The six-tries-to-none victory did come at a cost, with No.8 David Lyons limping off the field in the 46th minute with a suspected ankle injury. Wallabies wing Drew Mitchell became the tournament’s leading try-scorer when he bagged a double – within the space of two minutes midway through the second half – to take his tally to seven tries. It also took Mitchell past David Campese’s Australian record of six tries in a Rugby World Cup.
A second-string Australia made plenty of handling errors in the greasy conditions. It was the first time Canada have failed to secure at least one victory in a Rugby World Cup.
The Wallabies, missing injured talisman Stephen Larkham (knee), led 13-0 at half time following an early Julian Huxley penalty goal and tries to prop Al Baxter (24th minute) and Adam Freier (34th minute). Canada posted their opening points through a James Pritchard penalty goal shortly after the break as they continued to pressure dual world champions Australia into error.
Wallabies captain George Smith took advantage of a horrible Canada line-out which gifted the openside flanker a try that pushed his team’s buffer to 18-3 before Pritchard added another penalty goal. Mitchell continued his impressive form with two quick tries before a 74th minute try to full back Chris Latham sealed a 31-point triumph.
