A rusty looking Ireland side did enough in an efficient first-half performance to help them to a 39-8 win over Romania in an international friendly in Limerick, a useful work-out ahead of their RWC 2003 qualifier against Russia in Siberia.
However, Eddie O'Sullivan's side hardly impressed in the second-half and what was looking out to be a impressive tally against the plucky east European minnows became little more than ordinary.
Munster prop John Hayes crashed over for his first Test try after just five minutes on his home ground and although his provincial teamate Ronan O'Gara missed the conversion the stand-off did not waste a penalty opportunity that followed eight minutes later as Ireland moved out to a 8-0 lead.
The home side extended their lead just a minute later, Bath centre Kevin Maggs broke the fragile Romanian defence to set-up a try for flanker Keith Gleeson.
At 15-0 up, Ireland were already in cruise control before O'Gara added his second penalty and desperate Romanian defence saw Italian referee Giulio de Santis award a penalty try after a dangerous tackle on fullback Girvan Dempsey and he closed in on the line.
Romanian got some points on the scoreboard, fly-half Ionut Tofan knocking over a penalty but the respite was short-lived as the workhorse Maggs set up his midfield partner Brian O'Driscoll for his 14th try in 28 appearances.
However, that was virtually the last contribution from the Leinster star as he was replaced by Rob Henderson just before half-time with a slight knock with Ireland going in 32-3 up at the interval.
Romania showed that they would not go down without a fight, flanker Alexandru Manta going close before centre Valentin Maftei ran in for their first try, however, normal service was resumed as Rob Henderson grabbed his first try of the year as he pounced on a kick ahead by O'Gara who later added the conversion.
Despite that fifth try from the Irish, Romania battled away, causing Ireland a number of problems as the men in green never got back into their stride with the rest of the game remaining scoreless.
Ireland now embark on a marathon journey into the depths of Russia for their game in Krasnoyarsk on September 21 time whilst Romania prepare for their first RWC qualifier against Italy on September 21.
The Teams:
Ireland: 1 John Hayes, 2 Shane Byrne, 3 Reg Corrigan, 4 Gary Longwell, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 6 Simon Easterby, 7 Keith Gleeson, 8 Anthony Foley (c), 9 Peter Stringer, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 11 Denis Hickie, 12 Brian O'Driscoll, 13 Kevin Maggs, 14 John Kelly, 15 Girvan Dempsey
Reserves: Victor Costello, Guy Easterby, Rob Henderson, David Humphreys, Leo Cullen
Unused: Paul Wallace, Paul Shields
Romania: 1 Marian Dumitru, 2 Razvan Mavrodin, 3 Marius Tincu, 4 Marius Dragomir, 5 Cristian Petre, 6 George Chiriac, 7 Alexandru Manta, 8 Alin Petrache, 9 Lucian Sirbu, 10 Ionut Tofan, 11 Cristian Sauan, 12 Romeo Gontineac (c), 13 Valentin Maftei, 14 Mihai Vioreanu, 15 Gabriel Brezoianu
Reserves: Augustin Petrechei, Marius Picoiu, Cristian Podea, Petrisor Toderasc, Dan Tudosa, Roland Vusec
Referee: De santis g.
Points Scorers:
Ireland
Tries: Hayes J.J. 1, Henderson R.A.J. 1, O'Driscoll B.G. 1, Gleeson K.D. 1, Penalty Try 1
Conv: Humphreys D.G. 1, O'Gara R.J.R. 3
Pen K.: O'Gara R.J.R. 2
Romania
Tries: Maftei V.D. 1
Pen K.: Tofan I.R. 1
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