Ireland cruise past brave Canada

Cape Town - Ireland seven tries as they beat minnows Canada 43-7 in their Rugby World Cup Pool D clash in Cardiff on Saturday. 

It took 13 minutes before the Irish were on the board, and it came in the form of a Jonathan Sexton penalty. 

But after Canada's Jamie Cudmore received a yellow card on 16 minutes the floodgates opened, and Ireland had run in four tries before the end of the first half through Sean O'Brien, Iain Henderson, Sexton and Dave Kearney. 

That was enough to give them a 29-0 lead at the break, but for the most part of the second half they could not increase that lead. 

Canada where showing fight, and Ireland had t wait until the 65th minute for their next try, which came through substitute Sean Cronin. 

Canada hit back immediately after that with a try of their own through DTH van der Merwe. 

Three late tries through Rob Kearney, Jared Payne and Henderson gave Ireland their half century.

Scorers:

Ireland 

Tries:

Sean O'Brien, Iain Henderson, Jonathan Sexton, Dave Kearney, Sean Cronin, Rob Kearney, Jared Payne

Conversions: Sexton (3), Ian Madigan (3)

Penalties: Sexton

Canada

Try: DTH van der Merwe

Conversion: Nathan Hirayama