Captain Johnny Sexton scored 24 points as Ireland kicked off their World Cup campaign with a 12-try demolition of Romania at the Stade de Bordeaux on Saturday afternoon.
Sexton made a spectacular return after a near six-month absence becoming Ireland’s record World Cup points-scorer in a sparkling 82-8 victory, scoring two of Ireland’s 12 tries.
Sexton’s tally took him to 102 points and surpassed Ronan O’Gara as Ireland’s record World Cup scorer.
The world’s top-ranked team and reigning Six Nations champs, Ireland were in imperious form and Romania had no answers to a relentless attack.
Ireland in full flow 😮💨
Jamison Gibson-Park opens the scoring for @IrishRugby#RWC2023 | #IREvROU pic.twitter.com/LNpGM54Wzh
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 9, 2023
The crowd was shocked when Romania opened the scoring in the second minute through scrumhalf Gabriel Rupanu. However, order was quickly restored as tries from Jamison Gibson-Park, Hugo Keenan, Tadhg Beirne, Bundee Aki and Sexton took Ireland to a 33-8 lead at the break.
The second half was similar to the first, with the European champs possessing too much quality for Romania.
Rob Herring crossed the whitewash shortly after the restart before the floodgates opened with Peter O’Mahony bagging a brace either side of Sexton’s double.
Aki and Beirne both crossed the line again while Joe Mccarthy added his name to the scoresheet, bringing to an end the Romanian rout.
Ireland will now turn their attention to Tonga while the task does not get any easier for Romania who face South Africa in their next pool match.
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