Rugby World Cup: Ireland demolish Canada 50-7

A still from the match between Ireland and Canada at the Rugby World Cup

Ireland got their 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign off to a rousing start as they cruised to a comfortable win, battering Canada 50-7 in their opening fixture in Pool D, played at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff.

The Irish ran in a total of seven tries which also netted them the bonus point even before the break to ensure that the game was a no-contest and that the second half was merely a formality.

Canada’s captain, Jamie Cudmore, was sin binned early in the game and that seemed to affect the Canadians greatly as three tries were scored past them in his absence.

Cudmore was penalized for an offence at a maul near their very own try-line. In the period that he was out, Sean O'Brien, Iain Henderson and Jonathan Sexton all touched down for Ireland to blow the game wide open. Dave Kearney then added another while Sexton added another nine points through a penalty and three conversions to take his team to a commanding 29-0 half-time lead.

After the break, Ireland’s own captain, Paul O’Connell was yellow carded and sin binned, but unlike the effect that it had on Canada to have their captain out of the game, Ireland held firm and did not give their opponents any ground, thereby shutting them out from scoring any points.

More second-half tries, in fact, followed as Kearney got his second, while Sean Cronin and Jared Payne also got on the scoreboard. Sexton’s replacement, Ian Madigan, polished off the conversions.

Canada’s consolation try was scored by DTH van der Merwe.

Canada next play Italy at Elland Road next Saturday while the Irish play Romania at Wembley next Sunday.