Dynamic hooker Keith Wood led the way with four tries as Ireland swamped the United States 53-8 in the opening World Cup Pool E match for both teams at Lansdowne Road on Saturday night.
The fiery Irish had too much pace, too much poise and too much power for their largely part-time opponents and Wood completely demolished the feeble American defence.
Ireland's points came from tries to wing Justin Bishop, centre Brian O'Driscoll, four to Wood and a penalty try, while fly-half David Humphreys kicked four conversions and two penalties and replacement Eric Elwood kicked two conversions. Wood scored three of his tries in a sensational five-minute burst late in the game as the Americans wilted.
The United States got a try from scrum-half Kevin Dalzell, who also landed a penalty, but the Americans dropped too much possession to be a serious threat and spent most of the match on the back foot in their own half. The United States, trying to bounce back from 106-8 loss to England at Twickenham five weeks ago, were without back-rower Rob Lumkong, who was ruled out by a knee injury. They were more competitive this time, but their tendency to overelaborate on attack, and to bunch their backline, proved expensive against a well-disciplined Irish side.
Ireland, who led 24-8 at halftime, have now won all three meetings between the teams. The Irish stormed onto the attack from the kick-off and took a 3-0 lead through a Humphreys penalty within two minutes.
The fly-half also set up the first try with a clever pass after seven minutes that gave Bishop a clear run to the line. Humphreys converted to make it 10-0. The Americans bounced straight back when Dalzell took an interception in midfield and scored in the left-hand corner to reduce the margin to five points.
Ireland took control after 15 minutes when American centre Tomasi Takau spilled the ball 40 metres out and the Irish quickly spun the ball wide for the pacy O'Driscoll to score. Humphreys again converted and it was 17-5. The Americans added three points through a Dalzell penalty after 26 minutes after Irish lock Jeremy Davidson was penalised for throwing a punch in the ruck -- but the home side controlled play for long periods.
The Irish increased their lead after 29 minutes when they scored a pushover try after winning a 5-metre lineout. British Lions hooker Wood, who is becoming a prolific try-scorer, was the man who got the ball down. Humphreys' kick appeared to go wide, but both touch judges ruled the conversion was good and the Irish led by 16 points at halftime.
It didn't take the Irish long to increase their lead after the break, Dume awarding a penalty try after peristent American infringements on their own line. Humphreys again converted to make it 31-8. American captain Dan Lyle earned a caution for a professional foul with 15 minutes left and Humphreys banged over another penalty.
Wood bullocked his way over the line with nine minutes left to rub salt into the Americans' wounds then repeated the dose two minutes later and, remarkably, again a minute later when he collected a kick over the top to score in the corner.
American Luke Gross and Ireland's Paddy Johns earned cautions for a late flare-up, but by that time it was academic.
Ireland have made the quarter-finals of each of the three previous tournaments and will be favoured to at least repeat that performance, while the Americans -- making their third finals appearance -- have never made it past the first round.
The Irish fans were clearly not tempted by the match and there were several thousand empty seats in the famous old stadium.
The Teams:
United States: 1 Ray Lehner, 2 Tom Billups, 3 George Sucher, 4 Luke Gross, 5 Alec Parker, 6 Dave Hodges, 7 Richard Tardits, 8 Dan Lyle (c), 9 Kevin Dalzell, 10 Mark Williams, 11 Vaea Anitoni, 12 Juan Grobler, 13 Tomasi Takau, 14 Brian Hightower, 15 Kurt Shuman
Reserves: Kirk Khasigian, Tasi Mo'unga, David Niu, Shaun Paga, Mark Scharrenberg
Unused: Joe Clayton, Jesse Coulson
Ireland: 1 Peter Clohessy, 2 Keith Wood, 3 Paul Wallace, 4 Jeremy Davidson, 5 Paddy Johns, 6 Trevor Brennan, 7 Andy Ward, 8 Dion O'Cuinneagain (c), 9 Tom Tierney, 10 David Humphreys, 11 Matt Mostyn, 12 Brian O'Driscoll, 13 Kevin Maggs, 14 Justin Bishop, 15 Conor O'Shea
Reserves: Jonathan Bell, Eric Elwood, Eric Miller, Ross Nesdale, Malcolm O'Kelly, Brian O'Meara, Justin Fitzpatrick
Referee: Dume j
Points Scorers:
United States
Tries: Dalzell K. 1
Pen K.: Dalzell K. 1
Ireland
Tries: O'Driscoll B. 1, Wood K.G.M. 4, Bishop J.P. 1, Penalty Try 1
Conv: Elwood E.P. 2, Humphreys D.G. 4
Pen K.: Humphreys D.G. 2
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