Women's Rugby World Cup

Hosts Ireland won a nail-biting Women's Rugby World Cup Pool C opener against battling Australia in Dublin.

Larissa Muldoon's converted first-half try, against a Mahalia Murphy score, had Ireland 7-5 ahead at the interval.

Shannon Parry's touchdown edged the Wallaroos in front but replacements Ciara Griffin and Sophie Spence crossed to put Ireland on the road to victory.

The 2014 semi-finalists survived a late scare after prop Hilisha Samoa's try was converted by Ashleigh Hewson.

The Manusina are the only Pacific Island country to compete at a Women's World Cup and finished 11th at the last tournament two years ago.

But Coach Ramsey Tomokino says Oceania Rugby decided in March to exclude them from November's inaugural Oceania Women's Rugby Championship because Samoa did not have a local women's competition.