and Conway combining - but the ball slips away, another handling error costing them.
73 mins: Ireland 28-0 Russia Larmour kicks the ball into touch, and Ireland turn it over from the Russian lineout. No gaps in the wall of red though, even at this late stage.
70 mins: Ireland 28-0 Russia Roman Khodin comes on for Russia, who have been really impressive despite the scoreline.
68 mins: Ireland 28-0 Russia Ireland have a little of their swagger back now, and CJ Stander powers through a tackle to haul them close to the line. Ruddock so nearly gets a second try, but a Russian body hauls him back behind the line - and Henderson’s spill allows Perov to hurriedly clear away.
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Love how little time the Russian lad behind him has for rugby banter. That or he’s skiving off work and realised the game is up cause of your man. #RugbyWorldCup #IREvRUS pic.twitter.com/2CSuoeZznj
— Call me Ishmael (@justintime4tea) October 3, 2019
65 mins: Ireland 28-0 Russia A bit of magic from Carty and Earls there, after what has been, if I’m honest, an awful second half. Russia launch an attack, but Artemyev’s kick through is well-fielded by the dependable Earls.
TRY! Ireland 28-0 Russia (Conway)
That’s a big relief for Ireland. Carty’s cute chip kick forward is gathered in by Earls, who offloads superbly under pressure to Conway - and the wing bursts clear! Bonus point secured, and Carty converts.
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60 mins: Ireland 21-0 Russia Gaisin’s kick is charged down by Ringrose, but Ireland can’t profit from it. Iain Henderson is on for Kleyn, and Ostrikov will be back shortly. Ireland haven’t been able to use that man advantage - yet ...
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59 mins: Ireland 21-0 Russia Ireland change their entire front row. Kilcoyne, Scannell and Ryan retire after a bruising hour, with Leinster’s trio of Cronin, Porter and Furlong on.
57 mins: Ireland 21-0 Russia Another Russian penalty, and Gaisin goes for goal from distance. It’s a tough kick, and he pulls it a long way wide. Sexton is now applying ice to his thigh - a worrying sight for Irish fans.
@niallmcveigh Not sure Mark Steele's comment is fair. A majority of games have been even in the most part and the differances between the teams has decreased. We've had some fantastic games, and all world cups have the same issue of differance level in the group stages.
— James Austin (@JamesDAustin) October 3, 2019
I would agree - a lot of games have been closer than the final score suggests. Russia are one of the tournament’s outsiders, but they’re making life really difficult for Ireland today. But that might not always translate to the casual fan, tuning in to see a one-sided score in the top left of their screen.
54 mins: Ireland 21-0 Russia German Davydov, the hefty Russian wing, joins the scrum to add much-needed muscle. Ireland have lost momentum here, and that bright start feels a long time ago.
52 mins: Ireland 21-0 Russia Sexton is on the Irish bench, and doesn’t appear to be nursing an injury. Russia have done a great job of dragging Ireland into the trenches in this half, but can they hold out with a man missing?
51 mins: Ireland 21-0 Russia From the lineout, the new man Ostrikov clatters John Ryan, rocking his head back. Could the substitute be heading straight off?
No - Garces rules that Ryan was low, and Ostrikov led with his arm, so it’s a yellow.
50 mins: Ireland 21-0 Russia Kearney’s kick gives Artemyev, his former schools opponent, too much time. The Russian’s kick is terrific, rolling into touch five metres out. Jordan Larmour is on for Kearney, while Ostrikov replaces Garbuzov for Russia.
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49 mins: Ireland 21-0 Russia Fine work from the Irish pack to turn the ball over, and make up for that run of errors. They have a scrum, and a chance to clear their lines.
47 mins: Ireland 21-0 Russia Aki’s knock-on from a high ball gives Russia a scrum, which Ireland collapse. Gaisin kicks for touch, and Russia have decent field position here ...
46 mins: Ireland 21-0 Russia Fedotko is back on in time for a Russian scrum. Early handling errors from Ireland have the commentary team frustrated - but surely the slippery conditions are a big factor.
44 mins: Ireland 21-0 Russia Ireland pour forward, Garry Ringrose stretching the Russian defence with Fedotko still off the field. The break is denied by Gotovstev, who makes a crunching tackle, and Russia turn it over.
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42 mins: Ireland 21-0 Russia Changes in the front row for Russia, with Selskii and Morozov coming in. Still waiting for any news on Sexton’s withdrawal.
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We're back!
Jack Carty is on in place of Johnny Sexton. Not sure if Sexton has an injury, or is just being rested.
Here’s some team news ahead of England v Argentina on Saturday. Lucas Mensa sounds a clever player ...
Harsh but fair?
I really am trying to get interested in the rugby world cup, but most matches seem to end with scores like South Africa 3,475 Colony of Puffins 3
— Mark Steel (@mrmarksteel) October 3, 2019
Here’s Niall Connolly, with some half-time Blackrock memories. “My father, Aidan (from Banbridge), went to Castleknock and played in the Senior Cup final in 1948 losing to Blackrock 9-0.
“His brother, Denis, played in the winning Castleknock side in 1947 against Blackrock, winning 6-0. Blackrock would seem to have the edge over the years in that school rivalry. But a little family history.”
Half time! Ireland 21-0 Russia
A big lead, and three of the four tries required for a bonus point. Ireland will be happy with that.
39 mins: Igor Galiovskiy is caught offside trying to intercept, and Ireland have a lineout seconds before the gong - but Bundee Aki spills it.
38 mins: Ireland 21-0 Russia Gaisin goes for an ambitious drop goal to get Russia on the board, but it falls short, and was going wide anyway.
TRY! Ireland 21-0 Russia (Ruddock)
Ireland have to get over here, with the giant Fedotko off the field. It isn’t pretty by any means, but they get it done. Three green shirts converge on Sychev and Ruddock scrambles over! Sexton adds the extras.
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33 mins: Ireland 14-0 Russia Bogdan Fedotko’s difficult day continues - he gets a yellow card for a series of transgressions as Russia desperately try to keep Ireland from the line. Penalty advantage, but Sexton’s floated pass to Conway is forward, so we come back for the scrum ...
32 mins: Ireland 14-0 Russia The Russians are giving too many penalties away, the latest presenting Ireland with a lineout 10m out. They would love a third try just now ...
29 mins: Ireland 14-0 Russia From a Russian scrum, Gaisin skips forward and delivers a dart of a kick into touch. Ireland pegged back a little, but they win the lineout. Russian scrum-half Dmitry Perov is too eager to try and intercept McGrath’s offload, and gets penalised.
27 mins: Ireland 14-0 Russia Bad news for Ireland as Jordi Murphy, who only flew out on Sunday, is forced off. CJ Stander comes off the bench, but the back row injuries are mounting.
25 mins: Ireland 14-0 Russia Russia have the lineout, but Gaisin slips as he tries to clear, and the ball ricochets off O’Mahony. It’s a knock on. Conditions look so slippery out there now.
24 mins: Ireland 14-0 Russia A shake of the head from Sexton after he opts to kick for touch, with Russia scrambling to get back ...
23 mins: Ireland 14-0 Russia Fedotko is guilty of another mistake, with Conway just unable to take advantage with a burst down the right flank.
21 mins: Ireland 14-0 Russia They are just about held up at the line, Rhys Ruddock almost forcing the ball over, but Russia are penalised. Sexton kicks out, but from the lineout, Kilcoyne concedes a penalty and Russia, who look absolutely exhausted, survive.
19 mins: Ireland 14-0 Russia Gaisin’s clearance is a little short, and Ireland have the lineout on the Russian 22. A chance to roll forward, and roll they do, to within 10m ...
17 mins: Ireland 14-0 Russia Sexton looks up for this, and his crossfield kick almost picks out Earls, up against three Russians, who collectively just about deal with it.
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15 mins: Ireland 14-0 Russia Ireland’s minimum requirement today is four tries and a bonus-point win: they’re halfway there already.
14 mins: Ireland 14-0 Russia Another blow for Russia, as Golosnitskiy hurts his knee trying to deny O’Mahony, and clattering into the post. He’s replaced by Vladimir Ostroushko.
TRY! Ireland 14-0 Russia (O'Mahony)
A handling error presents Ireland with possession deep in Russian territory, and Sexton pounces, his grubber kick slicing open the defence and allowing O’Mahony to run through and slide into the left-hand post. Sexton converts, and Ireland are in control.
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12 mins: Ireland 7-0 Russia Ireland scrum - their front five today are all Munster men - from which Russia are penalised, and Sexton can kick clear.
10 mins: Ireland 7-0 Russia Gaisin launches a high ball towards the corner and Kearney, perhaps dazzled by the lights, loses it! He’s forced to bundle it into touch, but Matveev’s lineout isn’t straight. An opportunity missed for the underdogs.
8 mins: Ireland 7-0 Russia Peter O’Mahony dives in to grab the ball at the breakdown, but Ireland are caught offside. Russia have a lineout, and work the ball right to left, and back again ...
6 mins: Ireland 7-0 Russia Conway slips as he looks to skip forward - already signs that there’s plenty of moisture under the dome in Kobe.
5 mins: Ireland 7-0 Russia Russia turn the ball over as McGrath’s kick has them scrambling, Gaisin slipping into touch under pressure - but Russia nick the lineout ball.
TRY! Ireland 7-0 Russia (Kearney)
That didn’t take long. From the Ireland lineout, Rob Kearney finds a gap and has too much power and pace for Simplikevich, who can’t keep him from forcing his way over. Sexton’s conversion sneaks inside the right post.
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1 min: An exchange of kicks, before Russian fly-half Ramil Gaisin finds touch.
Here we go!
Jerome Garces is the man in the middle. Russia, decked out in all-red, kick things off.
While you wait for kick-off, here’s this week’s Breakdown from the ever-excellent Paul Rees:
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Here’s Joe Schmidt: “Joey just had a bit of ankle soreness after the Captain’s Run, and Conor Murray is keen to get back in there, which makes it easier. Johnny Sexton is fit, Japan came a bit too soon but he’s had a comfortable turnaround. The first 20 minutes against Japan was very good, but we became hesitant, quite anxious. I’d like to replicate that start, but build on it today.”
Johnny Sexton captains Ireland for the first time today, and has told ITV that he’s “100% fit”. “We know we can get back to the level we showed against Scotland,” he says. “Japan was just a blip”.
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Some intriguing pre-game reading from Ben Ryan, on how Ireland and others can bounce back from a defeat by sticking to the plan:
A couple of names to look out for: for Ireland, Jordi Murphy starts at eight, having flown out to Japan earlier this week after Jack Conan was injured. For Russia, captain and full-back Vasily Artemyev, who played for Blackrock school in Leinster, and was even called up by Ireland’s under-19 side, before opting to play for the country of his birth.
In today’s early kick-off, Fiji earned their first win of the tournament, brushing Georgia aside in a 45-10 win:
Some breaking team news - Joey Carbery is a late withdrawal from the bench. Conor Murray takes his place, having originally been rested.
#RWC2019
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) October 3, 2019
Breaking News: @JoeyCarbery a late withdrawal from replacements. He felt some irritation in the ankle after Captain's Run & it was felt best not to risk him. @ConorMurray_9 comes in at 21.#TeamOfUs #ShoulderToShoulder #IREvRUS pic.twitter.com/LdFRfGsg2M
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The teams
Ireland: Kearney, Conway, Ringrose, Aki, Earls, Sexton (c), McGrath; Kilcoyne, Scannell, Ryan, Beirne, Kleyn, Ruddock, O’Mahony, Murphy.
Replacements: Cronin, Porter, Furlong, Henderson, Stander, Murray, Carty, Larmour.
Russia: Artemyev (c), Davydov, Galinovskiy, Golosnitskiy, Simplikevich, Gaisin, Perov; Polivalov, Matveev, Gotovtsev, Garbuzov, Fedotko, Sychev, Gadzhiev, Gresev.
Replacements: Selskii, Morozov, Podrezov, Ostrikov, Elgin, Ianiushkin, Khodin, Ostroushko.
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Preamble
Time for Plan B, then. Ireland’s meticulously crafted route to an overdue World Cup breakthrough did not account for events in Shizuoka, where Japan made the world’s top-ranked team look distinctly second best.
What does it change? On paper, not much. Two bonus-point wins and they will escape their pool and reach the quarter-finals, where a southern hemisphere titan awaits. In reality, everything is different now.
Take today’s game, which should have been a chance to ease through the gears against Pool A’s lowest-ranked team. Instead, there will be scrutiny on this reshuffled side’s every move, and the need for bonus points will bring its own pressure.
Perhaps the return of talisman Johnny Sexton will ease Irish worries. Perhaps this early setback will sharpen up Joe Schmidt’s squad, and pay off in the long run. The result appears a foregone conclusion - Russia are 150-1 to win - but for Ireland, everything else is still uncertain.
Kick-off: 11.15am BST, 8.15pm in Kobe.
