E-mail Article Print-Friendly Version Contact Us Subscribe to RSS Feed

Kirwan relieved with draw

Ecstatic: John Kirwan celebrates with his 'get out of jail free' card Shotaro Onishi

Japan coach John Kirwan admitted his side "got out of jail" after snatching a dramatic injury-time draw in the World Cup clash with Canada.

Kirwan's men scored a try well past the 80-minute mark after referee Jonathan Kaplan refused to halt the game with Canada leading 12-5 despite the ball going out of play for a line-out.

The 12-12 draw gave Japan the advantage in the battle to avoid the Pool B wooden spoon having completed all their matches, with bottom-placed Canada still to face Australia in their final game.

"It was like getting out of jail," Kirwan said after watching Koji Taira's dramatic late score and Shotaro Onishi's nerveless conversion.

"I thought we were pretty average but you can't question our courage and commitment. We showed a lot of courage."

Japan's players erupted in celebration when the final whistle was blown after ending their 16-year losing streak at the World Cup, dating back to their lone win against Zimbabwe in 1991.

While Kirwan was unimpressed by his team's overall performance, the former New Zealand international said he was pleased with their defence and Onishi's composure to convert the try.

"Canada threw the kitchen sink at us and we still kept them out," Kirwan said.

"What we did with the ball in the last two minutes was how we wanted to play all game and Shotaro Onishi is great under pressure and if anyone could have kicked it, he could."

Although the 1995 and 2003 finals both finished level and went to extra time the only previous draw at a Rugby World Cup was at Christchurch in 1987 when Scotland and France finished locked at 20-20.