SYDNEY, 28 September 2003 — Canada still hope their fifth Rugby World Cup appearance will be their best despite a terrible tournament buildup littered with injured players, poor results and off-field drama.
The rugged Canucks have a reputation for playing above expectations in international rugby and have been drawn in what promises to be the most competitive of the four pools. While only disaster will stop New Zealand from finishing top of Pool D, an enthralling battle looms between Canada, Six Nations under-performers Wales and Italy and Pacific strongmen Tonga to become the second team to reach the quarterfinals.
Canada’s first match is against Wales in Melbourne on Oct. 12, when an upset could radically change the shape of Pool D. Their best World Cup performance was a quarterfinal appearance in 1991, when they were beaten 29-13 by the All Blacks.
“Our aim must be to emerge from our pool and reach the quarterfinals and to do that in today’s professional rugby world would be the finest achievement of any Canadian team ever,” Canada coach David Clark said after his squad was picked.
Clark acknowledged that aim would be hard to achieve, with his 16th-placed Canadians ranked below all their Pool D opponents in the latest International Rugby Board rankings - New Zealand (2), Wales (10), Tonga (12) and Italy (13).
But Canadian rugby history is full of upset wins over more fancied opponents. Their best recent result was a 26-23 defeat of Scotland in June 2002. Canadian fans also still fondly remember a 26-24 win over Wales at Cardiff Arms Park in 1993 and an 18-16 win over France the following year.
Wellington Late Flurry Forces
Draw With Canterbury
In Christchurch, New Zealand, Wellington scored 28 points in a furious final 10 minutes to force a 38-all draw in a Ranfurly Shield challenge against Canterbury yesterday. The draw was enough for the holders Canterbury to retain New Zealand’s oldest rugby trophy in the 23rd defense of its present tenure. Wellington scored four tries in their final flurry and, had Canterbury’s Cameron McIntyre not kicked a 78th minute penalty, the shield would have been heading for the North Island.
