Wales met Canada in the third match in Pool 2 of the first Rugby World Cup. Wales had already beaten Ireland 13-6 at Wellington and Tonga by 29-16 at Palmerston North.
It was a third win for Wales, who went on to beat England in the quarter-final and Australia in the third-place match.
Canada held on to be only 9-6 down at the interval, but Wales then ran away with the match, scoring eight tries, four by the dashing wing Ieuan Evans, who equalled the Wales record of tries in a test match.
Jonathan Davies, skippering the side, was an inspiration at fly half as he was in commanding form and had a hand in three of the tries. Wing Adrian Hadley, centres Bleddyn Bowen and John Devereux and hooker Alan Phillips (now the team manager in 2003) scored the other tries.
Richard Moriarty, the elected World Cup captain, replaced his younger brother Paul in the second half, while Canadian fly half Gareth Rees, of Welsh parentage, kicked his side’s points.
Wales: P Thorburn (Neath); I Evans (Llanelli), B Bowen (SW Police), J Devereux (Bridgend), A Hadley (Cardiff); J Davies (Neath, capt), R Giles (Aberavon); J Whitefoot, A Phillips, S Blackmore (all Cardiff), S Sutton (SW Police), R Norster (Cardiff), P Moriarty (Swansea), P Davies (Llanelli), G Roberts (Cardiff). Reps: R Moriarty (Swansea) for P Moriarty; K Hopkins (Swansea) for Bowen.
Scorers – Tries: I Evans 4, A Hadley, A Phillips, J Devereux, B Bowen.Cons: P Thorburn 4.
Canada: M Wyatt; P Palmer, T Woods, J Lecky, S Gray; G Rees, I Stuart; R McKellar, K Swoboda, W Handson, R Hindson, H de Goede (capt), B Breen, G Ennis, R Frame. Rep: D Tucker for I Stuart.
Scorer – Pens: G Rees 3.
Referee: David Bishop (New Zealand).
