IRE
No.Name
15Simon Zebo, FB
14Tommy Bowe, W
T
2
13Jared Payne, C
12Darren Cave, C
11Keith Earls, W
T
2
10Ian Madigan, FH
4
2
9Eoin Reddan, SH
1Cian Healy, P
2Richardt Strauss, H
3Nathan White, P
4Donnacha Ryan, L
5Devin Toner, L
6Jordi Murphy, FL
7Chris Henry, FL
T
8Jamie Heaslip, N8
Replacements
16Sean Cronin, R
17Jack McGrath, R
18Tadhg Furlong, R
19Paul O'Connell, R
20Sean O'Brien, R
21Conor Murray, R
22Paddy Jackson, R
23Rob Kearney, R
T

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Wembley Stadium
4:45 PM, September 27, 2015
Attendance: 89,267
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'44-10 End of second half
80'Tommy Bowe's looking for his hat trick - but the Romania defence provides one final effort to keep him out. Joubert awards the penalty and Romania kick into touch - and that's the final whistle at Wembley!

ESPN's Tom Hamilton at Wembley - Simon Zebo was Ireland's chief magician in a backline full of inventive sorcery in front of a record World Cup crowd of 89,267. They played at a relentless pace with Rob Kearney's try a textbook lift from the training paddock. However, the sight of him limping off the field late in the second-half will put a cloud over this commanding win. Romania, for all their efforts, were never in this game. Two matches in five days were far too much for their weary legs. Ireland were ruthless but are still attempting to reach top gear. Alongside Zebo, Chris Henry impressed as did Jared Payne and a haul of 10 points from a possible 10 is the perfect start for Joe Schmidt's men. That final match of the pool against France is brewing nicely.
79'
79'44-10 Conversion - Florin Vlaicu , Romania
78'Easy enough conversion for Vlaicu.
78'44-8 Try - Ovidiu Tonita , Romania
77'They've done it! In similar fashion to the try against France, Daniel Carpo takes a long lineout, offloads to Tonita who forces his way under the posts.
76'Here's Romania's chance - they're in a similar position to what they were against France. Lineout on Ireland's five after Conor Murray misjudges the restarting kick.
75'44-3 Conversion - Ian Madigan , Ireland
74'Madigan has no trouble dispatching the resulting conversion. Ireland clean and clear and will be hoping the last five minutes don't bring any serious injuries.
74'42-3 Try - Chris Henry , Ireland
73'Ireland awarded a penalty after a high tackle between the scrum-halves - they take the lineout and use it to good effect as Chris Henry grounds on the back of a powerful rolling maul.
71'Romania back up to 15 players as Gal makes his return following a costly 10 minutes in the bin. Shades of Georgia's imminent meltdown against Argentina last Friday.
71'Substitute on - Conor Murray , Ireland
71'Player substituted - Rob Kearney , Ireland
70'Not looking good for try-scorer Rob Kearney, who looked as if he injured himself going over the line. He's gone over to the sidelines for treatement.
68'Player substituted - Valentin Calafeteanu , Romania
68'Substitute on - Florin Surugiu , Romania
68'Player substituted - Mihai Macovei , Romania
68'Substitute on - Stelian Burcea , Romania
68'Substitute on - Mihai Lazar , Romania
68'Player substituted - Andrei Ursache , Romania
68'Player substituted - Mike Wiringi , Romania
68'Substitute on - Florin Vlaicu , Romania
67'Romania ring the changes but this game is done and dusted now - will just be a case of how many more tries Ireland can add to their already impressive total.
65'Madigan with a rareloose kick. After a stop-start opening 20 minutes to this second half, Ireland have turned on the style.
65'37-3 Try - Rob Kearney , Ireland
64'This is fast becoming a rout - Gal's sin-bin has proved so costly. Reddan with a superbly disguised back pass to Madison, who sends Zebo away on the left side. The wing turns on the afterburners and sprints clear, before unselfishly offloading the ball to Kearney inside him. Beautiful move.
64'Player substituted - Nathan White , Ireland
64'Substitute on - Tadhg Furlong , Ireland
64'Substitute on - Rob Kearney , Ireland
64'Player substituted - Keith Earls , Ireland
64'Player substituted - Donnacha Ryan , Ireland
64'Substitute on - Paul O'Connell , Ireland
63'Madigan with another wonderfully placed kick to add the extra two points - and Paul O'Connell is now on for Ireland.
63'32-3 Conversion - Ian Madigan , Ireland
62'30-3 Try - Tommy Bowe , Ireland
61'A real statement from Tommy Bowe - Ireland take immediate advantage of the extra man and find Bowe on the right side, who races clear for his second try of the match. Ireland have four tries and a bonus point - they should top Pool D tonight.
61'Yellow card - Csaba Gal , Romania
60'That'll be a yellow card though. Csaba Gal pinged for slowing play down right in front of the posts after a superb Ireland break. Ireland take the scrum.
60'Player substituted - Viorel Lucaci , Romania
60'Substitute on - Johan van Heerden , Romania
60'Player substituted - Richardt Strauss , Ireland
60'Substitute on - Sean Cronin , Ireland
60'Substitute on - Sean O'Brien , Ireland
60'Player substituted - Jamie Heaslip , Ireland
59'Joubert goes to the TMO, who confirms Jackson's feet were not grounded at the time of Ionita's tackle. Referee bizarrely opts against the letter of the law - a card - and calls penalty only. Romania lucky to still have 15 on the pitch.
58'Florin Ionita is likely to be sin-binned here for a high tackle on Paddy Jackson. Ionita a fraction early with his challenge, Jackson was still in the air taking a high ball when the Romanian went through him.
58'Player substituted - Jared Payne , Ireland
58'Substitute on - Paddy Jackson , Ireland
57'More replacements as we await a Romania lineout. Madigan has now moved to centre for Ireland. Last ten minutes or so has been stop-start and error prone to say the least.
56'Player substituted - Andrei Radoi , Romania
56'Substitute on - Otar Turashvili , Romania
56'Substitute on - Keith Earls , Ireland
56'Player substituted - Rob Kearney , Ireland
54'Keith Earls comes back on for Ireland, while Cian Healy has departed after a solid if little rusty 55 minutes. Meanwhile, Romanian hooker Andrei Radoi has departed to get treatment on what looks like a facial injury.
54'Player substituted - Paulica Ion , Romania
54'Substitute on - Alexandru Tarus , Romania
54'Substitute on - Florin Ionita , Romania
54'Player substituted - Marian Apostol , Romania
54'Player substituted - Cian Healy , Ireland
54'Substitute on - Jack McGrath , Ireland
53'"This is a hell of a noise and we've got sympathy for that," says referee Joubert as the Romanian players huddle to discuss the lineout.
52'Kearney gets bashed in the tackle - the momentum sends him around the other way, where he gets bashed again. However, he redeems himself with a fantastic block on Romania's five line. Lineout Romania.
51'Andrei Radoi knocks on and we'll have an Irish scrum in the middle of the Wembley turf.
49'Player substituted - Keith Earls , Ireland
49'Substitute on - Rob Kearney , Ireland
48'Earls in trouble here - he's going off for a head injury assessment. Took a very big hit when attempting to tackle a running Adrian Apostol in full flight.
47'Henry does well to keep the ball for Ireland, before Healy barges through the middle - he, however, cannot hold onto the egg and Romania have the turnover. Healy concedes the penalty in his desperate attempts to win it back.
45'25-3 Conversion - Ian Madigan , Ireland
44'That's a fantastic try! Lovely kick-through from scrum-half Eoin Reddan and Keith Earls dives on the ball to force across the line. That's his seventh World Cup try, which puts him level with Brian O'Driscoll's Ireland record. Madigan splits the posts with a perfect conversion to add the extras.
44'23-3 Try - Keith Earls , Ireland
43'Good pressure from the likes of Henry and Healy and Ireland have a turnover in the middle of the field.
42'
41'Devin Toner with a monster catch straight from kick-off. 127 kilograms of battering ram straight through Mihai Macovei.
41'18-3 End of first half
40'Madigan gets us back underway at Wembley. That first 40 minutes yielded 71% possession and 76% territory for Ireland, while Zebo, Payne, Earls and Chris Henry are all into double figures for carries. However, Joe Schmidt's team are only 15 points ahead - can they build on that in the second half?
40'For all of Ireland's pressure, it comes to nothing. Joubert blows the halftime whistle and Ireland, without being spectacular, have a healthy lead at the break.
40'18-3 Start of second half
37'Ireland's rolling maul collapses and Romania have a chance to clear with the turnover. And, having waited 33 minutes for a scrum, we'll have another straight away.
36'
35'It appears Healy had lost his contact lens - Ireland can breathe out again. Another penalty conceded by Romania in the middle of the park - for offside - and this time Ireland opt for the corner.
33'The returning Cian Healy has treatment for a facial injury - but carries on. However, he is guilty of a knock on as Ireland advance again and Joubert has no choice but to bring it back. Uruguay have the scrum as Healy gets more treatment.
31'Tommy Bowe with an enormous take to gain ground - Joe Schmidt will be licking his lips over this backline. Zebo, Bowe and Earls have all been fantastic thus far.
29'Madigan's conversion attempt is desperately unlucky as it bounces back off the post.
29'18-3 Try - Keith Earls , Ireland
28'Ireland have a second try! Brilliant long pass from Zebo to Earls, who sprints clear and dives into the far corner. Wonderful offload from the fullback, who has had a superb opening 28 minutes.
26'Madigan with another lovely weighted grubber through the middle and it causes problems for Catalin Fercu - he opts not to kick and finds himself in all sorts of trouble at the back.
25'Or not! Joubert spots an obstruction and Uruguay kick to touch.
24'Two good lineouts from Ireland and a strong driving maul. They've got a penalty advantage and when a big, looping kick into the corner doesn't come off, Joubert pulls it back. Madigan kicks into touch by the Romania five for a green lineout and Ireland will have a chance to get a second try.
21'Romania find ground through the middle, but again tall of their hard work is undone by giving away a daft penalty. This time Joubert pings them for not releasing early enough from the tackle. Ireland kick into touch and relieve the pressure.
21'13-3 Conversion - Ian Madigan , Ireland
20'Madigan with no problems finishing the conversion. That was such an impressive finish from Bowe, he had virtually no room to ground and stay on the pitch. Superb work from Keith Earls in the build-up, too - he's been mightily impressive so far.
19'11-3 Try - Tommy Bowe , Ireland
18'TRY! This one counts! Ireland work it across from the far side, Zebo offloads perfectly for Bowe who scores with a really, really good finish in the corner.
18'6-3 Penalty goal - Ian Madigan , Ireland
17'Madigan sees his second kick of the match fly between the posts after Joubert awarded the penalty for a high tackle. "Have a word with the number seven," says Joubert to Romania captain Mihai Macovei - blissfully unaware that it is he wearing the No,7 shirt.
14'That is superb from Simon Zebo - but it's not going to count. A brilliant spin from Keith Earls sends Zebo on his way. A neat kick from the winger sees him dash past a defending Romanian, before latching on and diving over the line. BUT NO! It's been chalked off - Zebo's foot was *just* in touch as he scooped the ball up from his own grubber. So unlucky.
12'Romania having to defend in numbers - but they force Bowe into touch and have the lineout. However, after a slick set-piece, Tonita's kick is straight into the hands of Zebo. Ireland's attack, though, comes to nothing.
11'3-3 Penalty goal - Valentin Calafeteanu , Romania
10'Calafeteanu to take, on the angle some 10 metres in from the near touchline. Lovely attempt and it's 3-3 in north London.
9'Uruguay making some ground into Ireland's half - and they've won a penalty! Referee Craig Joubert decides Jared Payne hasn't rolled away quick enough.
8'3-0 Penalty goal - Ian Madigan , Ireland
7'Beautiful kick, right through the middle. Positive start for Ireland, who are fielding the oldest World Cup team in history.
6'Mihai Macovei penalised for holding on too long in the ruck. Ireland have a penalty around 45 metres out, central to the posts. Ian Madigan going for goal...
5'Ireland with a couple of slick one-touch passes on the left side - but Tonita reads it well to turn over. Ireland win it back and Bowe kicks smartly into touch for the first lineout of the game.
4'
3'Good start from Ireland - but a handling error allows Romania to turnover and, with penalty advantage intact, Calafeteanu, clears into touch to give his team-mates a breather.
2'A four-try victory would put Ireland top of Group D this evening. Tommy Bowe and Simon Zebo both find gains through the middle - this Romanian defence looking shaky already.
1'ESPN's Tom Hamilton at Wembley - Romania have put in a spirited, valiant effort but have been second best in every area of the field. Ireland already have a strangle-hold on this game with Simon Zebo their chief attacking threat while Chris Henry has been a menace at the breakdown. Both of their tries showed wonderful finishing from Tommy Bowe and then Keith Earls but they have left chances out on the field. Two games in five days is too much for Romania and they are off the pace they showed on Wednesday evening.
1'Underway at Wembley. Romania kick off and Keith Earls takes a good early catch for Ireland, who try and make ground up the field.
1'Hello and welcome to ESPN's live commentary on the Pool D clash between Ireland and Romania at Wembley. Will Joe Schmidt's side make it successive World Cup wins or will Romania send shockwaves through north London?
1'0-0 Start of first half

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