Sizzling Sexton leads the way for rampant Ireland
JONATHAN SEXTON produced a five-star showing as Ireland secured a convincing 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 machine with Sexton operator-in-chief.
The Irish No10 orchestrated matters superbly as Ireland posted 29 unanswered points before the interval. Sexton unleashed his trademark wraparounds, raking touch-finders and a host of scything breaks as the Irish ran riot in Cardiff.
Schmidt removed his prized asset from the fray in the 55th minute with the play-maker leaving to a rapturous ovation from the 68,523-strong crowd. Bigger tests are ahead and the Kiwi coach was taking no risks.
‘I felt he played really well today,’ said Schmidt. ‘I think he played 55 minutes to get man-of-the-match, so he’s probably reasonably happy with that. He passed 500 points [during the game] in international rugby, which is a real milestone for him.
‘It’s hugely deserved for the amount of effort he puts in.
‘He’ll reflect on the game and the first wide pass he made which looped into touch. It was the perfect opportunity, it was the right decision but he didn’t quite effect it accurately enough.
‘So, he’ll probably chastise himself for that in among about 30 other really positive involvements.
‘That’s the way he’s driven and I think that’s the way he drives the team, which is a real bonus as well.’
After poor World Cup starts in 2007 and 2011, Ireland ensured there would be no complacency.
Jamie Cudmore’s early yellow card proved costly for the Canadians as Ireland crossed for three tries in the Clermont enforcer’s absence — Sean O’Brien, Iain Henderson and Sexton all scoring.
Dave Kearney then went over for the bonus pointclinching score.
Ireland were greeted with much greater Canadian resilience after the break but it was finally broken in the 65th minute when replacement hooker Sean Cronin powered over. DTH Van der Merwe raced away unopposed from 50 metres for a consolation but Rob Kearney and Jared Payne added two more for Ireland.
A seismic Pool D clash against Les Bleus looms. Ireland must overcome Romania and Italy in the coming weeks before that crunch encounter, but this was a solid start.