Jonny Sexton shines as Ireland run riot over Canada
Six Nations champions sound an ominous warning to pool rivals
Jonny Sexton scored a try, three conversions and a penalty as Six Nations champions Ireland routed Canada 50-7 to open their Rugby World Cup campaign.
In severe warning to pool D rivals France and Italy, Ireland were superior to Canada in every facet of the game after a tight opening quarter of an hour.
We handled the ball really well and played some really good rugby
They notched up four first-half tries - and a bonus point in the pool standings - through Sean O'Brien, Iain Henderson, Sexton and David Kearney, three converted by Sexton.
Three more tries through Sean Cronin, David Kearney and Jared Payne to complete the demolition in the second half.
"We handled the ball really well and played some really good rugby," said captain Paul O'Connell playing down Ireland's superiority. He said the win had helped Ireland get over their World Cup "nerves".
The first try came when Canada captain Jamie Cudmore had been yellow carded for a ruck infringement, and left the Canucks with too big a mountain to climb at 29-0 down at half-time at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.