Wales ease past Canada with 68-12 win

Wales 68-12 Canada, Principality Stadium
Scorecard

Wales came up with a 10-try performance as they kick-started their summer series with a 68-12 win over Canada at Principality Stadium.

This was Wales' first game since they clinched the Six Nations earlier in the year and it also saw a return of 6,164 fans for the first time in 17 months.

Wales started the game with a major setback as Leigh Halfpenny suffered a serious knee injury in the opening minute and was forced off the field on what was his 100th international game and Canada seized the momentum when Cooper Coats sent a wide pass for Kainoa Lloyd to score in the fifth minute for the opening try.

However, the remainder of the first half was a total domination from Wayne Pivac's men with Tomos Williams diving from close range in the seventh minute and Callum Sheedy improved making it 7-5.

Skipper Jonathan Davies provided a perfect break for James Botham to score his first Test try in the 15th minute. Sheedy missed the conversion but ensured he added the extras in the next Wales' try that came in the 21st minute when Jonah Holmes, who switched to fullback went over making the scoreline 19-5.

With Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee and Will Rowlands scoring further tries in the remainder of the opening half and Sheedy getting all the three conversions right, the home side went into the break with a comfortable 40-5 lead.

Wales extended their momentum into the second half with Williams scoring his second before replacement Josh Turnbull went on to make his first international appearance in three years. Taine Basham making his debut also impressed as he scored back to back tries in the 57th and 62nd minutes making it 61-5.

Coats provided some consolation for Canada with a 69th minute try but Wales went on to get their 10th touchdown in the game in the added minutes with Jonah Holmes diving over as they completed a massive 68-12 win.

Wales will now lock horns with Argentina in a two-match series on 10th and 17th July.

Team line up:

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Jonah Holmes, Willis Halaholo, Jonathan Davies, Tom Rogers; Callum Sheedy, Tomos Williams; Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee, Dillon Lewis, Ben Carter, Will Rowlands, Ross Moriarty, James Botham, Aaron Wainwright.

Reserves: Ryan Elias, Gareth Thomas, Leon Brown, Josh Turnbull, Taine Basham, Kieran Hardy, Ben Thomas, Nick Tompkins.

Canada: Cooper Coats; Cole Davis, Ben Lesage, Quinn Ngawati, Kaiona Lloyd; Peter Nelson, Ross Braude; Djustive Sears-Duru, Andrew Quattrin, Jake Ilnicki, Conor Keys, Josh Larsen, Reegan O'Gorman, Lucas Rumball, Siaki Vikilani.

Reserves: Eric Howard, Cole Keith, Tyler Rowland, Donald Carson, Michael Smith, Lucas Albornoz, William Percillier, Robbie Povey.