Brian O'Driscoll helped settle Irish nerves as their New Zealand tour got underway with a winning start in Timaru on Saturday.

The Lions star ran in three tries as the Irish overwhelmed their uncomprimising amatuer opponents.

O'Driscoll was making his first trip to New Zealand, and he turned in a magical performance as he cut through a stunned defence time and time again.

Fly-half David Humphreys weighed in with 16 points with a try, penalty and converting four of Ireland's nine tries.

It was the start that the Irish needed before facing the All Blacks in the first of two Tests next Saturday in Dunedin.

Knees up

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan was a happy man as he watched his side score run amok tries against a side comprising the top players in the NPC second and third divisions.

Ireland led 27-3 at half-time, and before further tries from Mel Deane, Justin Bishop, Girvan Dempsey, Anthony Foley and Geordan Murphy.

The Divisional team ended the match with 14 men after Marlborough lock Matt Porter was ordered off for using his knees in a ruck.

The only injury problems were to skipper Keith Wood and flnaker Alan Quinlan.

Wood came off at the break with a back injury which is not thought to be serious, while Quinlan suffered a knee problem.

Ireland XV:
G Dempsey; J Bishop; B O'Driscoll, M Deane; T Howe; D Humphreys, G Easterby; P Corrigan, K Wood, J Hayes, P O'Connell, G Longwell, A Quinlan, K Gleeson, A Foley.
Replacements: S Byrne, M Horan, L Cullen, E Miller, P Stringer, R O'Gara, G Murphy, J Kelly.

Scorers: O'Driscoll 3, Humphreys, Deane, Bishop, Dempsey, Foley, Murphy; Humphreys 4 cons, penalty.