Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
During the final weeks of waiting for Rugby World Cup 2019 to arrive Americas Rugby News will be taking a look back at some moments from past RWCs involving competitors from the Americas. In week two the feature team is Canada.
In day five of the series the feature is Canada’s series of close calls from RWC 2007. Of Canada’s four pool matches in the tournament there were three games in which the North Americans had been in a position to win. Instead Canada would lose two and draw one of these matches.
The first match in question was game two from Pool B with Canada up against Wales at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes. The North Americans started strongly with Jamie Cudmore scoring the game’s opening try in the 25th minute. Ten minutes later came the second with Canada punishing Welsh fly half James Hook as outside center Craig Culpan scored a 95 meter intercept try.
Not only did Canada hold a half time lead but Wales had been unable to score a try. This raised the question of whether the Canadians were on the verge of a serious upset. The second half began with Canada scoring their third try in the 45th minute. Scrum half Morgan Williams scored the try which was a just reward for his brilliant organizing.
Deals made between Wales and France saw RWC 2007 not being an exclusively French event. As such Canada and Fiji would travel to South Wales to play their pool match at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. It was not an Up but an Under as empty seats far out numbered those paid for by supporters.
Fiji were coming off a hard-fought win over Japan while the Canadians had gained confidence from their performance against Wales. It set-up an enthralling encounter which promised to be genuinely competitive.
As the tournament unfolded Fiji would be one of the overachievers. The Pacific Islanders would eliminate Wales in the pool stage and scare champions South Africa in the Quarter Finals. They would also play excellent rugby against Canada though when fly half Ryan Smith got passed Nick Little to score in the 60th minute it was game on.
For their third pool match Canada returned to France to face Japan in Bordeaux. It would be the first of two nail-bitting fixtures between the countries in consecutive Rugby World Cups.
Japan’s defense had kept Canada scoreless in the opening half as the Asians held a 5-0 lead. Pat Riordan then opened the second half with a try. It came from a lineout won by Mike James who set-up a maul. From there Canada advanced with Riordan getting over for the try.
Try number two followed seven minutes later. It came from quick thinking from Morgan Williams who took a quick tap and delivered a cross-kick for DTH van der Merwe who scored in the left corner. With it Canada were 12-5 ahead and on course for a victory.
It would not be a win with Canada instead being heartbroken as Koji Taira crossed for an 83rd minute score to which Morgan Williams would comment unhappily about post match. Taira’s try made it a 12-10 scoreline requiring Shotaro Onishi to convert from near the touchline to secure a draw.
