Rugby Union: Praise for Wales from beaten hosts: Compliments from Canadian captain

Canada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Wales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

IAN STUART, the Canadian captain, yesterday hailed Wales as 'tougher, stronger and better than the French' following the tourists' comprehensive Test victory in Toronto.

Wales, who were looking for revenge following Canada's unexpected 26-24 triumph in Cardiff last November, dominated the match at Fletcher Fields. Afterwards Stuart said: 'They are a much better unit than they were in November, and the big difference this time was that they took the game to us a lot more.

'They are a lot tougher and stronger up front than the French. We failed to attack them enough and their defence was superb.'

The Welsh manager, Robert Norster, was equally impressed with his side's performance. 'It was a storming front-five performance and we did what we hoped to do beforehand,' he said.

Gareth Rees, the Canadian stand-off who kicked 16 points in Cardiff and accounted for all 18 in last weekend's victory against the French, added: 'Let's face it, we were stuffed. They took all three of their tries very well and taught us some hard lessons up front. They also defended superbly well. It all bodes well for them on the South Seas leg of their tour.'

Wales kept Canada off the scoreboard in the second half, scoring 16 points without reply. The Five Nations champions dominated through the play of their tight forwards, scrummaging and pace. Ieuan Evans, the Welsh captain, was badly shaken in a collision just before half-time with the Canadian wing, David Lougheed. Evans came back in the second half and scored an early try.

Wales now move on to face Fiji, Tonga and Western Samoa in the space of a week.

Canada: Penalties G Rees 5. Wales: Tries M Hall 2, I Evans; Conversions N Jenkins 3. Penalties: Jenkins 4.

CANADA: S Stewart (UBC Old Boys); R Toews (Meralomas), S Gray (Kats), I Stuart (Vancouver Rowing Club, capt), D Lougheed (Toronto Welsh); G Rees (Castaways / Oxford University), J Graf (UBC Old Boys); E Evans (UBC Old Boys), K Svoboda (Ajax Wanderers), D Jackart (UBC Old Boys), M James (Burnaby), A Charron (Ottawa Irish), I Gordon (James Bay), C MacKenzie (UBC Old Boys), G MacKinnon (Ex-Brittania Lions). Replacement: G Ennis (Kats / Suntory) for MacKenzie, 54.

WALES: M Rayer (Cardiff); I Evans (Llanelli, capt), M Hall (Cardiff), N Davies (Llanelli), W Proctor (Llanelli); N Jenkins (Pontypridd), R Moon (Llanelli); R Evans (Llanelli), G Jenkins (Swansea), J Davies (Neath), P Davies (Llanelli), G Llewellyn (Neath), H Taylor (Cardiff), S Quinnell (Llanelli), R Collins (Pontypridd). Replacement: A Clement (Swansea) for I Evans, 57.

Referee: I Rodgers (South Africa).