Heading into this afternoon's Rugby World Cup opener against Romania, it was thought that it might be difficult to get a read on where this Ireland team is at on the back of this fixture.
The side had displayed some mixed form during their warmup games for the tournament, especially in the Samoa match. As well as that, the quality of today's opposition meant that it could be hard to see where Ireland stood in comparison to the other top teams at the moment.
In the end, things went about as well as could have been expected.
Ireland produced a thumping 82-8 victory, scoring 12 tries along the way. It is the most points an Irish side has ever scored in the Rugby World Cup.
Ireland wrap it up in style with Tadhg Beirne scoring their twelfth try!#IREvROM | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/YERLrbk83s
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) September 9, 2023
While Romania were poor, Andy Farrell will be massively pleased with the way his team performed. Of course, there are always areas they can improve, they are now motoring nicely ahead of the sterner tests to come over the coming weeks.
Brian O'Driscoll gives opinion on Ireland win over Romania
Ireland will be pleased to come out of this game having scored over 80 points, while they also seem to have emerged from it without any fresh injury concerns.
The way in which they racked up such a huge score was certainly impressive, even going for a 12th try late on when they could have simply kicked the ball out to end the game in what were sweltering conditions in Bordeaux.
Speaking on ITV after the game, Brian O'Driscoll said the ruthlessness displayed by Ireland was the most important takeaway from this fixture. He was also full of praise for Johnny Sexton who put in a top class performance and became the oldest Irish international of all-time.
Sexton was unbelievable impressive, he just continues to constantly shine. When any element of doubt creeps into people's minds, he shuts it down immediately.
He is hungry for support lines. He was playing that Antoine Dupont support line ahead of the ball, anticipating line breaks. He picked up one really effectively in the first half.
He never shirks the defensive side of the game, he was taking the ball aggressively to the line, clearing out rucks, places you don't want to see your ten more often than not.
I just think the relentlessness and ruthlessness of him and Ireland today was really, really, impressive. It was a great hit out.
Considering they're all probably a little bit undercooked with their warmup games, this game has really contributed fantastically well to their fitness levels, confidence, their momentum. It sets them up really nicely for the rest of the pool.
It was really, really impressive. They left some scores out there and still scored 82 points...
More often than not, as tens get a little bit older and they take the ball deeper and deeper in the pocket. It's the selfless motion of taking the ball to the line, committing defenders, and putting other players through holes.
Ireland have so many options, the thing about Johnny is that he picks the right one more often than not.
When you have two or three options defences can't cover them all, so if you pick the right one you're going exploit them and get players through holes. Then you've got the support play in line with that strategy that they have to pick up scores from it.
Ireland fans will be hoping that we see plenty more of that ruthless mindset from Sexton and the rest of the team over the remainder of the tournament.
It is still very early days, but they seem to be on the right track.
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