Canada's struggles in the last 30 minutes

A look into Canada's squandered 16 point half time lead last weekend against Japan and their issue of finishing poorly over the last 30 minutes of games.

Statistically Canada's record in the last 25 or 30 minutes of internationals has been without doubt dismal. In their last 17 matches, the only times Canada haven't lost the last 30 of minutes of play has been against opposition ranked outside the top 17 in USA, Russia or Portugal. From those 17 matches, in the last quarter of the game Canada has conceded roughly 3 times as many tries as they've scored.

 

In both their two most recent games against Tier 1 nations they were leading 50 minutes in and lost on both occasions, with notably in the Ireland game there being a particularly disastrous collapse.

 

In addition to that they have also led Japan, Romania and Georgia at 50 minutes and lost their most recent meetings to them, so that’s about 5 or 6 times Canada has lost after leading around the 50 minute mark since 2012.

 

Other times they have struggled in the last section of the game include seeing a large 33-10 lead at 55 minutes in the PNC match against Tonga reduced to 33-27 after conceding 3 tries. Going back a bit further there was also the game in the World Cup against France, where trailing 19-25 at 60 minutes Canada conceded a further 21 unanswered points.

 

This all points to a big problem in the last section of the game for Kieran Crowley's men, however for most of those games in fairness were negatively effected by unfortunate circumstances in one way or another and there are valid excuses to point to as to why they might have fallen away towards the end of the games.

 

For instance the France game at the World Cup was played with 3 days rest from the Tonga game against opponents who had a deeper squad and full week between games. Also Canada's injury problems throughout last year meant that whilst most of the starting XV's could be at least competitive, some of the benches fielded were very weak and inexperienced. Notably there were a number of player who played through injury clouds against Ireland, there were 5 players with less than 3 caps against Japan in the PNC and the reserve front row that went to Romania was all 21 or under and had 1 cap between them.

 

However there was much less of an explanation for the 0-25 second half last weekend against Japan that wiped out a good first half performance. It’s overly simplistic just to conclude it was only a fitness issue, it wasn't as if they were slowing down and tackles slacking off and not keeping up with the Japanese even if they may not have been the fitter side.

It was just a similar thing that happened on 3 occasions where suspect defensive alignment and positioning led to them getting being cut right through the middle by good angles of running. On top of that the scrum got smudged in the second half after Japan’s scrum expert Marc dal Maso reportedly made some tweaks with his front row at half time.

A dejected Canada captain Tyler
Ardron after the defeat to Japan

 

But Canada's overall game didn't fall apart as badly as the score might suggest. Whilst the scrum remains a big issue for the North Americans, looking at it with a glass half full aside from that  the Japan game was more several small things that need adjusting as opposed huge issues that could only be fixed over a long term.

 

After the such stinging manner of the defeat, captain Tyler Ardron told his team to remember the feeling and use it to fuel them going forward. Hopefully up against Scotland, if they get a bright start Crowley's team won't let another bright start diminish into defeat.

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Canada's struggles in the last 30 minutes

 Italy 2012 | First 50 minutes: 13-12 | Last 30 minutes: 3-13 | Final Score: 16-25
After a positive first half performance with a 13-9 half time lead, Canada lose control in the second half with the set piece faltering badly and the upset slips out of their grasp.

 Georgia 2012 | First 50 minutes: 28-7 | Last 30 minutes: 3-5 | Final Score: 31-12

After building up a 28-7 lead against a weakened Georgian side with a Sean Duke interception try on42 minutes, Canada lose command and don’t score again until a penalty in the last play of the game.

 

 Tonga 2013 | First 50 minutes: 23-7 | Last 30 minutes: 13-20 | Final Score: 36-27

After Tonga see red and are down to 14, Canada stretch to a 33-10 lead at 55 minutes, but Tonga manage to comeback to within a converted try at 33-27 before a late penalty saw them off.

 

 Ireland 2013 | First 50 minutes: 14-12 | Last 30 minutes: 0-28 | Final Score: 14-40

After a side that was playing through several bumps and bruises following hard physical matches with Fiji and Tonga battled hard for a lead at 50 minutes, the final 30 was a complete disaster.

 

 Japan 2013 | First 50 minutes: 3-3 | Last 30 minutes: 10-13 | Final Score: 13-16

After a tired, jet lagged side had a decent first 50 minutes, Ciaran Hearn scores in the 53rd minute for a surprising 10-6 lead, but a bench with 5 players with less than 3 caps cannot hold it.

 

 Georgia 2013 | First 50 minutes: 12-9 | Last 30 minutes: 3-10 | Final Score: 15-19

After an even ding dong affair in the first half, Georgia take control up front and Canada lose the territory battle in wet conditions which sees the match pretty much lost after conceding the try.

 

 Romania 2013 | First 50 minutes: 17-12 | Last 30 minutes: 3-9 | Final Score: 20-21

After a slow start Canada get some momentum with two tries early in the second half, and control most of the rest of the half only to blow a number of chances and lose in the last minute.

 

 Japan 2014 | First 50 minutes: 25-14 | Last 30 minutes: 0-20 | Final Score: 25-34

After building up a comfortable 16 point lead at half time, Canada concede 25 unanswered points in the second half and enter the record books for one of the biggest half time leads ever blown.