BORDEAUX, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Ireland thrashed Romania 82-8 to get their World Cup campaign started in style in Bordeaux on Saturday, running in 12 tries despite the sweltering heat as the returning Johnny Sexton pulled the strings and centre Bundee Aki ran riot. Romania briefly led against the number one-ranked team in the world, after running back a clearance kick and sending scrum half Gabriel Rupanu clean through to score in the second minute. By the time Sexton walked off to a standing ovation midway through the second half the game was long over as a contest. Aki’s power was also impressive, running perfectly into the gaps and getting his second try six minutes from time to take the Irish tally past the 70-point mark. Ireland next meet Tonga in Nantes next Saturday while Romania return to Bordeaux against South Africa on Sunday, Sept. 17.

---

Persons: Johnny Sexton, Bundee Aki, Gabriel Rupanu, Jamison Gibson, Hugo Keenan, Tadhg Beirne, Aki, Sexton, Rob Herring, Peter O'Mahony, Joe McCarthy, Rupanu's, Keenan, O'Mahony, Herring, McCarthy, Beirne, David Humphreys, Jack Crowley, Mark Gleeson, Lawrence White, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Ireland, Romania, World, South, Gibson, Namibia, Thomson Locations: BORDEAUX, Bordeaux, Romania, Ireland, South Africa, Scotland, Argentina, Lens, Sydney, Tonga, Nantes