Ireland make World Cup statement with Romania thrashing as Sexton sets new mark

Irish captain Johnny Sexton scored 24 points to make a spectacular injury return as he became Ireland's record World Cup points scorer in a sparkling 82-8 victory over Romania on Saturday.

Sexton scored two of Ireland's 12 tries as the world's top ranked team recovered from the shock of an early Romanian score -- gifted to them by him -- in a match played in sweltering conditions of around 34 degrees celsius (93 degrees fahrenheit).

FT | Ireland 82-8 Romania

On his comeback after a near six-month injury absence, Sexton's tally took him to 102 points and surpassed his predecessor as fly-half Ronan O'Gara as Ireland's record World Cup scorer.

The victory margin in Bordeaux was the largest ever for the Irish at the sport's quadrennial showpiece, eclipsing the 64-7 humbling of Namibia in 2003.

Romania stunned the Irish in the third minute when Tevita Manumua picked off Sexton's grubber and ran past the labouring Irish fly-half before passing inside to Gabriel Rupanu to touch down under the posts.

Rupanu then missed a simple conversion.

The Irish held an urgent huddle and responded in style.

Sexton started the move involving Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose before Jamison Gibson-Park raced over to touch down.

The Irish stretched their lead in the 13th minute when Hugo Keenan went over under the posts after spinning acrobatically as he was tackled to touch down.

Sexton converted both.

Up and running in style! ??#TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/IF36waoHcU

The early Romanian promise faded as Ireland upped a gear and Tadhg Beirne went over in the left hand corner.

Sexton missed the conversion but the Irish had laid the foundations for a comfortable win.

Rupanu slotted over a penalty but the Irish were now in full flow, producing some wonderful fluent