Japan and Canada played to 23-all draw in their Rugby World Cup Pool A match held at McLean Park in Napier New Zealand.

Ander Monro scored a late try and a penalty as Canada denied Japan its first Rugby World Cup win in 20 years.

Japan led a scrappy contest 23-15 with five minutes remaining, but could not hang on for its first tournament win since 1991. The teams drew 12-12 at the 2007 World Cup.

Hooker Shota Horie and right winger Kosuke Endo scored first-half tries for Japan.

Canada's first two tries came from bleached blondes. center DTH van der Merwe, who gave his team an early lead, and left winger Phil MacKenzie, who got Canada back in the match with a try after half time.

Canada's chances were dealt a blow when fullback and kicker James Pritchard left the field at halftime, but Monro salvaged the draw.

Final Score Canada 23 (7) Japan 23 (17)

Scorers

Canada
Tries: van der Merwe, Mackenzie, Monro
Penalties: Monro 2
Conversions: Pritchard

Japan
Tries: Horie, Endo
Penalties: Arlidge 3
Conversions:Arlidge 2

Match Officials
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Brice Lawrence (New Zealand), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)

Teams

Canada (15-1)

James Pritchard; Matt Evans, DTH van der Merwe, Ryan Smith, Phil Mackenzie; Ander Monro, Ed Fairhurst; Aaron Carpenter, Chauncey O'Toole, Adam Kleeberger; Jamie Cudmore, Jebb Sinclair; Jason Marshall, Pat Riordan (capt), Hubert Buydens

Replacements: Ryan Hamilton, Scott Franklin, Tyler Hotson, Jeremy Kyne, Sean White, Nathan Hirayama, Conor Trainor

Japan (15-1)

Shaun Webb; Kosuke Endo, Alisi Tupuailai, Ryan Nicholas, Hirotoki Onozawa; James Arlidge, Fumiaki Tanaka; Takashi Kikutani (capt), Michael Leitch, Sione Talikavili Vatuvei; Toshizumi Kitagawa, Luke Thompson; Nozomu Fujita, Shota Horie, Hisateru Hirashima

Replacements: Yusuke Aoki, Kensuke Hatakeyama, Hitoshi Ono, Toetuu Taufa, Atsushi Hiwasa, Murray Williams, Bryce Robins