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Ireland were made to work for it, but came away convincing 44-10 winners over a game but outmatched Romanian side. The game at Wembley Stadium set a new World Cup record with a reported 89,267 in attendance, eclipsing the mark set at the same stadium for the New Zealand-Argentina match a week ago.
As expected, Ireland controlled the opening minutes, dominating possession and eventually Ian Madigan opened the scoring with a calmly struck penalty goal. Romania replied after the kickoff, with some indiscipline handing Valentin Calafeteanu a chance to even it up.
A brilliant bit of footballing skill from Simon Zebo looked to have created the first try. The fullback dropped the ball onto his toe and got a perfect bounce back into his hands, but for the replay to show his foot was in touch as he regathered.
Madigan hit a second penalty before Tommy Bowe crossed for Ireland’s first legitimate try. With the Romanian defense drawn in, the ball went wide to the winger who dove into the corner for a fine score. Keith Earls matched his efforts a few minutes later, with Zebo’s cut-out pass putting him into space for Ireland’s second try.
Earls made it a double just after the break after a lovely-weighted grubber from Eoin Reddan slid just behind the Romanian defense. The try looked like it would crack open the game, but the Oaks held out, and it was nearly 20 minutes before another wide attack would find Bowe to match the try-scoring feat of Earls and secure the bonus point for Ireland.
Replacement Rob Kearney finished off a breakout down the left flank just moments later, and then Chris Henry wrapped it up off a rolling maul with only a handful of minutes to play. Romania were not to be denied, however, and veteran Ovidiu Tonita smashed through two defenders to score a well-deserved try at the death and put Romania into double digits.
Ireland now sit atop the Pool D standings, with Italy their next opponents at London’s Olympic Stadium in a week’s time. Romania will enjoy an eight day break before their pivotal match against Canada on October 6 in Leicester.
IRELAND 44
Tries – T. Bowe 2 (19, 62), K. Earls 2 (28, 44), R. Kearney (65), C. Henry (74)
Cons – I. Madigan (20, 45, 63, 75)
Pens – I. Madigan 2 (8, 18)
ROMANIA 10
Tries – O. Tonita (78)
Cons – F. Vlaicu (79)
Pens – V. Calafeteanu (11)
Yellow cards – C. Gal (61)
IRELAND
1 C. Healy (J. McGrath 54) 2 R. Strauss (S. Cronin 60) 3 N. White (T. Furlong 64) 4 D. Ryan (P. O’Connell 64) 5 D. Toner 6 J. Murphy 7 C. Henry 8 J. Heaslip (capt.) (S. O’Brien 60) 9 E. Reddan 10 I. Madigan 11 K. Earls (R. Kearney 49-56, 64 {C. Murray 71}) 12 D. Cave 13 J. Payne (P. Jackson 58) 14 T. Bowe 15 S. Zebo
ROMANIA
1 A. Ursache (M. Lazar 68) 2 A. Radoi (O. Turashvili 56) 3 P. Ion (A. Tarus 54) 4 V. Poparlan 5 O. Tonita 6 V. Lucaci (J. van Heerden 60) 7 M. Macovei (capt.) (S. Burcea 68) 8 D. Carpo 9 V. Calafeteanu (F. Surugiu 68) 10 M. Wiringi (F. Vlaicu 68) 11 I. Botezatu 12 C. Gal 13 P. Kinikinilau 14 A. Apostol (F. Ionita 54) 15 C. Fercu
