Ireland scored 12 tries to crush Romania 82-8 in their opening Rugby World Cup match on Saturday.
Johnny Sexton was the star of the show, scoring two tries and kicking seven conversions for a personal haul of 24 points. The 38-year-old fly-half also became Ireland’s oldest player ever.
Romania got off to a dream start, scoring the first try through Gabriel Rupanu. However, Ireland quickly took control and scored 10 unanswered tries before halftime.
Sexton was at the heart of everything Ireland did well, and he also made a number of important tackles. He was replaced after 66 minutes to a standing ovation from the Irish fans.
Peter O’Mahony, Bundee Aki, and Tadhg Beirne all scored two tries for Ireland, while Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, Hugo Keenan, and Andrew Conway also crossed the whitewash.
Romania was unable to contain Ireland’s attacking power, and they were eventually reduced to 14 men when Ion Neculai was sent off for a dangerous tackle.
The defeat was Romania’s heaviest ever in a Rugby World Cup match. They will now face South Africa in their next match, while Ireland will take on Tonga.
Sexton’s Return a Success
Sexton’s return from injury was a major success for Ireland. He was in complete control of the game, and he showed no signs of rustiness.
He was particularly impressive in the first half, when he orchestrated Ireland’s attack and kicked with precision. He also made a number of important tackles.
Sexton’s performance will be a major boost for Ireland’s chances of success in the Rugby World Cup. He is one of the world’s best fly-halves, and he has a wealth of experience.
Ireland will be hoping that Sexton can stay fit and continue to perform at a high level. He is a key player for them, and they will need him to be at his best if they want to win the Rugby World Cup.
Romania’s Defeat a Reality Check
Romania’s defeat was a reality check. They were simply outclassed by Ireland, and they will need to improve significantly if they want to make any progress in the Rugby World Cup.
Romania was without a number of key players due to injury, and they were also missing their captain, Florin Vlaicu. This made it even more difficult for them to compete with Ireland.
Romania will need to regroup and find a way to improve their performance if they want to avoid being eliminated from the Rugby World Cup. They face a tough challenge against South Africa in their next match, but they will need to be at their best if they want to get a result.
