Ireland 50-7 Canada: Jonathan Sexton stars as Joe Schmidt's men begin Rugby World Cup 2015 with comfortable victory in Wales
- Jonathan Sexton begun proceedings by giving Ireland an early lead with a penalty at the Millennium Stadium
- First-half tries from Sean O'Brien and Iain Henderson stretched the lead for Joe Schmidt's side against Canada
- The impressive Sexton then added a third try before Dave Kearney wrapped up bonus point before half time
- Replacement Sean Cronin made an impressive impact and added a fifth try which was converted by Ian Madigan
- DTH Van der Merwe charged down a kick by Ireland's Jared Payne and ran 50 metres to score for Canada
- Rob Kearney and Payne added further gloss to the scoreline with tries late in the second half
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Jonathan Sexton produced a five-star showing as Ireland secured a 50-7 victory against Canada in their World Cup opener at the Millennium Stadium.
The Leinster fly-half, who returned to play his club rugby in Ireland during the summer after two seasons in France with Racing 92, was simply sublime in the first half.
Under Joe Schmidt, Ireland have become a well-drilled green machine with Sexton operator-in-chief. The Irish No 10 orchestrated matters superbly as Ireland posted 29 unanswered points in the first half.
Sean O'Brien scored the first try of Ireland's Rugby World Cup opener against Canada after touching down beneath a pile of bodies
Joe Schmidt's side stretched their lead at the Millennium Stadium when Iain Henderson barged his way over for his first international try
Henderson is congratulated by his Ireland team-mates after scoring his try in their Pool D match against Canada on Saturday
Jonathan Sexton breaks down the left wing and drives his way towards the try line despite being challenged by Canada
The 30-year-old successfully scores the third try of the evening for Ireland as Joe Schmidt's side ease to victory in their opening clash
Sexton unleashed his trademark wraparounds, raking touch finders and a host of scything breaks as the Irish riot in the opening 40 minutes in Cardiff.
Schmidt removed his prized asset from the fray in the 55th minute with the star playmaker leaving to a rapturous applause from the 68,523-strong crowd. Biggest Tests are ahead and the Kiwi coach was taking no risks.
Ireland were installed as overwhelming favourites against the 1,000/1 outsiders but poor World Cup starts in 2007 and 2011 ensured there would be no hint of complacency from the class of 2015 for their tournament opener.
Sexton places the ball down and attempts to convert his try during Ireland's Pool D match on Saturday
DTH Van der Merwe charged down a kick by Ireland's Jared Payne and ran 50 metres to score for Canada
Jamie Cudmore’s 17th minute yellow card proved costly for the Canadians as Ireland crossed for three tries in the Clermont enforcer’s absence.
With Cudmore cooling his heels in the sin bin, the reigning Six Nations champions made a storming start with early tries from Sean O’Brien and Iain Henderson setting the tone early on.
Fittingly, man-of-the-match Sexton scorched over for Ireland’s third after a deft inside pass from O’Brien.
The width and pace of the Irish attack was causing the Canadians all sorts problems on the edges with Ireland’s next try a stunning piece of execution.
Quick hands across the backline stretched the Canucks to their limit before scrum-half Conor Murray switched the attack back to the right.
Sexton executed a sublime switch with Peter O’Mahony before releasing Dave Kearney who scythed over for the bonus point-clinching score.
Trailing 29-0, Canada launching their first meaningful attack of the half but a superb piece of defensive work from Luke Fitzgerald forced Nathan Hirayama to give a forward pass to DTH van der Merwe with the tryline at his mercy.
Jared Payne of Ireland attempts to break through a tackle as Ireland begin their World Cup campaign in style
Canada's scrum-half Gordon McRorie is chalenged as he attempts to start an attack for his side against Ireland
Sean O'Brien - who scored the first try of the afternoon - goes on a powerful run but is strongly challenged by Matt Evans
It was one-way traffic in the first half, but Ireland were greeted with much greater Canadian resilience after the break.
Plenty was written his week about Paul O’Connell’s rematch with Cudmore. The pair become embroiled in a infamous punch-up during Munster’s Heineken Cup clash with Clermont at Thomond Park in 2008 and locked horns once more here.
After Cudmore’s first half dismissal, O’Connell found himself banished to the touchline early in the second half after the Toulon-bound lock played the ball from an offside position.
O’Connell’s sin binning certainly upset the Irish rhythm with a fifth try proving elusive. Schmidt’s side were queueing up the right side to score but Keith Earls dropped the most routine of passes from Murray.
Conor Murray of Ireland makes a break for his team as Joe Schmidt's men romp to a comfortable victory in Wales
Henderson holds onto the ball after being hit with a strong challenge during the Rugby World Cup Pool D clash
Sexton was the star man for Joe Schmidt's team on Saturday and the 30-year-old once again goes on the attack for his side
Ireland continued to pile on the pressure with Madigan overcooking cross-field kick to the onrushing Fitzgerald slightly. Irish supporters will have been heartened by the sight of Cian Healy entering the fray on the hour mark. The Leinster loosehead has recovered from neck surgery and will be one of Ireland’s key ball carriers in the coming weeks.
The Canucks’ second half resistance was finally broken in the 65th minute when replacement hooker Sean Cronin powered over from close range after New Zealand-born centre Jared Payne had set the platform with a storming run.
Payne was at fault three minutes later, however, as the Ulster centre’s chip was seized by Van der Merwe who raced away unopposed from 50 metres.
Paul O'Connell releases the ball as Ireland prepare to put more pressure on Canada during their World Cup opener
DTH Van Der Merwe of Canada dives over to score a try which was later disallowed by the referee
Rob Kearney runs into a strong challenge made by Van Der Merwe of Canada as Ireland ease to victory on Saturday afternoon
The Scarlets winger’s try proved only a blip, however, as Rob Kearney combined superbly with Earls on the left wing to race over for a superb try.
The Canadian defence was beginning to tire with substitute Madigan scorching through before sending Payne racing clear under the posts.
Ireland went searching for a final try with Henderson held up over the line following another exhausting spell of Irish recycling, but the Canucks stood their ground.
The seismic Pool D clash against les Bleus looms on the horizon. Ireland must overcome Romania and Italy in the coming weeks before that crunch encounter, but this was a solid start.
An Ireland supporter soaks up the atmosphere during the Rugby World Cup clash between Joe Schmidt's men and Canada
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