RWC 2015 M29 Canada v Romania

RWC 2015 M22 France v Canada

RWC 2015 M14 Italy v Canada

Pool A: New Zealand v Canada

Pool A: Canada v Japan

A Draw! 23-23! I didn’t see that one coming. Got to admit, I was late home so missed most the first half ... but this looks like the Classic Fitzy™ Game of Two Halves. Japan having the first 40, then having to defend more in the second stanza (stanza!) as the Canucks chased the win.

I don’t think a crowd in Napier has been that entertained since Flash the Seal passed away at Marineland .. but these players are no trick mammals, once again we got shown just how good this level is. I suppose Canada get bragging rights because they beat Tonga and therefore finish third behind New Zealand and France, thus gaining automatic qualification for RWC 2015, but they both would have loved a win. I guess the Kiwi and neutral fans are the winners as they don’t actually have to choose between two very skilled and popular teams.

Japan: Captain Kitigawa seems a gentle giant, I loved his earnest aftermatch interviews; Tanaka the tenacious little halfback; Horie the Hooker who never stopped pumping his legs in rucks, mauls and tackles; and Endo on the wing. Not to mention our two Kiwi reps, the superbly skilled James Arlisge and Ryan Nicholas. They’d get Super contracts those two.

Canada: Beards, grins & grit. Kleeberger gets a folk hero nod, as does that Energizer Bunny of a centre DTH van der Merwe ... who name on forms must make Customs officials think of party drugs.

Its a crying shame they are oot now, but at least they can both be sure they will be back at the World Cup in four years.

Sayonara, Brave Blossoms. Arigato. I actually quite fancy one of their jerseys.

Canada ... cheers, eh?

Pool A: France v Canada

“Great Kleeberger’s Beard, that was close!”

What a game - once again a very sharp effort from Canada, that really pushed France all the way. Though they may have run away with it in the end this was another beauty of a RWC 2011 match where the 4th ranked team in the World got a fright from the team ranked 10th!

Check the score flow on our stat graphic and you can see how even it was, how it ziiged & zagged - France only survived by the boot of Morgan Parra and the fleet Frency feet of Vinacent Clerc. Must mention that both I and Mrs Slugso had him in our fantasy teams, so we were very happy with his hattrick. She had him as Captain of her team so got double points.

Double Vincent Clerc ... What does it all meeaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnn???!!!!!!

Pool A: Tonga v Canada

A lot of people are saying ‘upset’, but these two teams are only two IRB ranking spots apart, it should not really be a big surprise. Canada deserve a lot of praise for standing up to teh physicality of this Tongan side, but let’s not patronize them. They played bloody well.

And Canada’s Adam Kleeberger surely must get the award for best beard in a World Cup ever. It was immense ... bigger than W C Grace’s. They could have smuggled the ball inside that thing!