Canada and Japan play to draw at Rugby World Cup

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NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND (NEWS1130) – Ander Monro scored a late try but missed the convert before nailing a penalty kick minutes later to earn Canada a 23-23 draw with Japan at the Rugby World Cup.

D.T.H. van der Merwe got Canada on the board early with a try in the seventh minute but Japan came storming back with a try from Shota Horie just three minutes later.

After taking a 10-7 lead with a successful penalty kick, Japan’s Kosuke Endo touched down just before the whistle to end the first half and his side took a 17-7 advantage into the break.

Canada came flying out of the gates in the second half and Phil Mackenzie would pull the red and white within five points just five minutes in, but the try would go unconverted.

Japan would take a 23-16 lead late, and Ander Monro finished a strong Canadian drive to get within striking distance in the 75th minute. He would miss the convert but just minutes later he successful made a penalty kick to pull the two sides even at 23.

Canada is now 1-1-1 at the event with six points to sit in third in Pool A behind New Zealand and France. They’ll face the All Blacks next on October 2nd. If France defeats Tonga a day before, Canada will have already clinched third place in the pool, assuring themselves a spot in the next World Cup.

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