Gareth Jenkins’s men found themselves trailing 9-12 at the interval, but the addition of Stephen Jones and Gareth Thomas injected some pace into the match and in the end it was a comfortable win for the Welsh side. Shane Williams crossed twice as Wales ran in five tries at Stade de la Beajoire but only after the Dragons were rocked by a brave Canucks display.
Canada stunned the RBS Six Nations giants with a deserved 17-9 lead early in the second half after Jamie Cudmore, Craig Culpan and Morgan Williams all went over to raise hopes of a second shock result in only the third day of the Rugby World Cup. However, despite making huge strides since their last Rugby World Cup meeting four years ago, Canada could not compete with the wealth of experience on the Welsh bench as British Lions Gareth Thomas and Stephen Jones turned the game. Williams went over twice while Sonny Parker, Alun-Wyn Jones and Colin Charvis also crossed as Wales flexed their muscles.
Wales arrived at the Rugby World Cup with an estimated following of 20,000 supporters in Nantes but they could not escape the pressure of home after just two wins in their last 11 Tests, with a nervy start.
Canada’s abrasive style rattled the Welsh though their attempts to prevent the dragons releasing the gas bottled up within their back three, handed James Hook the chance to settle those nerves with three early penalties inside 20 minutes.
Yet despite the scoreline Canada’s sheer size, particularly 6ft 5ins fullback Mike Pyke, highlighted the Dragons’ soft underbelly to create the game’s opening score. Canada’s forwards smashed holes in the Welsh defence and flanker Jamie Cudmore crashed over after Sean-Michael Stephen had been denied on the line on 25 minutes.
Wales sought a swift response but their over-eagerness handed Canada a second try before the break. Dth Van Der Merwe’s almost snatched an interception try but moments later Craig Culpan’s hands stuck to score a runaway try.
Welsh hooker Matthew Rees was hauled down on the line following a scintillating break by Shane Williams, but Hook’s pass was off-target and Culpan galloped the length of the field for a shock 12-9 lead.
Hope turned to confidence in the second half when Canada’s captain Williams scrambled over just five minutes into the second-half. Wales Coach Gareth Jenkins threw on the cavalry in the second half as Thomas, Jones and Charvis all helped turn the game while Tom Shanklin revelled. Parker went over from close range before Alun-Wyn Jones pounced on Ander Monro’s sliced kick to hand Wales the lead on 57 minutes.
Williams scampered over twice in the space of four minutes to recover from the embarrassment of fumbling the ball with the try line at Wales’s mercy, before Charvis completed the victory late on.
