606: DEBATE Your thoughts on Canada v Japan

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By Mark Orlovac

FULL-TIME: Canada 12-12 Japan
Finally the game is brought to an end and we have only the second draw in World Cup history. Canada will be distraught and with their final game against Australia coming this weekend, their proud record of winning at least one game at the World Cup now looks in serious trouble.

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84 mins: TRY Canada 12-12 Japan
After pummelling away up close, the ball is spread wide and substitute Koji Taira goes over for the score. Controversial or what? Shotaro Onishi has the kick to level the game and despite the pressure, he lands it and the Japanese squad go bananas.

82 mins: For some reason, the video referee gives a penalty for what Williams did after consultation with the video ref. Can't understand it myself. Japan pile forward again.

80 mins: Japan launch a final attack but Go Aruga loses the ball in contact and Canada clear to touch. Despite the clock showing time, play continues and Williams heroically puts the ball out over the dead ball line as the ball is kicked through.

78 mins: Japan fly-half Bryce Robins charges forward from around six metres out but he is isolated and concedes the penalty. That could be it.

76 mins: It is all Japan as they desperately aim to end a 13-game losing streak at the World Cup. Canada are holding on...for now.

73 mins: Japan pile forward but a promising attack, which sees full-back Go Aruga burst through the line, is brought to an end because of a forward pass.

72 mins: Canada centre Craig Culpan gingerly walks off the field with what looks like a painful shoulder injury.

70 mins: Japan fly-half Bryce Robins kicks from hand poorly but wins himself a penalty when the touch judge rules that he was blocked as he chased the ball. Very harsh.

65 mins: TRY Canada 12-5 Japan
Canada continue to apply the pressure but it looks as if Japan will hold on as they gather up a loose ball. However, they are harshly penalised for holding on and quick-thinking former Stade Francais number nine Williams quickly kicks to the corner as Japan are still getting organised. Dth van der Merwe collects the ball in oceans of space and charges over. Pritchard adds the extras.

"The game is on live here in Canada. I am so embarrassed. We truly suck at this game. We folded against the welsh, essentially lost in the last minute to Fiji and are looking sickly against Japan. God help us when we play Australia. Don't worry lads, hockey season starting soon!"
From warriorwill on 606

63 mins: Now it is Canada's turn to attack. Japanese skipper Takuro Miuchi does well to prevent Morgan Williams from collecting his own kick to touch down for a try. From the resulting five-metre scrum, flanker Adam Kleeberger is bundled over but the video referee says he was held up.

61 mins: Wing Christian Loamanu is given a telling off by referee Jonathan Kaplan for a late, but only just, shoulder charge on James Pritchard as the Canadian kicks through.

60 mins: Japan attack from deep and a neat interchange of passes on the blind-side sees them move closer to the Canadian try-line. However, a 50-50 ball goes straight to Riordan and Canada can clear.

59 mins: Canada defend their line superbly and substitute Mike Pletch drives his man backwards.

57 mins: From the line-out, Japan drive again and can sense the try-line. Canada are forced to concede the penalty and Japan opt for touch again.

55 mins: Japan's forwards have worked so hard all game and a rolling maul takes them into the Canadian half. The Canucks eventually give away the penalty and Japan go for touch. Canadian number eight Aaron Carpenter comes off for Mike Webb.

48 mins: TRY Canada 5-5 Japan
Canada must have been waiting for Riordan to reappear. From a line-out drive, the hooker barges over for his first international try. And what a time to get it. Pritchard misses the conversion. Kim Chulwon comes on for scrum-half Tomoki Yoshida.

45 mins: Japan gain some inches with a well-organised rolling maul and then Shotaro Onishi fires a monster clearance to touch. Riordan is back on and that blasted wave starts again.

44 mins: Skipper Morgan Williams floats a perfectly judged kick over the top for South African-born DTH Van der Merwe to run onto. The winger just steps out of play and the attack breaks down.

41 mins: Canada start the second period and after a bit of kicking tennis, the ball is drilled to touch deep into Canadian territory.

Just as an aside, both teams stayed out on the field during the half-time break. Nice to see that. Old school.

40 mins: HALF-TIME Canada 0-5 Japan
Culpan straightens up an attack to release Smith but the fly-half is brought down just before the Japanese line. Pyke looks as if he could break through but drops the ball in the act of going over and the whistle blows.

39 mins: Pyke desperately tries to latch on to a clever grubber kick from Smith to the corner but the ball just evades him. Japan cannot get out of their half.

38 mins: Number eight Aaron Carpenter takes Riordan's place in the front row and does his job well as a Canadian scrum holds firm. The ball is spread to the near side and Morgan Williams shows some quick hands but the ball goes out.

35 mins: Suddenly it's all got a bit hectic. Canada are still camped in the Japanese 22 despite the best efforts of blind-side Hare Makiri who puts in a massive hit on Smith. Canada rumble forward but are let down by a bit of aggressive rucking from hooker Pat Riordan - who is sin-binned for careless use of the boot.

33 mins: Canada full-back Mike Pyke takes a high ball and finds a gap to put his side on the front foot. Impressive stuff but there is no end product.

27 mins: Japan scrum-half Tomoki Yoshida puts his side into trouble as his box kick is charged down by opposite number Morgan Williams. The Cherry Blossoms recover for the moment but Canada are slowly getting back into this.

23 mins: Ryan Smith, who plays his rugby for Montauban, is given a warm reception as he gets to his feet after receiving treatment for an injury.

19 mins: A fine touchfinder deceives wing James Pritchard and Japan are near the Canadian line yet again. The crowd at the Chaban Delmas Stadium in Bordeaux are loving this and are creating a rowdy atmosphere. Not sure if I totally condone the Mexican wave however.

"It is fabulous"
Hayley on the A1 via text

Not sure if that text is actually about the rugby but it seems a perfect way to describe that opening try.

17 mins: Canada make a brief foray into opposing territory but Japan turnover the ball and can clear their lines. This is impressive stuff.

12 mins: TRY Canada 0-5 Japan
What a great start for Japan. They are giving Canada all sorts of difficulties at the line-out and they steal the ball to launch an attack. Wing Kosuke Endo barges through Smith and then takes DTH Van der Merwe on the outside to score a fine try. Shotaro Onishi misses the conversion.

11 mins: Japan are refusing to be bullied and are matching Canada in the rough stuff. Lock Hitoshi Ono comes up with a ferocious hit and is unlucky not to get the scrum for his side.

7 mins: Canada centre Craig Culpan cuts a nice line to split through the defence and fly-half Ryan Smith produces a nice grubber to get the ball deep into Japanese territory for the first time.

6 mins: It's all a bit scrappy at the moment. Both sides cannot string any phases of play together.

3 mins: Japan start confidently but come unstuck at the scrum when the Canadian front row put them under real pressure.

1 min: Japan get the game underway but Canada gather and clear.

1656: I think this World Cup is starting to get to me, last night I dreamt about former Wales coach Mike Ruddock. Honestly. Can't remember what it was about though.

1654: The teams come out onto the field and are greeted by what seems to be another sell-out crowd.

1650: Afternoon all. Forget all that England, South Africa, New Zealand and Ireland nonsense. This is what the World Cup is all about.

Both teams are winless so far but they will have targeted this game as the one to get rid of that big fat zero under the "W" column.

The sides have met 17 times, with Japan narrowly leading 9-8. The last time they played was in 2005 when Canada claimed a 15-10 victory.