Canada dug in for a remarkable 25-20 victory over Tonga at the Northland Events Centre today, their win owing as much to a late try to wing Phil MacKenzie as their belief in their game plan.
MacKenzie dived over in the dying minutes for Canada when it seemed the game was slipping away from them.
Tonga had all the momentum, leading 20-13 with a quarter of the game to go, until tries to No8 Aaron Carpenter and Mackenzie turned the contest on its head.
A streaker with six minutes left lightened the mood at the sold out stadium but the last minutes were tense as both teams threw everything into the contest.
The vocal crowd made the most of the occasion, the majority dressing in red in support of either team, and they got their money's worth.
It was a tough test for the Tongans to front up at the more modest environs of Whangarei after the highs of the opening night at Eden Park.
Canada had the advantage of watching that victory by the All Blacks and lay in wait, fresh and willing to take the Tongans on in their first game of the tournament.
With the Japan and France in Pool A, Tonga's chances of a victory are fading fast.
Canada made a good start, going out to a 10-0 lead before Tonga fought back at the end of the first half with a converted try.
Playing with the wind, Canada made their intentions clear when winning their first possession - a lineout and driving Tonga back with a concerted shove.
Their methods may have been a little more pragmatic than Tonga's - keeping it tight then hoisting it high - but they were no less effective.
They forced Tonga into mistakes in their own half and applied the pressure.
Canada scored after 15 minutes through lock Jebb Sinclair following good work by flanker Chauncey O'Toole and first-five Ander Monro. Sinclair was the beneficiary following a final thrust by second-five Ryan Smith.
Fullback James Pritchard excellently converted from the sideline.
The Tongans were becoming frustrated and the harder they tried the more mistakes they made.
A penalty for offside was gladly taken by Canada and the margin was out to 10 points after 26 minutes.
First-five Taniela Moa, the sometime halfback, sported an elaborate hairstyle and colour which made him hard to miss, especially when he made an error like misjudging a high kick.
The man outside him, Alipate Fatafehi, is a giant but couldn't make his bulk and power count like he wanted to.
The Canadians kept working away, sticking to their gameplan of keeping it tight and feeding off the errors.
Jason Marshall the tighthead prop, was having a strong game as well as Sinclair and his locking partner Jamie Cudmore.
Kurt Morath missed two penalties for Tonga and with three minutes to go in the half and another penalty for offside, the Tongans decided to go for broke and it paid off, with Siale Piutau breaking through.
Morath put Tonga level with a penalty, but Pritchard replied straight away to restore Canada's advantage.
Moa's inside ball put Piutau away for his second try and Tonga's weight of possession was beginning to take its toll.
Against the odds, No8 Aaron Carpenter scored for Canada with 15 minutes to go to set up an exciting finish.
They turned down a tough kick at goal with 10 minutes remaining, preferring to kick for touch, and it paid off as wing MacKenzie slipped through the defence.
Canada - Tries: Jebb Sinclair, Aaron Carpenter, Phil MacKenzie. Con: James Pritchard. Pens: Pritchard 2; Tonga - Tries: Siale Piutau 2. Cons: Kurt Morath 2. Pens: Morath 2. HT: Cananda 10-7