 Gareth Thomas beats James Prichard to score the opening try |
Wales: (28) 61
Tries: G Thomas, S Williams, Rees, Pen, Peel, J Thomas (2), Sweeney, Shanklin
Cons: Hook (8)
Canada: (12) 26
Tries: Pletch, Pyke
Cons: Prichard (2)
Pens: Prichard (3)
DG: Daypuck
Wales warmed up for the All Blacks with a nine-try win over outclassed Canada at a packed Millennium Stadium.
The home side shrugged off Gavin Henson's injury withdrawal with scores from Gareth Thomas, Shane Williams and Matt Rees, plus a penalty try.
Canada's part-timers tired as Dwayne Peel, Jon Thomas (2), Ceri Sweeney and Tom Shanklin went over after the break, James Hook impressing with 16 points.
But the brave Canucks never gave up, Dan Pletch and Mike Pyke getting tries.
Henson withdrew before kick-off with a toe infection that could put his place against New Zealand next week at risk, Sonny Parker stepping in.
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Canada - missing their leading European-based stars - showed no nerves in front of the 74,022 crowd, the largest in their history, and opened the scoring with a third-minute penalty from Bedford wing James Prichard.
Wales fired straight back with an extended attack and, when a Canada clearance kick was charged down, recycled ball came to Hook, making his first outside-half start for Wales.
The Ospreys star put through a deft grubber kick and Gareth Thomas - winning his 90th cap - beat Prichard to the touchdown to extend his Wales try record to 37.
A second Prichard penalty followed from the restart before man-of-the-match Shane Williams made the most of a half-chance.
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The Wales wing ghosted through the forwards in Canada's midfield defence and stepped two covering defenders to touch down under the posts.
Prichard kicked a third penalty, but Hook again tore the Canucks defence apart with a beautiful flip pass to Martyn Williams deep in his own half.
The flanker linked up with Peel, who sent Rees on a 15-yard run to the line for his first Wales score.
Derek Daypuck responded with a well-taken drop-goal, but Wales spurned an easy goal kick for a scrum and were rewarded with a penalty try as their front row destroyed the Maple Leaves on the stroke of half-time.
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A well-worked line-out caught the visitors cold early in the second half, Jon Thomas taking a long throw and feeding Peel, who blasted untouched through a yawning gap in the Canada forwards for the fifth try.
The tiring Canucks were warned for negative play as both Gareth Thomas and Mark Jones lost the ball on crossing the try line.
Jon Thomas proved more clinical with a brace inside two minutes, his support of Dwayne Peel's scrum-five break bringing the first.
Parker sparked a sweeping Wales attack from the restart that ended with Mark Jones sending Thomas in at the corner, Hook's narrowly missed conversion his only failure of the night.
Canada came back bravely, Stan McKeen nearly crossing after a series of strong forward drives before replacement Pletch picked up for a short-range try.
 | SCRUM V VIEW |
Wales rang the changes and replacement Sweeney crossed from a well-weighted Shane Williams pass.
But back came the visitors, wing Pyke crashing over from an inside pass.
The Canucks stayed adventurous to the end, but Prichard's quickly taken drop-out 22 and ambitious pass was spotted by Shanklin, who intercepted for an easy run-in for the final try.
The sides' next meeting is their opening fixture at next year's World Cup, and while Wales will be confident they know that Canada will battle to the death.
Wales: G. Thomas (capt), M. Jones, Shanklin, Parker (Sweeney 59), S. Williams, Hook, Peel (M. Phillips 59), Jenkins (D. Jones 52), Rees (R. Thomas 52), A. Jones (G. Jenkins 64), Gough, Evans (Sidoli 64), J. Thomas, M. Williams (A.W. Jones 70), R. Jones.
Replacement (not used): L. Byrne.
Canada: Fairhurst, Pyke, Smith, Spicer (Monro h-t), Prichard, Daypuck, Williams (capt, Mensah-Coker 67), Tkachuk, Lawson (Riordan 50), Gainer (D. Pletch 43), Tait (Ault 26-32), Burak, Webb, McKeen, Stephen.
Replacements (not used): M Pletch, Carpenter.
Att: 74,022
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (Bristol)