LIVEIreland v Tonga, Rugby World Cup, live updates 

Andy Farrell's side will look to build on their tournament opener in Nantes on Saturday evening.
Ireland v Tonga, Rugby World Cup, live updates 

BROKEN RECORD: Ireland’s Jonathan Sexton celebrates after scoring a try. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

22.15 Thanks for your company tonight; we'll have Simon Lewis's report from Nantes online in a few moments' time as well as Mick Cleary's player ratings and plenty more analysis and reaction. Next stop, Paris.  

FULL-TIME: Ireland 59 Tonga 16

Ireland lay down a big marker against strong opposition wih eight tries and a some great performances throughout the team. Bring on the Boks. 

TRY FOR IRELAND! - Rob Herring

79 mins Ireland 59 Tonga 16

Rob Herring doesn't look too convinced but he gets over for the try he was denied earlier. That's a great looking scoreline now. 

74 mins Ireland 52 Tonga 16

It's party time in Nantes. Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive is belting out around the stadium. And why shouldn't it. 

In the meantime, Bundee Aki is named as man of the match, deservedly. 

TRY for Ireland! - Bundee Aki 

69 mins Ireland 52 Tonga 16

Stop me if you've heard this one before. Aki gets over to finish from close range. 

TRY for Ireland! - Bundee Aki 

64 mins  Ireland 45 Tonga 16

Class stuff from the in-form player in the Ireland squad. Aki takes a short line for Ross Byrne and cuts through from 30 yards out maybe. He's unplayable, Donal Lenihan warns. That settles the affair really. 

TRY for Ireland! - James Lowe 

59 mins  Ireland 38 Tonga 16

Badly needed try. James Lowe takes a nice line, gets the pass and crashes over.  

Ross Byrne converts and it's water break time. 

TMO - NO TRY 

52 mins Ireland 31 Tonga 16

Rob Herring thought he'd got over for another World Cup try after getting low under the posts, but as Byrne lined up the conversion, Wayne Barnes tapped him on the shoulder and we went to video review. They get the call right; no try. 

48 mins Ireland 31 Tonga 16

Iain Henderson and Robbie Henshaw are on and Finlay Bealham looks like he'll have to exit early due to a head injury. Furlong will have to come back on, which isn't ideal. 

42 mins Ireland 31 Tonga 16

We're up and running for the second period and Andy Farrell has rung the changes. 

Ross Byrne is on for Johnny Sexton.

Tadhg Furlong, Andrew Porter and Ronan Kelleher have also departed with Finlay Bealham, Dave Kilcoyne and Rob Herring on.

As I type, Havili splits the posts again to get Tonga going. 

9.14pm Some interval reading? Take a stroll down Rue de Rivoli with Paul Rouse in this very enjoyable column. 

HALF-TIME: Ireland 31 Tonga 13 

That's the last action of the half and the teams head in. Ireland have the bonus point in the bag but are a man down after that uncharacteristic ill-discipline. What did you make of that? adrian.russell@examiner.ie 

Ireland’s Jonathan Sexton celebrates after scoring
Ireland’s Jonathan Sexton celebrates after scoring

TRY FOR TONGA - Halaleva Fifita

40+7 mins Ireland 31 Tonga 13

The pressure told in the end. After another Ireland penalty concession, Halaleva Fifita powers over and that's huge for Tonga.

YELLOW CARD FOR IRELAND 

40+4 mins Ireland 31 Tonga 6

Peter O'Mahony heads for the line - it's not entirely clear what the crime was. We're almost five minutes into added time and Tonga are turning the pressure up in search of a score before half time. 

TRY FOR IRELAND! Johnny Sexton

39 mins Ireland 31 Tonga 6

There's the record! Sexton is on the end of a Garry Ringrose pass and gets over the line, under the posts. He kicks the conversion and Ireland have the bonus point and control of this game. 

TRY FOR IRELAND! Mack Hansen

33 mins Ireland 24 Tonga 6

What a finish from Hansen. He takes the ball on the bounce and out on the wing. He skips inside with three men to beat and dives for the try. Unreal stuff. 

Johnny Sexton knocks over the conversion and, without much fanfare, levels ROG's record.

TRY FOR IRELAND! Caelan Doris

27 mins Ireland 17 Tonga 6

James Lowe catches one-handed at full back and is caught clumsily by a Tongan after he kicks away. Ireland are given a soft penalty from where the ball lands. Silly from Tonga.   

Sexton kicks for the corner and from the line out, Ireland slip the ball from the maul for Dorris to drive over. No mistake from Sexton with the conversion and he's within two points of Ronan O'Gara's record.  

23 mins Ireland 10 Tonga 6

Havili with another superb kick to keep Tonga in touch. 

TRY FOR IRELAND! 

21 mins Ireland 10 Tonga 3

Tadhg Beirne reaches for the line and gets there. Sexton drills a pass inside to Dorris, he incites Beirne in and the Munster man gets the ball to the post. 

And it's water break time for those of us on the pitch. 

NO TRY! 

18 mins Ireland 3 Tonga 3

I thought Andrew Porter had touched down for the first try. Mack Hansen pounced on a dropped ball and flipped it to Tadhg Beirne in the build-up. The pass was adjudged to have been forward however. Things are opening up though. 

Ireland's Jonathan Sexton. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Ireland's Jonathan Sexton. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

17 mins Ireland 3 Tonga 3

Peter O'Mahony is rightly pinged for obstruction, though he looks puzzled by Wayne Barnes' call.

William Havili steps up for his first kick at goal at a Rugby World Cup and he bangs it over from 50m with his left foot. 

15 mins Ireland 3 Tonga 0

Bit of a lull in play with a couple of injury stoppages. Ireland are generally not making their chances count. 

Sexton is taken out off the ball and Tonga need to watch their discipline. Scrappy stuff. 

10 mins Ireland 3 Tonga 0 

50-22! Super kick from Mack Hansen to put Tonga under pressure. Moments later Tadhg Beirne doesn't release and Tonga get out of there.    

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED: Ireland stand as Tonga perform the Sipi Tau. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED: Ireland stand as Tonga perform the Sipi Tau. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

6 mins Ireland 3 Tonga 0 

Ireland get the scoreboard going. The ill-disciplined Tongans concede another penalty, Ireland go for the points and Sexton makes no mistake with the kick. He did almost leave the shot clock beat him but Wayne Barnes says it was good.

4 mins Ireland 0 Tonga 0 

A full-throated rendition of 'The Fields' early doors before the French fans in the crowd respond with a well-received La Marseillaise.

On the field, Tonga are pinged for offside and Sexton kicks Ireland up the pitch. Moments later the southern hemisphere side are whistled for going off their feet. Over-exuberance, is Donal Lenihan's verdict. 

8.01pm Here we go! 

7.59pm We've had the anthems and after a week of criticism, that rendition of Ireland's Call was a lot more rousing. Donal gives it his thumbs up. 

Now Ireland will face the Tongan's Sipi Tau. 

AUDIENCE WITH THE POPE: Brent Pope is in th crowd. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
AUDIENCE WITH THE POPE: Brent Pope is in th crowd. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

7.55pm So, how do you see this one going? Jamie Heaslip is typically confident while his colleague on the RTÉ panel, Stephen Ferris, is talking himself into this being a tricky evening's work. Let us know how you think this will unfold - adrian.russell@examiner.ie   

7.52pm Simon Lewis is in Nantes for us, of course, and will his match report later, as well as reaction before the night is out. He's also WhatsApped me a video from the stadium to give some sense of the pre-game atmosphere:

7.40pm As Ronan O'Gara said in his pre-tournament tee-up - injuries and cards will go a long way to deciding this tournament. 

What have you made of the officiating so far? Former Ireland skipper Ciara Griffin bemoans the referees' inconsistency in her latest column. 

7.30pm Simon Zebo warns us about Tonga: 'They're no mugs, boy." 

FINE TUNING: Ireland's Joe McCarthy and Forwards Coach Paul O'Connell. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
FINE TUNING: Ireland's Joe McCarthy and Forwards Coach Paul O'Connell. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

7.24pm Irish Examiner columnist Donal Lenihan has made it to Nantes anyway. Many of you have been enjoying his video diaries from the road, like this from a historic rope factory. Donal's now pitchside with RTÉ's Hugh Cahill and is ready to go.

7.20pm We're 40 minutes out from kick-off. Just enough time to listen to our preview on the latest episode of the Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup podcast.

7.15pm Farrell has, of course named a really strong side. He's been telling RTÉ's Clare McNamara that it's about respect for themselves.

"Every game's important, we're respecting the opposition first and foremost but also ourselves." 

Here are those teams: 

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (capt), Conor Murray; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan; Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.

Replacements: Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird, Craig Casey, Ross Byrne, Robbie Henshaw.

Tonga: Salesi Piutau; Afusipa Taumoepeau, Malakai Fekitoa, Pita Ahki, Solomone Kata; William Havili, Augustine Pulu; Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Paula Ngauamo, Ben Tameifuna (capt); Sam Lousi, Halaleva Fifita; Tanginoa Halaifonua, Sione Talitui, Vaea Fifita.

Replacements: Sam Moli, Tau Koloamatangi, Sosefo Apikotoa, Semisi Paea, Solomone Funaki, Sione Vailanu, Sonatane Takul, Fine Inisi.

7.10pm Bienvenue! Welcome to our minute-by-minute of some primetime Rugby World Cup action. 

Andy Farrell's Ireland take on Tonga -- who will have their first run-out of the tournament -- in Nantes with an 8pm kick-off.

Will we get the victory, performance and short injury report that would make up the ideal Saturday night out? Let's see. 

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