Rugby World Cup 2019 hosts Japan continued their impressive form with a 34-25 victory over Canada in the North American Conference of the IRB Pacific Nations Cup in Burnaby, BC on Saturday.

Canada looked dominant in the first half and bulled their way over for two tries to make it 18-9 just before halftime. Then right from a restart, Ciaran Hearn started a break that ended up with Taylor Paris curing around under the posts. That made it 25-9 for Canada at halftime, but the Brave Blossoms would score all of the points in the second half.

Wing Yoshikazu Fujita took the ball into the corner for the first Japan try - Canada had muffed the second-half kickoff and from the scrum the Blossoms just sliced through. That was the story thereafter as Canada's midfield defense was exposed twice more.

Meanwhile, Samoa and Tonga played out a compelling 18-18 draw in Apia in the opening Pacific Conference match in Apia on Saturday.

Tonga, who led through an early try, secured a draw in dramatic style at the death with a coolly struck penalty from replacement Fangatapu Apikotoa.

Japan 34
Tries: Fujita, Tamura, Tui
Convs: Goromaru 2
Pens: Goromaru 5

Canada 25
Tries: Hearn, Moonlight, Paris
Convs: Pritchard 2
Pens: Pritchard 2

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Samoa 18
Tries: Otto, Lemi
Convs: Pisi
Pens: Pisi 2

Tonga 18
Tries: Katoa, Afu
Convs: Fosita
Pens: Fosita, Apikotoa