Sexton stars on Rugby World Cup return as 12-try Ireland blitz Romania
Captain Sexton, enjoying his first aggressive match in nearly six months following harm and suspension, added to first-half scores from Jamison Gibson-Park, Hugo Keenan, Tahdg Beirne and Bundee Aki.
Peter O’Mahony’s double and additional second-half finishes from Rob Herring, the returning skipper, Joe McCarthy, Aki and Beirne sealed a powerful 82-8 victory in a one-sided Pool B opener staged in temperatures of 36 levels Celsius.
Andy Farrell’s males got a jolt by Romania scrum-half Gabriel Rupanu crossing early on however emphatically averted a significant upset forward of far stiffer exams towards Tonga, South Africa and Scotland.
Fly-half Sexton additionally slotted seven of eight conversions earlier than being withdrawn 16 minutes from time to a standing ovation and now sits simply 9 factors shy of Ronan O’Gara’s nationwide document tally of 1,083.
The 38-year-old was again from his prolonged absence to guide his nation into his fourth World Cup, whereas Mack Hansen changed Robbie Henshaw on the bench in a late change following his shock preliminary omission from the matchday 23.
An expectant sea of inexperienced flooded the stands of Stade de Bordeaux in sweltering south-west France. But it was Romania who made the blistering begin.
Sexton’s poor grubber kick was pounced upon by Hinckley Vaovasa and he raced ahead to provide half-back companion Rupanu a easy third-minute end.
At the double: Johnny Sexton scored two of Ireland’s 12 tries on his return from suspension
/ PAIreland swiftly recovered from the sloppy opening moments to claim their authority.
Gibson-Park benefited from slick interaction involving Sexton, Aki and Garry Ringrose to dive over earlier than Keenan crossed below the posts and flanker Beirne touched down large on the left.
Rupanu decreased the deficit with a penalty forward of the primary drinks break, however the fourth World Cup assembly between the nations not often threatened to be actually aggressive, epitomised by an early Mexican wave.
Ireland had gained the entire previous clashes – 9 in complete – and had the bonus level within the bag within the thirty fourth minute when the rampaging Aki claimed a wonderful solo rating shortly after Romania full-back Marius Simionescu was sin-binned for obstruction.
Sexton obtained in on the act within the closing moments of the half, crossing below the posts earlier than overcoming a bang suffered within the course of to fit the extras and make it 33-8 on the interval.
Ireland gamers had spoken all week of looking to start with a bang by producing a press release victory.
Undeterred by the stifling situations, the Six Nations Grand Slam champions stretched their benefit courtesy of hooker Herring and flanker O’Mahony dotting down amid extended strain.
Sexton’s seventeenth Test attempt added additional gloss to the scoreline earlier than a primary for 22-year-old lock McCarthy and a second of the afternoon for O’Mahony enhanced Romania’s punishment.
Aki, who was despatched off towards Samoa in his final World Cup outing, and Beirne turned the third and fourth males in inexperienced to say a brace.
Replacement quantity 10 Crowley efficiently added the extras from his 4 conversions as Ireland ruthlessly dispatched the workforce ranked nineteenth on the earth to stretch their document profitable run to 14 matches and fulfill the majority of the 41,170 crowd.