This archive report was first published on 23 September 2019.
On a drizzly Sunday in Yokohama, Japan, Ireland kicked off their World Cup campaign with a resounding 27-3 victory over Scotland, their main Pool A rivals.
September 22, 2019, marked a significant turnaround for Ireland, who had struggled with their form in 2019. The top-ranked team put their stuttering performance behind them with a clinical display, securing a bonus point in the process.
Forwards James Ryan, Rory Best, and Tadhg Furlong all crossed the try line within the first 25 minutes, while winger Andrew Conway added a fourth try in the second half.
Scotland's efforts were hampered by the Irish defence and the slippery conditions caused by the persistent drizzle. Despite a single penalty from Greig Laidlaw, the Scots struggled to get their expansive running game going.
Concerns may arise from the injury-prone flyhalf Johnny Sexton giving up kicking duties early on and the head injuries suffered by flanker Peter O'Mahony and centre Bundee Aki. However, the Irish will move on confidently to their next match against hosts Japan.
