Ireland ran out comfortable winners in today’s Pool D game against Canada.
Here’s how we rated the Ireland players in that Rugby World Cup victory at the Millenium Stadium today.
15 Rob Kearney: Fine effort from the dependable full-back 8/10
14 Dave Kearney: Looked physical and committed 8
13 Jared Payne: Mistake for Canada’s try aside, a solid effort 6
12 Luke Fitzgerald: Coped comfortably enough with his switch to inside centre 6
11 Keith Earls: Sharp effort from the Munster utility man 7
10 Johnny Sexton: Back to his incisive and accurate best 8
9 Conor Murray: Ran the game almost impeccably 9
1 Jack McGrath: Rock-solid in the set-piece 8
2 Rory Best: Lineout back to top form 8
3 Mike Ross: Solid showing from the Irish cornerstone 8
4 Iain Henderson: Proved himself every bit the enforcer of the future 9
5 Paul O’Connell (capt): Sin-bin aside, a good effort 7
6 Peter O’Mahony: Industrious day from the blindside 8
7 Sean O’Brien: Bullish as ever on the ball 8
8 Jamie Heaslip: Front-foot ball allowed him to hit his straps 8
Replacements:
16 Sean Cronin (for Best, 60): Put himself around in fine style 8
17 Cian Healy (for McGrath, 60): Back from injury and straight into form 7
18 Nathan White (for Ross, 60): Kept the scrum pressure on 7
19 Donnacha Ryan (for O’Connell, 74): Solid cameo 7
20 Chris Henry (for O’Brien, 62): Able to keep Ireland on the attack 7
21 Eoin Reddan (for Murray, 65): Tidy enough showing 7
22 Ian Madigan (for Sexton, 55): Moved Ireland around well 7
23: Simon Zebo (for Fitzgerald, 74): Quiet cameo overall 7