Captain Paul O’Connell wants Ireland improvement

Canada hooker Ray Barkwill admitted it was a privilege to play opposite Ireland’s Rory Best in Cardiff on Saturday, but insisted his teammates would not be starstruck as they battle to qualify from Pool D.

By this point, Ireland had established domination and Canada looked out of gas.

Fitzgerald joins Jared Payne in midfield, while a fit-again rob Kearney has been selected at full-back after missing out against England at the start of the month.

Ireland’s opening game prospects have been boosted by the absence of flanker Tyler Ardron for Canada.

Canada were unable to take advantage of O’Connell’s sin-binning however, Ireland holding impressively firm.

Ireland leaked its try after Van Der Merwe blocked Payne’s kick-through and sprinted from just inside his own half.

“I think the welcome ceremony in Burton on Monday night will probably be the only time we’ll leave the facility until Friday, so we’re absolutely delighted to be here”.

One player that Schmidt was unable to select was star centre Robbie Henshaw who will miss he Canada game after picking up a slight hamstring injury.

“We’ve progressed well in defence, our feedback to the players has been solid and stern at times and we’re hoping for a really good response”. The try was converted by fly-half Nathan Hirayama from the University of Victoria Vikes. A late surge for another try ended with a pass out of bounds.

But we always intended giving Luke a chance at 12, because he’s played 13 and 11 in the build-up, and we wanted to build our versatility. “Obviously today on the scoreboard we didn’t do that but if we had a bit more luck in the red zone, we could have been a bit closer”. Sexton was back to his brilliant best and although he was very wayward with one of his attempts at goal, his ability to find touch from all kinds of angles and areas provided Ireland with the platform they needed to overcome the Canadians. “We feel that, if we can get the ball in their hands, we’re in good shape to put some points on the board going forward”.

Prop Cian Healy is also named among the replacements, Jack McGrath starting at loosehead as his Leinster teammate eases back into action following long-standing neck problems. “They’re not European champions for nothing”.

Johnny Sexton believes Japan’s shock victory over South Africa has handed Ireland a World Cup “alarm call”. Karne Hesketh scored the winning try with six minutes remaining and Ayumu Goromaru had a try and five penalty kicks.

Although Ireland will face tougher challenges ahead in a group that also includes France, Italy and Romania, the seven-try victory was a welcome return to form for Sexton and his country after an underwhelming warm-up campaign.