'Only full England team can match us'

Less than two years ago, the full England side could beat Canada only 36-11 at Twickenham and this game promised to be a fierce examination of new England's character.

That test looked even stiffer when vice-captain and pack leader Martin Corry pulled out of the game on Friday after the Lions came calling for replacements.

Yet from the moment Simon Shaw drove over the Canadian line less than two minutes into the game, there was never the slightest doubt England would win and win well.

Shaw helped himself to a second try later and there were also two for David Walder, who finished with 29 points. The Newcastle stand off had struggled on his international debut the previous weekend when Canada were beaten 22-10 in Toronto.

Again here, some of his tactical kicking and decision-making was poor but he made amends with two breathtaking tries in the space of a minute in the second half. His pace and attacking instincts are what Woodward is keen to develop.

Walder said: 'I let myself down last week because I knew I could have done much better. I was more relaxed this time and did a few things differently. I felt more confident in possession and my defence was better, even if my kicking was still pretty awful.'

Elsewhere, Josh Lewsey was outstanding at full back, safe under the high ball and always quick to counter-attack. There was also one cracking, all-embracing tackle on Winston Stanley.

Lewis Moody ran him close for England's man of the match. The flanker's contest with the fiery Dan Baugh was lively to say the least.

Baugh spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin with England prop Julian White just before half-time after Baugh lost his cool completely and soon afterwards Canada were down to 13 when scrum half Morgan Williams joined them for deliberately killing the ball.

The physical nature of the game took its toll on England. They lost Paul Sampson, the Wasps winger, just before half-time with what proved to be a broken leg, sustained in a tackle. He will remain with the tour for the final week and no replacement is being sought, although Gloucester lock Rob Fidler is flying out as cover for the loss of Corry and because Ben Kay took a bang on the knee.

Bracken lasted only 36 minutes before a shoulder injury forced him off but he reported no ill-effects.

Another measure of England's strength was the ease with which the replacements, Tim Stimpson and Martyn Wood, slotted in to carry on the good work.

Perhaps the defining moment of the afternoon, though, came in the dying minutes. Michael Stephenson, the none-too-stocky Newcastle wing, had just been flattened by Canadian prop Rod Snow. Soon after regaining his feet, he found the rampaging Snow heading straight for him again but this time it was the Canadian who hit the floor, after a thumping Stephenson tackle. 'I wanted to go over and give him a kiss for that, ' said Woodward.

There is no danger of complacency setting in on the final week of the tour. If there were any thoughts of taking the amateurs of America lightly, a powerful incentive is lurking to keep thoughts pure. One more victory and England will beat a 115-year-old record by winning 11 games on the trot.