Keith Wood and his Irish team showed far too much class on Saturday for Romania as they smashed them by 45-17 in their Pool A Rugby World Cup match at Gosford's Central Coast Stadium in Sydney, on day two of the 2003 tournament.
The Irish, producing a clinical and efficient performance, scored five tries to go top of the Pool A standings, ahead of hosts Australia.
Wood said afterwards that scoring four tries, for a bonus point, had been foremost in their minds, as bonus points will play an important role in Pool A -- which also includes Australia and Argentina.
He praised the Romanians for producing a very credible performance and keeping it positive., which obviously allowed the Irish to play the type of rugby that would regarded as "entertaining".
Wood also said not one of the numerous knocks his team took during the game seem serious and he is confident all the players will be available for the next fixture, against Namibia next Sunday, October 19.
Romanian captain Romeo Gontineac admitted that the Irish were simply too good for his team, especially in the first-half -- which saw Ireland take a 26-0 lead. He was more pleased with the spirit showed by his side after the break, which saw a 19-17 scoreline in favour of the Irish.
In the opening stages the Romanians held their own up front and even managed to put the Irish scrum under pressure -- even winning a heel against the head. But as the half wore the Irish took command and started piling up the points.
Ireland started slowly, at least on the scoreboard and after 20 minutes all they had to show for their efforts in the face of some dogged Romanian defence was three penalties for a 9-0 lead.
But then the Irish cranked up the pace and they soon found a gap in midfield, where Kevin Maggs wrecked havoc and set Shane Horgan up for the first try. Humphreys converted for a 16-0 lead.
Ten minutes later the Irish scored one of the most delightful tries of the year, with hooker Keith Wood running onto the ball at full pace at a ruck, taking a pass from scrum-half Peter Stringer like a back,and bursting through and over the line without a hand being laid on him.
A Humphreys penalty completed the scoring in the first-half.
Five minutes after the break Romania were awarded a penalty try when Humphreys shoved an opponent in the ingoal area. Ionut Tofan added the conversion and a penalty three minutes later to make it 26-10.
Two tries by Denis Hickie, both in which fullback Girvan Dempsey played a key role, and one by Victor Costello saw the Irish race out to 45-10 lead. This also brought up an Irish record of 43 tries for Hickie.
Late in the game Valentin Maftei scored a consolation try, just reward for the brave Romanians, to make the final score 45-17.
Man of the match: In the early stages of the game Romanian loosehead prop Petru Balan was very influential, especially in the scrums. But in the final analysis fullback Girvan Dempsey's creative ability is what set up several opportunities for the Irish and ensured the hard-earned ball by the forwards did not go to waste. Dempsey gets our vote.
Moment of the match: No doubt hooker and Irish captain Keith Wood's try in the 32nd minute, when he received the ball at pace and raced past a ruck -- catching the defence napping -- in one of the best forward tries you will see.
Villain of the match: Romanian fly-half Ionut Tofan wasted a lot of ball, not that the Romanians saw too much of it anyway. Maybe it is harsh on the young and inexperienced fly-half, but this is the reality of Test rugby and the RWC.
The Teams:
Ireland: 1 Reggie Corrigan, 2 Keith Wood (c), 3 Marcus Horan, 4 Malcolm O'Kelly, 5 Paul O'Connell, 6 Victor Costello, 7 Keith Gleeson, 8 Anthony Foley, 9 Peter Stringer, 10 David Humphreys, 11 Denis Hickie, 12 Brian O'Driscoll, 13 Kevin Maggs, 14 Shane Horgan, 15 Girvan Dempsey
Reserves: Shane Byrne, Guy Easterby, John Hayes, John Kelly, Donncha O'Callaghan, Ronan O'Gara, Alan Quinlan
Romania: 1 Petru Balan, 2 Razvan Mavrodin, 3 Marcel Socaciu, 4 Sorin Socol, 5 Augustin Petrechei, 6 George Chiriac, 7 Ovidiu Tonita, 8 Cristian Petre, 9 Lucian Sirbu, 10 Ionut Tofan, 11 Gabriel Brezoianu, 12 Romeo Gontineac (c), 13 Valentin Maftei, 14 Cristian Sauan, 15 Dan Dumbrava
Reserves: Iulian Andrei, Marius Nicolae, Cezar Popescu, Ioan Teodorescu, Petrisor Toderasc, Marian Tudori, Mihai Vioreanu
Attendance: 19193
Referee: Kaplan j.
Points Scorers
Ireland
Tries: Horgan S.P. 1, Hickie D.A. 2, Wood K.G.M. 1, Costello V.C.P. 1
Conv: Humphreys D.G. 3, O'Gara R.J.R. 1
Pen K.: Humphreys D.G. 4
Romania
Tries: Maftei V.D. 1, Penalty Try 1
Conv: Tofan I.R. 1, Andrei I. 1
Pen K.: Tofan I.R. 1
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