Pride to spur winless Japan against Canucks

Japan will try to salvage pride from their Rugby World Cup 2011 campaign by claiming their first victory at the tournament in two decades against Canada at McLean Park next Tuesday.

The Japanese are the only side in Pool A without a win and their error-strewn 31-18 defeat to Tonga on Wednesday ensured they will fly home ahead of the knockout stage.

The Brave Blossoms have never ventured beyond the group phase in seven RWC appearances.

Coach John Kirwan admitted on Saturday that his team were still groggy from losing to Tonga but said they were determined to leave New Zealand on a high note by registering what would be Japan's first win since a 52-8 triumph over Zimbabwe in 1991.

"We can still have a positive World Cup with our first win in 20 years. We're upset, disappointed, but we're turning that into the motivation that we need to play on Tuesday night.

Not good enough

"We know we played badly. In a World Cup everyone plays badly, but when you play badly you need to win. We played badly and lost. We're not good enough to play badly and win.

"We looked at the game and the guys realised we lost the game rather than got beaten. We know how important this match is for all of us."

Kirwan's men recorded heavy Test victories (46-8 and 27-6) over the Canucks on their two-match Test tour of Japan in 2009.

However, the coach played down the significance of those results, pointing out that Japan had not lost to Tonga in five years before the islanders turned the tables on them on Wednesday.

"This is the World Cup," he said. "You just have to take it as a one-off and ignore what's happened in the past, make sure you get out there and do your job."