Ireland and Canada faced off in their Rugby World Cup opener at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Joe Schmidt's men were looking to make a strong start to the competition to take an early lead in Pool D to try to secure their place in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Ireland got off to the perfect start to their campaign as they put in a dominating performance by scoring seven tries in a 50-7 victory over the Maple Leafs in their clash to secure a bouns-point win.
Read how all the action unfolded in our commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Rugby World Cup clash between Ireland and Canada.
Joe Schmidt's men open their campaign against the minnows Canada as they look to better their performance of four years ago when they were knocked out in the quarter-final stage. The Irish have never progressed beyond the last eight of the competition since its inception in 1987, but will have their sights set firmly on the Web Ellis Trophy following back-to-back triumphs in the Six Nations.
Canada embark on their seventh World Cup campaign and will be hopeful that they can improve on their display at the tournament from four years ago when were knocked out at the Pool stage, winning only one match against Japan. The Canucks' best finish in the tournament came in 1991 when they reached the quarter-finals.
We already know the team news, but just to confirm the lineups this afternoon.
Ireland: McGrath, Best, Ross, Henderson, O'Connell (c), O'Mahony, O'Brien, Heaslip, Murray, Sexton, Earls, Fitzgerald, Payne, D Kearney, R Kearney
Replacements: Cronin, Healy, White, Ryan, Henry, Reddan, Madigan, Zebo
Canada: Buydens, Barkwill, Wooldridge, Beukeboom, Cudmore, Gilmour, Moonlight, Carpenter, McRorie, Hirayama, Van der Merwe, Blevins, Hearn, Hassler, Evans
Replacements: Piffero, Sears-Duru, Tiedemann, Sinclair, Thorpe, Mack, Underwood, Trainor
Dan Lewis is on the scene at the Millennium Stadium for Sports Mole today. He has given us his thoughts ahead of the match.
"We saw England struggle to get over the mark in terms of claiming a bonus-point win last night, well now it's time to see how Ireland fair when they get their World Cup campaign underway this afternoon.
"Cardiff has been filling up all day, and it is now a sea of green inside the Millennium Stadium which will no doubt give each Irish player an added boost. In terms Canada, they head to the Welsh capital without a win against their opponents in six previous meetings.
"This pool is widely expected to be dominated by Ireland and France, setting up a pivotal clash at this ground in the final round of fixtures, but an upset could be on the cards between now and then. It's all about remaining focused and getting the job done at this early stage."
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has revealed that he is confident over his side's chances of victory this afternoon to get their campaign off to the best possible start.
He told reporters: "We think our defence has been a little less than we normally expect. In the last two Six Nations we have conceded seven tries but we've conceded too many recently. Hopefully we will improve defensively.
"We have been focused on trying to get a positive start to the game. We saw last night that form goes out of the window and it's about just performing."
Canada coach Kieran Crowley has conceded that his side face a massive challenge to compete with one of the best teams in the tournament this afternoon.
He told reporters: "It's our objective to make it hard for them. They (Ireland) are one of the favourites for the tournament, so we know we've got a massive challenge in front of us. But we have trained well this week and we hope things go our way."
Despite being one of the favourites for the tournament, Ireland's preparations have not gone to plan as they lost in their last two warm-up matches to Wales and England. Schmidt will be hopeful that his side can come through their problems in their early Pool D matches before life becomes tougher later in the competition.
Dan Lewis sets the scene at the Millennium Stadium as we approach kickoff.
The anthems are over, no tears from either sets of players! We're ready for kickoff at the Millennium Stadium.
KICKOFF! Sexton gets proceedings underway in this Pool D match.
Canada have a bright start as Hassler manages to charge through a tackle down the right and offloads to Evans, but as he gets pushed into touch he knocks the ball forward.
Ireland exert some pressure on the Canadian line as Murray sprints through a gap off the scrum, but Crowley's team hold firm and Sexton decides to launch the ball further towards the goalline. However, Evans deals with the danger and kicks clear.
Hirayama causes the Ireland defense problems as he takes the ball into their territory with a couple of surging runs. His second burst drives his side to the edge of the 22, but Schmidt's men get bodies back to force the penalty as the number 10 is guilty of holding on in the ruck.
Penalty for Canada this time and they opt to go for the posts as McRorie lines up the kick from just behind the halfway line.
MISS! Close from the scrum half, but not enough to get his side on the board as his kick drops short of the posts.
Canada continue their strong start to the match by putting the Irish under pressure inside their own territory, but Sexton alleviates the danger by finding touch deep inside the Caanda 22 with fine kick into touch.
Ireland burst forward inside the five-yard line as Fitzgerald slams into the Canada line. The Shamrocks cannot find a way through but a penalty comes their way, which allows Murray to try and find Dave Kearney over the top, although his kick goes into touch. So we go back for the penalty, which Sexton will take.
PENALTY! Ireland 3-0 Canada (Sexton)
Sexton makes no mistake with the kick from right under the posts and Ireland have the lead.
Dan Lewis reports from the Millennium Stadium:
"Ireland off the mark at last, but they have not yet grown into this game. The early stages of the World Cup is simply about settling into things, so Joe Schmidt's men need to use that Sexton penalty as a platform to now kick on."
Ireland drive right to the line, but Canada hold firm as Murray tries to find space to wriggle over for the score. However, the ball gets booted out of the ruck by a red shirt and the referee idenitifies that as Cudmore to hand Ireland a penalty.
YELLOW CARD! Canada captain Jamie Cudmore will sit out the next 10 minutes after his infringement on the tryline.
TRY! Ireland 10-0 Canada (O'Brien)
Sexton kicks the ball into touch right next to the tryline for the lineout. From the resulting throw, Best picks out the leaping O'Brien and the Irish forwards charge towards the line in the maul and drive the red shirts back before the flanker has the simple job of touching down to put his side in control of the match.
Canada have managed to stall the game for a few minutes while they are reduced to 14 men. Cudmore's absence is already having a big effect on the game.
Ireland move the ball swiftly across the field as Murray finds his backs and Earls drives forward before offloading to Fitzgerald. Heaslip goes for the line, but he's held up right on the edge, which will force a five-metre scrum.
TRY! Ireland 17-0 Canada (Henderson)
Ireland drive Canada back at the scrum and Heaslip tries to get over for the score again, but he gets stopped right on the line. However, Murray recycles the ball quickly and Henderson charges over for the try. Easy for Schmidt's men.
Sexton's kicking has been on point so far in the contest and he drops another beauty in behind Evans, which takes a friendly bounce for the Irish and goes into touch two metres from the tryline.
TRY! Ireland 22-0 Canada (Sexton)
Excellent work from Ireland as the ball exchanges hands quickly down the left and Sexton finds a huge gap in the line and races through. He manages to beat two players to dive over the line for the score, displaying his stamina. However, his conversion goes well wide of the mark.
Dan Lewis reports from the Millennium Stadium:
"Much, much better from Ireland, who have now certainly found their attacking groove. Canada held off well in the opening 15 minutes or so, but it has been all about the Six Nations champions since then.
"With some breathing space now between them and Canada, it is a chance to build up some real momentum on the back of those disappointing back-to-back warm-up defeats."
Sexton shows the confidence he has in his kicking game by firing the ball over the Payne on the right sideline, while on the edge of his own tryline. No room for error, but the number 10 delivers his kick with deadly accuracy and Payne has space to raid down the flank before Van der Merwe comes across to knock the ball into touch.
TRY! Ireland 29-0 Canada (D Kearney)
Lovely move from Ireland as a penalty launches them deep into Canada territory. From inside the 22 Sexton loops around from the right and feed to the run of the advancing Dave Kearney, who fakes the offloads, and runs into the gap to dive over the line for the score. No mistake from Sexton from the resulting conversion to put his side in complete control of the match.
Canada bring the ball forward right on the stroke of half time as Van der Merwe raids dangerously into the 22 by coasting through a couple of challenges, while Hirayama takes further towards the line.
The Canada forwards earn a penalty which they take quickly with a kick-and-go, and Ireland manage to repel the power of the big men. However, McRorie sends the ball out to the flank and a pass from Blevins finds Van der Merwe who crosses over the line, only for replays to show that the ball had been pased forward. Bitter blow for Canada.
HALF-TIME: Ireland 29-0 Canada
Half time at the Millennium Stadium and Ireland are in complete command of the match thanks to an impressive first-half display. Their passing has been on point and they have been dominant at the breakdown, displaying their power and pace. Jonny Sexton has been able to boss the match from the number 10 position with a number of sweeping runs and accurate kicks which have put the Canadians under extreme pressure. Joe Schmidt will be elated with what he has seen so far.
Canada could have really done with that score just before the break to keep their spirits up as they were battered in the first half. The yellow card of Cudmore did not help matters, but they now face the task of just trying to keep the scoreline down in the second half.
RESTART! Canada get us back underway.
YELLOW CARD! Canada start the half on the front foot and take the attack to Ireland, which results in a mistake from O'Connell as he charges out of the line and commits a penalty. The referee opts to send him to the sin bin for 10 minutes.
Dan Lewis reports from the Millennium Stadium:
"Canada almost provided themselves with just a glimmer of hope at the end of that one-sided first half, only to be cruelly denied.
Interestingly, Joe Schmidt's men have never shut out their opponents in a World Cup match - perhaps explaining why they haven't advanced beyond the final eight - so there could be some distance in this one."
Canada bang on the door as they push right to the line, but the Irish somehow keep them at bay courtesy of resilient defending. Hirayama goes for a cross-field kick to try to find Hassler on the opposite flank, but his effort sails into touch.
Canada fail to take advantage of another promising position as Ireland get the turnover from the ruck inside their own 22. Crowley's side will regret not taking these opportunities when O'Connell returns to the pitch.
SUBSTITUTION: McRorie comes off for Canada and is replaced by Mack.
Ireland win a penalty to furthere ease the pressure on their defensive lines, and Sexton unleashes a kick towards the sideline from the resulting lineout which almost has Dave Kearney in behind the Canada defence, but Underwood manages to hold him off and win the ball. The winger almost plays in Van der Merwe, but he is brought down by two tacklers before he can break away down the flank.
Sexton continues his control of the game with the boot as he drops another kick in behind the Canada defence, and ball bounces out two metres out from the tryline to put the pressure on the Canadians.
Ireland attack with menace as Fitzgerald bursts through the line and raids further towards the posts, but he is well shackled by two tackles. However, Murray recycles the ball out to the right and Kearney offloads to Best, but Sinclair comes across to drive the hooker into touch.
Ireland continue their assault on the Canada defence, but this time as Murray sends the ball out to his backs Fitzgerald drops the ball at his feet and commits the knock on to allow Crowley's side some respite. The centre had men in support and the try was all but secure had he been able to pass to his right.
SUBSTITUTION: Sexton makes way for Ireland to be replaced by Ian Madigan.
Madigan almost makes an instant impact from the bench as he tries to find Earls on the wing, but his kick just sails over the head of the 27-year-old, who would have had clear run to the line.
Dan Lewis gives us his views from the Millennium Stadium:
"No way through for Ireland at the moment, but all the work was done across a 20-minute spell in that first half.
"That said a couple more tries for Schmidt's men, plus a shutout up the other end, will do them the world of good in terms of building momentum heading into tougher tests to come."
Canada put the pressure on Ireland with a surging attack inside their 22. Hirayama opts to go away from the forwards and tries a kick to find Sinclair on the wing, and he is able to touch the ball down. Unfortunately for the winger, he is well offside when he the kick was played. More frustration for Canada.
TRY! Ireland 36-0 Canada (Cronin)
Ireland go in for their first score of the second half as Heaslip and Fitzgerald both have surging runs to the line, but are held up by the Canada defence. However, Reddman offloads quickly to Cronin, who dives low to notch the score under the posts and Madigan adds extras.
TRY! Ireland 36-7 Canada (Van der Merwe)
James van der Merwe gets a score back for Canada as Payne tries a grubber kick, but the ball lands straight into the body of the winger, who races past the centre and goes all the way to leap over the tryline. He deserves the score for his efforts this afternoon, while Hirayama adds the extras.
Canada threaten the Irish defence again by driving deep into their territory once again as Mack manages to finds a rhythm in his passing to get his backs into the game. However, Hirayama knocks the ball forward and alleviates the pressure on Schmidt's men.
TRY! Ireland 43-7 Canada (R Kearney)
Ireland wrap up the win as they repel the best efforts of Canada to notch another consolation score and the ball is quickly fired out to Earls down the left flank. The winger speeds deep into Canada's territory before he offloads to Rob Kearney in support and the full-back is left with the simple duty of touching the ball down under the posts. Madigan adds the extras.
TRY! Ireland 50-7 Canada (Payne)
Fifty up for Ireland as they notch yet another score this afternoon, their seventh of the game as Madigan bursts through a tackle at the gain line and he offloads to Payne for the simple score underneath the posts. Sublime rugby from Schmidt's men, and the fly-half adds the extras.
Ireland are in again to put another nail in the Canada coffin as Healy tries to raid towards the line, and Henderson manages to carry on his work by getting the next offload to power over for the score. However, on review the officials spot that the hooker had knocked the ball on and disallowed the try.
FULL-TIME: Ireland 50-7 Canada
Excellent start to the World Cup for Ireland as they put in a dominating performance to defeat Canada, by notching seven tries in their 50-7 victory and it could well have been more had they been more clinical inside the 22. Schmidt will be delighted to see his side overcome the problems they had in their warm-up matches to put Crowley's men to the sword, and will be wanting the Shamrocks to kick for their upcoming Pool D games.
Canada did their best in the match, but in the end they were simply overwhelmed by the quality of the Irish. The Maple Leafs had their moments, but they were not able to capitalise on securing the ball in decent territory and were duly punished by Schmidt's men. Van der Merwe had a solid game and will be pleased to open his account in the competition and set a marker down for the rest of the tournament, other than the winger though it was bland from Crowley's side.
Thanks for joining our commentary today. If you want more action from the Rugby World Cup join our commentary of the match between South Africa and Japan here. But from me, it's goodbye.
