Australia kick to the corner after earning a penalty.

It's a successful line-out but it's soon suffocated by the Irish.

Australia enjoy the early spell in possession but the ball comes loose when Samantha Treherne tries to overlap to Kayla Sauvao.

Ireland earn a scrum just inside the opposition's half but their attack comes to nothing as they pass along to the right and it goes forward to Eimear Considine.

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland team: Hannah Tyrrell; Eimear Considine, Jenny Murphy, Sene Naoupu, Alison Miller; Nora Stapleton, Larissa Muldoon; Lindsay Peat, Cliodhna Moloney, Ailis Egan; Paula Fitzpatrick, Marie Louise Reilly; Ashleigh Baxter, Claire Molloy (capt), Heather O'Brien

Replacements: Leah Lyons, Ruth O'Reilly, Ciara O'Connor, Sophie Spence, Ciara Griffin, Nicole Cronin, Katie Fitzhenry, Mairead Coyne

Australia team: Samantha Treherne; Nareta Marsters, Kayla Sauvao, Sharni Williams, Mahalia Murphy; Trilleen Pomare, Katrina Barker; Liz Patu, Cheyenne Campbell, Hilisha Samoa; Chloe Butler, Millie Boyle; Mollie Gray, Shannon Parry (capt), Grace Hamilton

Replacements: Emily Robinson, Violeta Tupuola, Hana Ngaha, Rebecca Clough, Alisha Hewett, Fenella Hake, Sarah Riordan, Ashleigh Hewson.

Nora Stapleton, Ireland's fly-half, kicks us off.

Sara Orchard
BBC rugby union commentator

I've seen former Ireland captain Niamh Briggs walking round in a plastic boot. She says missing out on the World Cup is still very raw and emotional for her. When she's ready she'll talk to 5 live next week.

The anthems are done at the UCD Bowl and the two teams go to their respective huddles for one last debrief.

We're almost ready...

Image source, Inpho

The world's fourth (France), fifth (Ireland) and sixth (Australia) best teams compete in Pool C. It's going to be a close call.

Hosts Ireland finished fourth in 2014 and will reignite their rivalry with Les Bleues, the team that beat them to the bronze medal three years ago.

The Aussies, meanwhile, come into the the tournament off the back of their Sevens gold medal at Rio 2016.

And let's not write off the returning Japan just yet. They're playing in the World Cup for the first time since 2002 and travel to Dublin having secured two big wins over Hong Kong in the Asia Championship.

Image source, Getty Images

England got their title defence off to a near-perfect start with a 10-try 56-5 victory over Spain.

Wales kept within distance of four-time winners New Zealand for the first half but ended up losing 44-12.

Welcome back!

England have won, Wales have lost. Now it's time to find out what hosts Ireland can do.

Image source, Inpho

Next up for us is hosts Ireland v Australia.

Ireland reached the semis last time, Olympic champions Australia are packed with sevens talent.

Join us from 18:45 BST for live text and radio commentary...

It's been a try fest so far in Dublin.

England ran in 10 as they thumped Spain to open their defence of the title.

It was not quite so much fun for Wales though - they conceded eight as perennial contenders New Zealand showed their class.

Is that one last try for New Zealand?

With the clock in the red Wales show defiance and look to attack from deep, but they are penalised, and the Black Ferns tap and go.

They swarm towards the Wales line and are they over? Nope rules the ref, and that is that.

There's been no doubting the effort from Wales, but the class has come from New Zealand today in Dublin.

Image source, PA

This has been quite a chastening afternoon for Wales at times.

While their tries have given them reasons to be cheerful for the rest of the tournament, New Zealand's ruthlessness has given them a harsh lesson in the importance of taking your chances.

The distinctly rapid Selica Winiata coasts over in the corner for her hat-trick.

It's end to end at the moment.

The maul has been a useful weapon for Wales today, and it has yielded their second try of the match as Melissa Clay barges her way over.

Wales' resurgence is short-lived.

Within two minutes of Harries' try for Wales, Selica Winiata sprints clear for her second and New Zealand's seventh.

At last Wales have reason to cheer.

After their first-half pressure proved fruitless, they have their first try of the World Cup thanks to Sioned Harries' powerful carry from close range.

Hopes of a comeback may be gone, but that will at least be a lift for morale among Rowland Phillips' players.