Declan Kidneys first game in charge of Ireland began in convincing fashion on Saturday as they swept aside Canada with a eight try romp at Thomond Park. The 55-0 final score, in rain-drenched conditions, was a good confidence booster for the Irish ahead of their clash with the All Blacks.
It was a nice opportunity for Kidney to broaden the experience of some of his younger players, including exciting 21 year old debutant Keith Earls who crossed in the third minute.
The first half romp included two tries for Rob Kearney, who put in another excellent all-round performance, and further scores for Jamie Heaslip and Tommy Bowe.
Canada fared okay in the second half, but that was largely due to the weather and the slightly scrappy performance from the home side. Substitutes David Wallace and Alan Quinlan, and then Bowe again, made sure the half-century was completed in the dying minutes.
How will this performance prepare Ireland ahead of the meeting with New Zealand in Dublin?
"It's a bit early to tell but I wouldn't read too much into the scoreline," Coach Kidney said after the match.
"It was a good day with a lot of good things in it. We will enjoy the win. The first half we were okay but there are things we need to look at as we fell away in the third quarter and did not have a lot of intensity.
"When the subs came on they brought a bit of enthusiasm and finished it out.
"You just play what's in front of you. We'll see what we've done well but we know we have to add so much more onto it."
PLEASE NOTE:
Mediazone have removed this video unfortunately.
Time:
05:52
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