Game effort by Canada in loss to Wales (live tracker)

November 17, 2006

Red Terror live tracking...



4th min. Prichard pen. Canada 3-0.

7th min. Nice try to Gareth Thomas from a sweet grubber in the left corner. Beautiful sideline conv. Wales 7-3.

10th min. Prichard pen. Wales 7-6.

16th min. Shane Williams tip-toes 35 meters through woeful Canadian defense, waltzes under sticks. Hook converts. Wales 14-6.

20th min. Prichard pen. Wales 14-9.

29th min. Beautiful Wales try, goes 60 metres through a series of misdirection scissor-passes, try to Matt Rees, converted. Wales 21-9.

36th min. Canada drop-goal, Derek Daypuck. Wales 21-12.

40th min. Wales penalty try (pushover scrum), easily converted, Wales 28-12.

Half time.

Canadian back Ryan Smith broke past a feeble James Hook tackle reminded me of Dan Carter pushing off Anthony Allen a couple weeks back. Canada's been fairly organized under the high balls and their lineout has been solid every time except the one attacking position they had on Wales goalline, they lost ball *sigh*.

Half-time: WALES 28 CANADA 12.

Four converted tries to 3 pens and a drop-goal.

Territory & possession Wales 72%.

Fair score so far.

2nd HALF...

45th min. Easy try to Dwayne Peel, ran through a lineout that parted like Red Sea, untouched. Atrocious Canuck defence. Coverted, Wales 35-12.

48th min. Disallowed Gareth Thomas try.

Pletch twins on for Canada -- supposedly the first-ever twins to prop a scrum in international rugby.

51st min. Peel inside offload to Jonathan Thomas from 5m scrum, try converted. Hook 6-for-6. Wales lead 42-12.

54th min. Canada falling off tackles. Too much pressure; too much possession & territory; too many overlaps. Another Jonathan Thomas try. Conv. missed. Wales 47-12.

59th min. Canada try! Dan Pletch in the right corner from maul. Prichard converts from wide. Wales 47-19.

66th min. Ceri Sweeney scores try off dummy at end of counter-attack started by woeful Canadian intercept down the field. Hook converts. Wales 54-19.

67th min. Mensah-Coker on, makes huge break on first touch of ball -- Canada comes close to line!

75th min. Canada finishing strong. Try to winger Mike Pyke following great patient maul in left corner. Prichard converts from wide. Wales 54-26.

78th min. Prichard -- who has played a terrific game -- makes dunderhead move -- attempts quick 22m dropout and throws pass directly to Tom Shanklin who strolls over unopposed. Hook converts (8-for-9).

Final Score: WALES 61 vs. CANADA 26.

Bookies had Wales winning by 48 points.

Last time Wales beat Canada 60-3 in Toronto (2005).

Attenance 74,022 -- biggest crowd Canada has ever played in front.

When Canada gets a full squad and weeks training together and minimizes their dumb mistakes, they should improve big-time for RWC 2007.