Rugby: Two decades later, Japan still without a win

Japan may have entertained fans at the Rugby World Cup with their brand of attacking rugby, but their failure to win a match has left coach John Kirwan feeling flat.

Japan squandered an eight-point lead in the closing stages of yesterday's 23-23 draw with Canada, after losing to Tonga and France and being thrashed by New Zealand.



Although two of the losses were perhaps expected, Kirwan said "we had goals, to beat Tonga and Canada, so that was disappointing" to only get one draw from their four matches.

Canadian flyhalf Ander Monro slotted a 79th minute penalty to snatch the draw in their Pool A match to extend Japan's winless streak at the World Cup since their 52-8 win over Zimbabwe in 1991. The two sides also met at the 2007 World Cup in France and finished tied 12-12.

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