Ireland ring the changes

Joe Schmidt is expected to make numerous changes for Sunday’s clash with Murphy stressing that players will be selected based on their performance at training.

Lock Iain Henderson was next to touch down, registering his first ever try for Ireland in the process.

The last two encounters between Canada and Ireland have been in Vancouver (2009) and Toronto (2013).

Kearney admitted the heat under Cardiff’s closed roof and the breathless pace against Canada sapped Ireland’s strength.

“So we’ve taken no risk”. Keith Earls, 10. Ian Madigan, 9. Keith Earle made a nice run and set up Rob Kearney for another score.

Sexton was Ireland’s man of the match in the opening win against Canada having kicked well out of hand as well as organising the attack, topped off with a try of his own.

Nearly immediately, Canada hit back with an intercept consolation try through Van Der Merwe, Hirayama knocking over the extras. He would have been the obvious replacement at 12 as a straight in, hard-running centre, who carries the ball very well.

But Ireland was back at it soon after. Madigan came on to great effect against Canada and, with a fine break and sumptuous pass, created Payne’s try. Schmidt will have been impressed with Romania’s tight game and work at the breakdown, where they forced French turnovers into double figures. If the players are in the right frame of mind and they put themselves forward, they’ll get their opportunity.

Perhaps the powerful Leinster prop is just made of sterner stuff than us mere mortals because, once more, when Ireland need him most, he has clawed his way back from serious injury. 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.

Scotland and Ireland faced off in the Pool stages in a game that, as it turns out, would have a big impact on how the Boys in Green progress, and George was particularly emotionally involved given his London Irish connection.

“The next game against Romania we will aim to do something that suits (us against) their game”.