Ireland send the ball to the left wing but can find no way through the England defence. Good work from Marlie Packer and Poppy Cleall has pushed Ireland back outside the 22.

Ireland are holding on and England win a penalty. Katy Daley-Mclean kicks to touch.

Ireland have a line-out just inside England's 22. They drive straight into a maul but make little progress.

The ball is sent left and Michelle Claffey finds a gap to make it up to the 5m line.

England prop Hannah Botterman makes her intentions clear with a huge hit early on.

But Ireland maintain possession on England's 10m line. Nicole Fowley puts a kick over the top and Katy Daley-Mclean tries to run it out but is brought down. Great pressure from Ireland.

Nicole Fowley gets the 2019 Six Nations under way.

The Ireland team look to be loving singing in front of the Donnybrook crowd.

Ireland's call = definitely one of my Six Nations favourites.

A hearty performance of the national anthem from England. Top marks go to Sarah Hunter in particular for her enthusiasm.

Rocky Clark
Former England prop and World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra

It is going to be a tight match, particularly in the first half. I'm looking forward to seeing Poppy Cleall playing in the second row today because she is a big ball carrier.

It's also a big day for Leah Lyons and she will lead up front. Ireland are always a physical outfit and England have just got to work away and break them down.

Image source, Getty Images

As well as these live text updates, there's coverage of the game on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.

Luckily for you, we've made it easy to listen. Just press play at the top of this page.

We'll also have video of a key moment from the game on the BBC sport website after full-time.

Sarah Hunter leads her England side onto the field to a smattering of applause.

You know the Ireland team are coming out before you see them as the crowd welcomes them with loud screams.

It looks like it's going to be a great atmosphere in Donnybrook. Two thousand five hundred tickets have been sold in advance and there's no shortage of Ireland flags in the crowd.

World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee and former England flanker Maggie Alphonsi has been singing the praises of England prop Hannah Botterman on Twitter.

Botterman spoke to us last month after her dream of becoming a professional rugby player came true.

Speaking before kick-off, England head coach Simon Middleton said: "Everything is shaping up to be a good game. We have talked about transferring things we have worked on at the training field to the stadium."

On the Irish intensity: "It is never anything else when you play against the Irish girls, we made a good start to the last game at Twickenham but they came back into it.

"You want to start every campaign with a win, but we genuinely are focusing on performance more than anything. The pressure is massive any time you pull on an England shirt on and I don’t think the contracts adds any pressure to the girls."

Of course, this is just the first game of many this weekend.

I've been very helpful and put together a list of every last bit of rugby we've got coming up this weekend so you can plan accordingly. You're welcome.

Friday 1 February

France v Wales on BBC One from 19:25 GMT with a live text on the BBC Sport website and coverage on BBC Radio 5 live from 19:00 GMT.

A live stream of Scotland v Italy in the Women's Six Nations from 19:30 GMT on the BBC Sport website.

Six Nations forum on the Red Button from 21:55 GMT.

Saturday 2 February

Scotland v Italy on BBC One, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and the BBC Sport website from 13:45 GMT.

Ireland v England on BBC Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website from 15:45 GMT.

Sunday 3 February

17:15 GMT - 18:15 GMT Men’s Six Nations highlights

23:00 GMT - 23:30 GMT Women’s Six Nations highlights

Speaking before kick off, Ireland head coach Adam Griggs said: "We have had some good preparation but it doesn’t mean much if you don't go out and perform on the night.

"We have to respect how good England are but we have experience in our side and that means we have a good scattering of players who have been through it before.

"You cannot underestimate the home-field advantage and the crowd that come along and we’ll be banking on that home support to help us play the rugby that represents that.

"We want to take our attacking game to England with our quick game and cause some chaos in their defence. It will be an exciting game and I think it will be closer than people think."

Ireland play Scotland at Scotstoun next Friday then travel to Parma to face Italy.

Round four sees them host France in Donnybrook, before finishing their tournament against Wales in Cardiff.

Many have billed England’s next game as the tournament decider. They welcome France to Castle Park, Doncaster in round two.

The Red Roses then travel to Cardiff to face Wales, before playing Italy at Sandy Park in Exeter.

England’s final game, against Scotland, will be played at Twickenham.

There are three uncapped players among Ireland's replacements, but the hosts have plenty of experience in their ranks too.

Flanker Claire Molloy has been getting involved in the #10yearchallenge, posting a picture from her first Six Nations in 2009.

Image source, Instagram @claire_molloy

Image source, Instagram @claire_molloy

This is not the only Women’s Six Nations game tonight. Scotland welcome Italy to Scotstoun and you can watch that match on the BBC Sport website from 19:20 GMT.

But Wales arguably face the toughest task this weekend. They travel to Montpellier to take on France on Saturday.

You can find a full preview of the tournament here.

Expectations are especially high for this England squad after they started their full-time women’s XVs programme in January.

Twenty-eight players are now on permanent contracts with the RFU, but much less money is invested in women's rugby in Ireland.

The Irish players do now get per diems on match days, which Ireland captain Ciara Griffin spoke about on BBC Radio 5 live's Rugby Union Weekly:

"England having contracts is great motivation," she said. "The IRFU has made great progress, the per diems increase your work-life balance, which is very good for us.

“We’re all working professionals outside of rugby. In England, we are playing a professional side but we train like professionals ourselves."

Image source, Getty Images

Alongside France, England are expected to dominate the Women’s Six Nations this year.

In fact, there has only been one occasion in the last 11 tournaments when one of the two sides has not made it into the top three.

Ranked second in the world, the Red Roses come into the Women's Six Nations on a high after an unbeaten autumn international campaign against the United States, Canada and Ireland.

But England have a tough task ahead as they attempt to regain the title from France after finishing second in the 2018 tournament.

Image source, Getty Images