Summary

  • Ireland secure comfortable win in first World Cup game in eight years

  • Amee-Leigh Costigan, Neve Jones and Beibhinn Parsons and Fiona Tuite tries secure Ireland's bonus point before half-time

  • Haruka Hirotsu and Masami Kawamura on target for Japan

  • Superb Eve Higgins breakaway score and Enya Breen try extend Ireland's lead

  • Holders New Zealand face Spain in Sunday's other Pool C game (17:30 BST)

Live Reporting

Mark Strange

  1. try

    Converted Try Ireland 21-0 Japan

    Beibhinn Parsons (con O'Brien)

    Beibhinn PArsonsGetty Images

    Amee-Leigh Costigan turns from scorer to provider as she makes room for herself before sending sevens team-mate Beibhinn Parsons into the corner for Ireland's third try.

    Dannah O'Brien's boot off the tee has been superb today as she is three from three from out wide.

    They had to soak up some pressure but Ireland have done so and hit back clinically.

  2. Ireland 14-0 Japan

    Anna Caplice
    Former Ireland international on BBC Two

    There's been a question mark over Fiona Tuite starting in the back row but she's started well, calling lineouts and looking really confident.

    But Ireland are looking to address their line-out issue.

  3. Ireland 14-0 Japan

    Scott Bemand's side create a green wall and drive Japan back outside the 22. Scrum half Moe Tsukui loses patience and puts a nice kick in over the top that bounces out for a throw.

    Ireland's line-out has been shaky so far and Japan have possession again. Neve Jones atones for her errant throw with an excellent turnover at the ruck.

  4. Watch: Costigan puts Ireland in front

    Ireland 14-0 Japan

    Here's how flying winger Amee-Leigh Costigan scored Ireland's first World Cup try in eight years - and her ninth in green colours.

    Costigan scores first Irish World Cup try in eight years to take lead against Japan

  5. Ireland 14-0 Japan

    Lesley McKenzie's side have a scrum inside the Ireland 22. What can they do from here?

  6. Ireland 14-0 Japan

    Fly-half Ayasa Otsuka chooses to put boot to ball with a grubber that beats everyone to the touch line so Ireland have possession now.

    A good territorial kick though.

  7. Ireland 14-0 Japan

    Neve Jones' throw isn't straight so Japan have a scrum just inside their own half. Can they build some momentum from here?

  8. Ireland 14-0 Japan

    Katy Daley-Mclean
    England's 2014 World Cup winning captain on BBC Two

    It's going to be hard for Japan. Dannah O'Brien is controlling the game with her kicking, forcing Japan to play out from deep.

  9. try

    Converted Try Ireland 14-0 Japan

    Neve Jones (con O'Brien)

    Neve Jones scores Ireland's second tryGetty Images

    A very patient maul that took a bit of time to get going eventually rolls over the line and Neve Jones is the player at the back to dive over the line.

    Another excellent two-pointer from Dannah O'Brien too.

    Two tries in 10 minutes and Scott Bemand's side have all the momentum.

  10. Ireland 7-0 Japan

    Ireland win a very kickable penalty in front of the posts but Dannah O'Brien goes to the corner. Another show of ambition.

  11. Ireland 7-0 Japan

    Orla Bannon
    BBC Sport NI at Franklin's Gardens

    That was exactly the start Ireland wanted.

    They were slow to settle in both warm-up games against Scotland and Canada and making a fast start was one of their main targets today.

    After a couple of entries into Japan's '22' the forwards weren't able to penetrate a well-drilled Japanese defence, but slick passing out wide sent Costigan away.

  12. Ireland 7-0 Japan

    Anna Caplice
    Former Ireland international on BBC Two

    No question about Ireland's ambition in this match. That's the start they wanted.

  13. try

    Converted Try Ireland 7-0 Japan

    Amee-Leigh Costigan (con O'Brien)

    Costigan scores first Irish World Cup try in eight years to take lead against Japan

    Japan do well to clear the ball away but Ireland's lineout is perfect and they go through the hands to the wing.

    Clean passing puts winger Amee-Leigh Costigan away and she powerfully fends opposite number Komachi Imakugi to go over in the corner.

    Dannah O'Brien converts well and it is a great start for Ireland.

  14. Ireland 0-0 Japan

    Katy Daley-Mclean
    England's 2014 World Cup winning captain on BBC Two

    A really good defensive set by Japan. The tackles, the height of the tackles. A big confidence booster for Japan early on.

  15. Ireland 0-0 Japan

    Aoibheann Riley dives for the line from just a metre out but a big double hit forces her to spill the ball and Japan clear their lines.

  16. Ireland 0-0 Japan

    Japan go off their feet at the ruck and Ireland go into the corner with just over a minute on the clock.

  17. Kick-off

    Ireland 0-0 Japan

    For the first time in 2,920 days, Ireland kick off a World Cup match! Dannah O'Brien gets us underway kicking left to right on Italian official Clara Munarini's whistle.

  18. It's go time!

    Ireland v Japan (12:00 BST)

    The anthems are belted out including a rousing rendition of Ireland's Call.

    We are moments away from Ireland's Rugby World Cup campaign getting underway!

  19. The teams are out!

    Ireland v Japan (12:00 BST)

    The teams are welcomed out on to the field by a big crowd at a hot and sunny Franklin's Gardens!

    The anthems are coming up...

  20. 'We're ready' - Bemand

    Ireland v Japan (12:00 BST)

    Scott BemandGetty Images

    Speaking on BBC Two, Ireland head coach Scott Bemand on team's rise over past two years:

    "The group was ready. There's a timing piece to things. What we managed to do was point some arrows in the right direction and we said we're going to make it an environment that people enjoy being in.

    "It's been two years now and we're ready to put our best performances out there."