IRELAND’s second string eased their way to a comfortable – but also sloppy – Autumn international victory over a spirited Canada in Dublin.
Tries from Keith Earls, Luke Marshall, Tiernan O’Halloran (2), Ultan Dillane, Keiran Marmion and James Tracey, plus a penalty try, put Joe Schmidt’s men in control.
Ireland changed their entire line-up from the XV that gained the historic maiden victory over the All Blacks last weekend, the 40-29 win in Chicago.
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And they allowed Scarlets wing DTH Van der Merwe, Taylor Paris and Cornish Pirates’ Matt Evans to claim tries in a solid Canada showing from former Ulster boss Mark Anscombe.
Boss Schmidt had surely dished out a half-time rollicking for Ireland only really upped the ante on the restart.
Canada ran into big trouble seconds after the break when underlined Ireland their undoubted superiority with a penalty try with Paddy Jackson stepping up to plop over the two extra points.
The visitors hit back, though with a smashing attack that saw Matt Evans crash over in the corner. Gordon McRorie made a superb touchline conversion to make it 28-21 before Dillane, running with real menace, increased the lead with the hosts’ fifth try after 59 minutes before a converted score from Marmion made it 42-21.
And when O’Halloran crossed for his second try the job was more than done, while there was still time for debutant Tracey to add his name to the scoreboard.
Ireland led 21-14 at half-time. They gave away a couple of soft tries but were basically in control.
Earls got things going with an early score, his in-out double step proving to be the moment of the half, and Marshall thanked Earls for flinging him a long pass for the second try that allowed him a second Test try.
Canada responded after 24 minutes when DTH van der Merwe took a pass and ran in from 30 metres. Then Taylor Paris emerged from a driving maul to level things up at 14-14.
Two minutes from the break Ireland’s O’Halloran took an off-load from Finlay Beacham 40 metres out and simply tore over the line, while Jackson was happy with his third conversion from three attempts.
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