Canada Fall to Georgia 38-17: Matt Oworu Puts in Solid Performance for Canada
Canada can take some solace from their never give up attitude but the match was over by 53′ when Georgia were up 31-3. Again the Canada backline didn’t have much to show, the forwards couldn’t consistently break the gain line and often went backwards. Canada had to resort to a kicking game which netted them some territory gains and kept Georgia in their own end. When Georgia decided to start running the ball back it caused some problems for the Canadian defence. The Georgia winger, #14 Shalva Aptsiauri, scored 3 tries and set up a fourth with an offload at the goal line. Canada’s scrum was under pressure during the match and gave up some crucial penalties.
Matt Oworu was Canada’s best player, his line break, one of Canada’s few, set up the first try and his tap back on the lineout set up Canada’s second try. Plus he put in two enormous hits.
It will be Portugal next, with Canada’s backline not clicking will the coach use some of the players who haven’t seen game time yet? There are 4 forwards and 5 backs who haven’t seen game time, including Cooper Coats, who was the starting #10 in the win against USA.
Match Notes
0-10 minutes
Canada started the game off well with multiple phases and won a lineout inside the Georgia 22, an errant throw by the hooker negated the advantage. Worth noting that Georgia contested the lineout so the crooked throw was called. In the subsequent scrum Canada were destroyed, not slightly pushed back, but full rate of knots going back. This might be a problem.
Georgia get their first possession and win a lineout outside Canada’s 22, Canada doesn’t contest, ball is not straight, and play continues. It’s the little details that make a difference, the coach’s philosophy or player inaccuracy? A few phases later the Georgia winger gets the ball 40 metres out, beats the scrum half for speed, breaks through the attempted tackles by the fly half and the wing, cuts inside the fullback, scores close to the posts. It was poor defence by Canada, a try that shouldn’t happen at this level, not if Canada want to be competitive in these matches. An easy conversion missed, 5-0.
10-20 minutes
Canada get pushed off their own scrum but get scrappy and win the ball back on the ensuing maul. Nic Benn wins an aerial battle but Canada lose the ball on the ensuing ruck. Canada not reaching the gain line on their runs so resort to a kicking game which nets them some yards.
Canada content to play the territory game by using the boot, it keeps Georgia off the board but not providing many opportunities. Noah Flesch has a run but gets bundled into touch. Georgia again pushes Canada off their scrum but Canada win a penalty at the ensuing breakdown. Lucas Rumball winning the penalty.
20-30 minutes
Canada start the second quarter with a lineout at the Georgia 22. Georgia get called for playing the #9 at the ruck, in front of the posts, Peter Nelson slots it, 5-3.
This time Georgia win the aerial battle and it sets up a quick chip to the wing which Nic Benn has to take into touch. Georgia lineout from 5 metres out, Canada defend the maul, and the subsequent pick and go but the ball goes wide and the other winger notches a try, a much more difficult conversion but it’s made, 12-3.
30-40 minutes
Georgia start with a lineout on the Canada 22, a marginal penalty against Spencer Jones chasing a loose ball in the Georgia backline. It comes to nothing and now through back and forth kicking Canada have a lineout at the Georgia 22.
Canada have a good spell of possession at the Georgia 22 with multiple phases but they’re not able to dent the defence. Georgia picks up a yellow card for knocking down a pass, Canada go for the lineout in the corner instead of the easy 3 points. They lose the lineout and the ball gets cleared to centre, Canada try to run the ball from there but lose 20 metres. They finally kick the ball back to Georgia.
This time Georgia decide to run back the clearing kick despite being down a man, they find a back v forward match up and slice through the defence, offload to the winger, and it’s another long range try. The second try for #14 Shalva Aptsiauri. 17-3, and that ends the half.
40-50 minutes
Brock Gallagher is in for Jason Higgins who picked up an injury at the end of the first half. Canada win a penalty, Gallagher tries a quick tap but knocks the ball on. Georgia win a penalty on the subsequent scrum and kick to the 5 metres. Canada defends the maul, ball goes wide and again, #14 Shalva Aptsiauri is there to finish with a hat trick, 24-7.
Canada make subs, the reserve props come on, Sam Miller and Matt Tierney. Canada’s maul goes forward with the fresh legs and wins a penalty. Canada get a 5 metre lineout but the maul is held up and Georgia scrum.
50-60 minutes
Georgia don’t win a penalty at the scrum, so an improvement with the new props on. Izzak Kelly comes on for Barnaby Waddell. Canada get the ball out wide but Josiah Morra gets taken into touch.
Sion Parry comes on and it looks like Piers Von Dadelszen coming off. Georgia get the ball wide and again #14 Shalva Aptsiauri crosses the line but offloads it to a teammate so doesn’t get his fourth try. It’s 31-3 at 53′ and it’s basically game over at this point and Georgia make more subs.
Nic Benn gets Canada’s first line break, works a back and forth with Sion Parry and takes it to the Georgia goal line, Brock Gallagher picks the ball up from the ruck and dives over the line, 31-10.
60-70 minutes
Canada keeping possession and win a penalty and kick for the corner. The maul stalls and when it goes wide it gets turned over and Georgia hoofs the ball down field, win a penalty, Sion Parry picks up a yellow, Georgia kicks to the corner and mauls it in, 38-10.
Austin Creighton comes on as hooker.
70-80 minutes
Matt Oworu with Canada’s second line break and with support from Gallagher gets the ball to the Georgia goal line, Izzak Kelly gets held up over the line but Georgia pick up a yellow. On the following play, Georgia pick up another yellow and are down to 13 players. A maul gets held up and Georgia get a scrum at their 5 metres. Georgia break out but knock the ball on at the Canada 22. Canada get pushed off their scrum and Georgia win a penalty but the penalty gets reversed with an off the ball scuffle.
Oworu gets kudos for the final try as Georgia overthrows the lineout inside their 5 metres, Oworu slaps the ball back to Sion Parry who crosses the line, 38-17 and that’s the final score.
Meehan Names Canada Squad for Georgia Clash: One Change to Match 23 with a 6/2 Bench
Coach Stephen Meehan has made one change to the match 23 from the Romania loss, he’s brought it an extra second row and dropped a wing, going from a 5/3 bench to a 6/2 bench. Coming into the roster is Callum Botchar as reserve second row and leaving is Jack Shaw as reserve wing. There’s some rotation from the bench with Emerson Prior starting at loosehead prop, Barnaby Waddell starting second row, Jason Higgins starting scrum half and Noah Flesch starting inside centre. Miller, Kelly, Gallagher, Tremblay rotate to the reserves.
There’s still no sign of the four players missing out on a meaningful Canadian University Championship, which makes the quote by coach Meehan sound a little tone deaf, “Player availability is always a challenge, with some based in France or managing university commitments, but it also gives others the chance to step up and grow.” Included in the tour, but yet to play, are UVic students Cooper Coats, Morgan di Nardo, Josh McIndoe and UBC student Takoda McMullin.
Georgia defeated USA last weekend 43-30 but it was a slim 26-24 match at half time with the USA leading 21-7 in the first quarter. The USA play Romania this weekend. These set of results will be used for comparison in Meehan’s progress with the team, especially since he’s brought in his own coaching staff and left Phil Mack off the coaching team.
CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM’S ROSTER VS GEORGIA
1.Emerson Prior (Brockville, ON) – Brockville Privateers / Westshore RFC / Utah Warriors (6 Caps)
2. Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Seattle Seawolves (11 Caps)
3. Cole Keith (Sussex, NB) – Belleisle Rovers RFC / New England Free Jacks (42 Caps)
4. Piers Von Dadelszen (Vancouver, BC) – New England Free Jacks (11 Caps)
5. Barnaby Waddell (Exeter, ENG) – Okehampton RFC / Bridgend Ravens (1 Cap)
6. Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds (18 Caps)
7. Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds (63 Caps)
8. Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride / Chicago Hounds (15 Caps)
9. Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Cork Constitution / Chicago Hounds (26 Caps)
10. Robbie Povey (Calgary, AB) – Rotherham Titans / Utah Warriors (18 Caps)
11. Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Utah Warriors (11 Caps)
12. Noah Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds (9 Caps)
13. Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) – Hamilton Old Boys / Utah Warriors (12 Caps)
14. Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) – New England Free Jacks / Toronto Saracens (12 Caps)
15. Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC (33 Caps)
FINISHERS
16. Austin Creighton (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / James Bay AA (2 Caps)
17. Sam Miller (Mount Denson, NS) – Valley Rugby Union / Southern Districts (2 Caps)
18. Matt Tierney (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders (28 Caps)
19. Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Capilano RFC (11 Caps)
20. Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) – James Bay AA / NOLA Gold (8 Caps)
21. Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC (14 Caps)
22. Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Seattle Seawolves (10 Caps)
23. Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Westshore RFC (2 Caps)
from Rugby Canada
Head Coach Stephen Meehan has named the match day roster for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team ahead of this Saturday’s match against 11th ranked Georgia.
Georgia will host Canada at Adjarabet Arena, in Batumi on Saturday, November 15 at 4:00 a.m. PT / 7:00 a.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. local time. The match will be broadcasted live on TSN+. The two nations last met twice in 2017, with Georgia coming out on top on both occasions. Canada last defeated the Georgians 16-15 in a 2015 Rugby World Cup warm-up match.
Emerson Prior who debuted against Spain in Edmonton this July will earn his first international start.
Canada’s most recent debutant – Barnaby Waddell, who earned his first cap against Romania last weekend will also start against Georgia at lock. Waddell came off the bench in the 64th minute and scored his first international try in the last play of the game.
This match marks Canada’s second of three Autumn Tests. The team faced Romania on November 8 in Bucharest, where they were defeated 31-21. These matches will bring Canada’s 2025 total to nine test appearances, offering players valuable experience as the program continues to build toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Noah Flesch returns to the starting lineup at inside centre; Jason Higgins will start at scrum half with Callum Botchar earning his place in the match day 23 in the number 20 jersey.
“We know that Georgia will be a formidable side this weekend. Heading into this second week of autumn tests they’ll have found their rhythm, and as the 11th-ranked team in the world, they’ve consistently proven themselves against top opposition. It’s a great challenge for us and one we’re looking forward to,” said Head Coach Stephen Meehan.
“There were encouraging signs in our performance last weekend—some strong defensive moments and attacking sequences that showed the direction this team is heading. We’re learning how to recognize and capitalize on opportunities, and you can feel the group starting to connect and believe in our approach.”
“Player availability is always a challenge, with some based in France or managing university commitments, but it also gives others the chance to step up and grow. The positive is that we’re building depth, confidence, and healthy competition for places. I believe we’re heading in the right direction.”

“tries a quick tap but knocks the ball on.” How is this even possible? We rip on Rugby Canada and BC Rugby every chance we get but why do the actual players skate by without any comment? Brock Gallagher is not a national level player if he is knocking a ball on in a quick tap penalty. What a shameful and sad sentence to even write. I have to give a shout out to Kotze, who looked like John Candy chasing the Georgian winger on his final try. What are you doing out there? The players have been given a lot of leeway, coaching, and despite it not being enough, there has been investment. Why are they still so blatantly brutal at the basics? How is every ten in Canada not taking it as a personal affront that a guy playing in the All-Ireland second division is sometimes our best option at flyhalf? It’s like several of these longtime international players have no concept of what it takes to compete. Some may say it is on the coach, but at some point, we as a country, need to take an honest look at these guys and say: thanks but no thanks.
Zug You talk a big game for someone who clearly doesn’t understand it. Knock-ons happen in Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand this weekend alone had plenty. If that’s your benchmark for national-level play, you’ve just disqualified half the world’s elite. Dewald’s throwing stats and tackle rate are among the best in the series, and Brock’s scored more tries than anyone else. But sure, let’s ignore actual performance and go with your John Candy fantasy. You’re not offering critique you’re just a keyboard warrior with zero accountability and even less rugby insight.
That’s all good and great, but Gallagher has spaghetti hands, and can’t dig a ball out of a scrum going backwards. If asking better of our national players (who our overpriced dues support) is seen as being a keyboard warrior, then call me doctor keyboard. Neither of these guys moves the needle, we won one game this year, and it was because someone got in Ardron’s ear about coming out for a run. These guys aren’t good, defend them all you want. I can go through the rest of the team if you’d like me to leave your handsome boys alone? Also knockons happen in Scotland, Ireland and New Zealand, yet they manage to win games. Canada cannot afford for Div 3 Saturday morning rugby plays to continue unabated. But as you were, defending a team that is lower ranked than a country that doesn’t exist, and soon to be pipped by a country that released a trillion-dollar bill, not so long ago. Good company to keep!
“Spaghetti hands”? That’s cute. Let’s talk about what actually happened in the Georgia match. Kotze’s performance was steady and technically sound especially in the first half when Canada was applying pressure and controlling territory. Canada had 208 passes and 25 kicks in play, showing they were actively trying to shift field position and create space Povey’s skill set fits well in that tactical phase.
Canada lost 38–17 to the 11th-ranked team in the world. Not ideal, but let’s not rewrite the game to fit a narrative. Gallagher literally dug the ball out of a wreck and scored in the 55th minute under pressure, against one of the most physical packs in Tier 2 rugby. The kicking was perfect: 3-for-3 off the tee. Canada had 126 carries to Georgia’s 83. Ruck success was 96%. We gained 376 metres, beat 21 defenders, and matched Georgia in offloads. The set piece held up until late fatigue, and the breakdown came in the second half when Georgia’s depth took over. This wasn’t Div 3 Saturday morning rugby. It was a hard-fought test match, and Canada held their own for long stretches. The team applied pressure, created clean breaks, and showed structure under Meehan’s leadership.
Matt Oworu – Carried with intent all game. Broke the gain line repeatedly and was a constant threat off the base. One of the few forwards who matched Georgia’s physicality.
Dewald Kotze – Clean lineout throws, strong scrummaging, and physical at the breakdown. Set the tone early before being subbed.
Brock Gallagher – Came off the bench and scored by digging the ball out of a wreck. Injected pace and urgency when Canada needed it most.
Peter Nelson – 3-for-3 off the tee. Managed territory well and stayed composed under pressure. Quietly effective.
Lucas Rumball – Led the team in tackles. Disrupted Georgia’s rucks and slowed their ball in the first half. Classic workhorse performance.
Spencer Jones – Strong in contact and organized the midfield defense. Made key tackles and kept Georgia’s centers honest.
Cole Keith – Anchored the scrum early and held his own against a brutal Georgian front row. Physical in tight.
Nic Benn – Made metres on the wing and beat defenders in open space. One of the few backs to consistently challenge the line.
Emerson Prior – Young prop who stood up well in the first half. Showed grit and composure in a tough assignment.
Sion Parry – Came on late and brought energy to the breakdown. Made key tackles and helped Canada finish with structure.
Beyond that match, there’s real progress. A 59-player extended squad was named this year, drawing from MLR, Europe, and Coast to Coast Cup teams. Young players are stepping up. Rugby Canada has expanded its development pathways, and the team is confirmed for the World Rugby Nations Cup in 2026 bringing consistent Tier 2 competition and a real path to World Cup qualification.So if you’re going to critique, bring stats. If you’re just here to vent behind a fake name, don’t dress it up as rugby insight. It’s pretty clear who’s actually watching the game and who’s just watching the comments and referencing 3RD division rugby is actually factual of your knowledge of the game, as It’s apparent you never actually “played” the game! Huddy Huddy?!
Monique, I can understand the excuses (everybody has them!) but your weird fixation with replacement level players is concerning.
The team is terrible and has been terrible for nearly a decade. Despite the praise you’ve lumped on them individually, it has amounted to literally nothing. But just in case you’re an eternal optimist, let’s review just what a year it has been! In the last 12 months, we have learned during Canada’s impossibly sad run of form (1W-9L) that…
1. They cannot close out tight games against teams who they should beat, regardless of the rankings (Belgium, Spain)
2. They got lucky that their opponents just decided not to keeping running around our outside backs/pasta strainers in the Pacific Nations Cup, and that Ardron and Olmstead remembered their passports. (USA)
3. They cannot stem the bleeding, with-stand consistent pressure or grind it out against Tier 2 teams (Fiji, Japan, Georgia). If a team scores two or three early, the game is OVER. Several of those opening tries in those games were what the tennis community would call an ACE. As in, the opposing blokes walked in nearly untouched.
4. They cannot overcome dumb penalties completely insane yellow cards that would get an athlete from any other Canadian national team banished to Siberia (Spain, Tonga, Belgium, Romania 1, Chile).
5. They cannot compete when they continually botch set pieces (Romania 1, Tonga, Chile, hell this is an every game occurence)
6. They have little to no plan on offence (box kicks into touch, knock-ons in space, inability to control the ball in the tackle) that result in any sustained pressure, or build up. They’ll once in a while pull off some sort of training ground move that gets the crowd excited, and ends in a knock on by someone not expecting the ball, or a runner being easily pushed out of bounds.
7. That if they are missing even a handful of competent players, that they may as well be the Washington Generals out there, with the world’s other rugby playing countries spinning the ball on their finger like a top.
If you aren’t fed up that:
1. Several of our “starting calibre” national team players look like they are mini rugby players who accidentally put on daddy’s jersey.
2. Basic skills like catching, passing, tackling, kicking from hand, or even just looking up and thinking, hmmm where is the space? seem to elude them at the worst possible moments, continuously.
3. The new coach is being praised for winning one game, despite botching the rest of them, so his response is to bring in a bunch of guys who’s connection to Canada exists only in family photo albums, and are playing in amateur, weekend warrior leagues in various rugby outpost, instead of a centralized or regional Canadian network, so they can be integrated into how rugby “works” in this country.
4. They still look terrible, just in a different way now. Instead of how things looked when Anscombe and Kingsley were in charge (also terrible). That Chile, a team that for years existed in our minds the way an ECHL team exists in the mind of Connor McDavid, is, under the current setup, unlikely to ever lose to us again.
5. That the national union is in such disarray, that calls, e-mails and requests from membership were often left unanswered for months on end. Leaving many dissatisfied members wondering: Who is in charge at the moment?
6. That they’ve hoovered up every last dollar they can from memberships to pay for fly-by-night Italian-by-way-of-Americans to do…well nothing from what I can gather
…then you’ve either had a serious knock on the field, or you’re being a willfuly obtuse cheerleader. One is understandable, the other is just sad.
If they put out any of the lineups they’ve recently submitted (besides the US game) a Tier 1 team is likely to reach triple digits against us. I suspect with a full boat, Japan, Fiji and even Uruguay would put 60+ on us without breaking a sweat. We have already lost one player to a Tier 1 nation, which is understandable. But what will we do or say if, hypothetically, someone like Oworu sees the dysfunction, stays out of the national set-up for a few years and re-declares for Zimbabwe. This would be unfathomable, yet, it is something I wouldn’t be surprised about, even in the least.
You/We/Us should demand better, and remember players aren’t immune to criticism. Hell our wallets and eyeballs are paying for this. The “Rugby Canada Boys” have skated by for years in this country, because everyone knows everyone. But the time has come for RC members and supporters to demand actual, tangible, change.
Choice is yours, keep applauding mediocrity, or maybe develop an eye for talent…
Not surprised with the result. The level of play in Georgian leagues is higher than that of leagues in Canada.
ZUG…you’ve posted twice now and both times you’ve been wrong and literally referencing Rugby from the 80s!
First you said Gallagher can’t dig a ball out of a scrum going backwards that’s not even his job under World Rugby law when a scrum is under pressure the ball must be made available by the back row usually the 8 or flanker not the 9 the 9 can’t even touch the ball until it’s out so if you’re going to critique skills maybe learn what the skills are!!
Second you’re on another thread complaining about imports in university rugby there is no import rule in U SPORTS rugby, never has been maybe other schools have better recruitment better programming or better development pathways but there’s no rule being broken just because BC didn’t win?!?
Now let’s talk about the Canada vs Georgia game since you clearly didn’t watch it!
Facts from the game that any intelligent rugby “Fan” can understand when watching the game and seeing the phases of structure and trying to implement plays in the zones of the game and bringing in set pieces to the game! ( you can definitely tell that Stephen is implementing a lot of set play around all areas of the game)
Canada scored 2 tries against a top 15 team in the world
Gallagher scored one of them
Parry scored the other
Peter Nelson went 2 for 2 on conversions and hit a penalty
Canada had 126 carries to Georgia’s 83
Canada made 208 passes to Georgia’s 100
Canada had 8 offloads same as Georgia
Canada beat 21 defenders
Canada had 4 clean breaks
Canada had 103 rucks won with a 96 percent success rate
Canada had more kick metres than Georgia
Canada had fewer turnovers conceded
Canada had more possession retained
Canada had fewer rucks lost
Canada had more mauls won
Canada had a perfect 100 percent kicking success rate
Canada held Georgia to 17 points in the first half and stayed in the fight until the final whistle
You say these guys don’t move the needle but they’re competing against fully funded tier 2 nations with centralized systems and pro leagues while you’re sitting behind a fake name posting negativity on a BC Rugby News article with 100 readers!
You’re not raising standards you’re just bitter and loud
You don’t know the laws
You don’t know the structure
You don’t know the players
And you clearly don’t know what progress looks like
People like you are the problem with Rugby Canada not the players
I am not usually an “eye test over analytics” kinda guy, but trumpeting about how many offloads we made is a really interesting choice. I would maybe go back to your stats and wonder why Canada had the ball for so long and did nothing with it?
The participation ribbon of you crowing about us scoring two tries against Georgia is the kind of thing you’d tell your U14 team to “keep their heads up” about after a serious beating. At no point were they in the game, but the final try by Canada was the last play of the game, so I guess that is something to hang your hat on! That never say die attitude!
You’re right, outside of a few interactions on field, I don’t know many of the current players personally on the national team. But there is your problem…you obviously do, and it clouds your judgement to the point that you’re excited about being beaten by a country who’s meager economy is propped up by a few Russian Oligarchs, and has a worse GDP than New Brunswick. They also have about a quarter the amount of our registered players. This happened gradually over 20 years, but here we are just the same.
You and other sycophants love repeating this lie: “but they’re competing against fully funded tier 2 nations with centralized systems.” You think Belgium, Spain, Romania, Tonga, Namibia, Portugal (all teams Canada has lost to recently) are better funded than Canada? I would also bet Chile and Uruguay gets by with less government and public support. This is a losers mentality, and while I may be bitter and loud, I prefer this to being like you: lapping up whatever talking point/excuse that RC prints in their hilarious game recaps.
We also do have a centralized system, it is called the Pacific Pride, and also our carded athletes who train and live in Victoria. The pro leagues in those countries I have mentioned above are either non-existent, or are “professional clubs” the same way my dog can claim to be a professional napper.
And your last bit about not knowing what progress looks like: it looks like not being barely ranked above the Netherlands in World Rugby. With all of that being said, I would be utterly mortified if someone I knew allowed me to post online, in defence of my heroes, that “they had a 100% rate on 3 kicks!” for the world to see. Shameful.
But yes, it is me, Zug Zuig, who is the real problem with Rugby Canada. Good detective skills! Keep up the great work!
There is no debate, that SMNT is comprised of the best available Canadian Rugby players. I applaud the effort and sacrifice put forth by the SNMT, they put it all out there. They are not the reason why Canada is ranked where it is in the world or why they lost to Georgia. The SNMT represents the standard of play in Canada. World Rugby rankings are a reflection of the standard of play in a given country.
Standard of play is determined by the domestic competitions within a country. To improve Canada’s world ranking to any significant degree requires significant improvement in the standard of play in local competitions. Most debates around the SMNT seem to revolve around national team coaching, and player selections, which will only produce nominal changes in performance of the SNMT on the world stage. The debate needs to be around improving the domestic competitions to raise the standard of play and how to do that?
Well Richard, the self proclaimed “best league in Canada” just decreed that they want to prevent having the best players currently residing in Canada playing in their league. This isn’t the reason Canada chokes time and time again, but it is an echo of two decades worth of missteps by the powers that be in this country. So of course, it is not all on the players, in fact it is mostly NOT on the players. But the things they can control are 100% on them. And the things they can control are how well they perform in a pressurized setting.
And despite your proclamations to the contrary, the team they iced last weekend was nowhere near the best Canadian players (half the team is Canadian only because World Rugby says they are). A quick stroll around various clubs in both this Province and throughout the country would show you otherwise, but it is easier to just point the finger at some boogie man in Toronto or Langford, when the pyramid is rotten from tip to tail.
If that is distressing for everyone to read, then I suggest heading over to reddit to watch some cat videos.
ZZ: You’re angry. I get it. But mocking effort and dismissing stats doesn’t build anything. I don’t know the players personally, but some of them play for my home club on the mainland. I’ve watched them, tracked their progress, and seen what they’re trying to build. You don’t have to like Rugby Canada’s messaging, but don’t belittle the athletes who show up, bleed for the jersey, and keep pushing. That final try mattered. To them, to us, and to the future.
You’re right,Canada’s ranking is a concern. But pretending there’s been no progress is just lazy. Against Georgia, we scored two tries. We had 11 offloads to their 3. We held 55 percent possession and 58 percent territory. That’s not a participation ribbon. That’s a team trying to play with ambition against a Tier 2 side that’s been building for decades.
Pacific Pride is a development program at BEST. It’s not a centralized system like Portugal’s, where their national team trains together year-round. And Georgia’s success isn’t about GDP. It’s about long-term investment in coaching, domestic pathways, and a clear identity. You can’t sneer your way past that.
And let’s be honest some of these athletes won’t make the final World Cup squad. That’s what happens when you’re recruiting and building toward excellence. But the idea that you can diagnose player errors and positional flaws from your couch is laughable. You’ve never coached a game in your life. If you had, you’d see what’s actually happening.
Over the last two matches, the attacking lines have shown real intent. There are layered plays being executed, and while not every one has landed, the structure is there. These athletes have made massive gains. A year ago under Kingsley, it was chaos players running around with no cohesion. Now we’re watching a squad trying to build something.
And when you’re rotating players, dealing with retirements, injuries, and overseas commitments, it’s hard to find that gel. But if you understand the game, especially from a coaching lens, you’d see the defensive systems tightening, the attacking shape evolving, and the strategies being implemented especially by the defence coach in the last two games.
You can call me a sycophant. I’ll take that over being so bitter I can’t recognize growth when it’s right in front of me. You want better rugby in Canada. So do I. But I’m not here to tear down athletes who are doing the work. I’m here to demand more from the system that’s supposed to support them. That’s the difference.
“I don’t the players personally, but they play for my club” Sticking up for your mates, nice work! It is OK to admit you love your lads!
“Mocking effort and dismissing stats doesn’t build anything” Only one stat matters: 1W-9L in 12 months, 3W-13L in 36 months. None of the stats you listed were worth a pot of peepee, and the story they told were a team that still loses more set pieces than they should, and had a lot of ball and did nothing with it. Georgia ran up the score early, and then just defended. Canada had no answer. I love that you’re a math person, but you don’t need a calculator to see these were nothing more than moral “victories”.
“Don’t belittle the athletes who show up, bleed for the jersey, and keep pushing.” You’re right, I was a bit harsh. How about Gallagher’s hands were displaying the characteristics of spaghetti. Is that better? Or our front row (including your lil shoutouts Prior and Keith), went backwards more than they went forwards in the scrum, were just trying their gol dang best? I should mention, I thought the biggest difference in our tight five, was that our boys look like long haul truckers waiting in line at a Burger King, while theirs looked like scary Greco-Roman wrestlers. I know they’re paying some of the carded/pac pride kids in Sobey’s giftcards, but come on!
“That final try mattered. To them, to us, and to the future.” This might be the saddest part. When you “support the boys at all costs” method you’ll never pull out of the tailspin. It only, truly seems to matter on Instagram, Facebook and the RC website, where they spin, spin, spin, and grasp, grasp, grasp. Their media relations staff must get dizzy.
“You’re right, Canada’s ranking is a concern. But pretending there’s been no progress is just lazy.” You like stats? Check out Canada’s ranking graph over the past decade. Looks like Black Tuesday! It has not gotten better, despite your claims to the contrary. We are ranked behind a country who ruse turf fields ontop of parking garages to play on (Hong Kong), and are barely ahead of Zimbabwe, the Netherlands (!!!) and Namibia (who beat us last time out). This is impossible to comprehend, when we think about how many registered players, refs, coaches and administrators we have in this country. If we don’t have a Canadian scrumhalf who can pick up the ball without dropping it, then all is lost. But there is no progress, and we keep trotting out essentially the same set of players, with some cosmetic changes. What about Stephen Webb? He played literally 25 seconds in the USA game, and then…? They continually bring along potential Canadian skill position players, and glue them to the bench, in favour of the latest “23 and Me” import. This was an Anscombe problem, this was a Jones problem, and it doesn’t look to be changing under Meehan.
“Against Georgia, we scored two tries. We had 11 offloads to their 3. We held 55 percent possession and 58 percent territory. That’s not a participation ribbon. That’s a team trying to play with ambition against a Tier 2 side that’s been building for decades.” No, it is a good team pumping us full of holes, then easily parrying our aimless and ineffectual blows, until the final play of the game.
“Pacific Pride is a development program at BEST. It’s not a centralized system like Portugal’s, where their national team trains together year-round.” You’re goo-goo for your guys, but a lot of them came through this very program, which is being wildly misrepresented by you. Dismissing a tool that has found actual good players like Oworu, seems to be on brand for someone flailing around in a dark room.
“And Georgia’s success isn’t about GDP. It’s about long-term investment in coaching, domestic pathways, and a clear identity. You can’t sneer your way past that.” No you’re right, they’re doing way way more, with way way less. Their players don’t seem to trod off to Europe, never to be heard from again, like ours do. When someone shows they cannot play at this level, in Georgia, it is the next man up. The dropped player takes the hint that they need to get better, and works towards that goal. A lot of players make cameo appearances in the MLR, and when the spirit moves them, the BC Premier League. I would wager several of the players in the extended pool are playing less than ten meaningful matches a year. How is this possible? Are they sitting out because the coach tells them to? Do they think domestic leagues are beneath them? I sure hope not. Are they back in the old country, on walkabout, and playing an occasional Saturday morning fixture? Sounds plausible.
Change is good, when it is in service of a greater goal. Subbing in one ineffectual player for another isn’t meaningful change, it’s just window dressing. Rumball for instance (not trash, actually looked really good against the USA when he was the third or fourth option in the forwards) has been the captain for the majority of those 13 losses. Has it not occured to the powers-that-be, that they could try someone else in a leadership role, and see what happens? Where’s the harm in that? When our pack is on roller skates, might it be worth a shot to shuffle the deck, once in a while? Did Bryce Worden piss off Nathan Bombrys at a cocktail party? There are times where the only person who looks engaged and what’s to drag players into the fight is I am certain Georgia would make those changes, and again, they are a poor, former Soviet, central Asian country, where most of their economy is propped up by US aid, and who’s sporting infrastructure is not remotely comparable to Canada’s.
“And let’s be honest some of these athletes won’t make the final World Cup squad.” Thank God!
“That’s what happens when you’re recruiting and building toward excellence.” I weep for the future. What in god’s name is wrong with you? Excellence? ’91 was three decades ago, there hasn’t been anything remotely excellent since we beat Georgia ten years ago!
“But the idea that you can diagnose player errors and positional flaws from your couch is laughable. You’ve never coached a game in your life. If you had, you’d see what’s actually happening.” I am not going to post my resume for you, but wrong again. But even if I had never coached, played, administered or refereed, it is my right to demand better. In fact, it is my duty to demand better. You don’t need to be Clive Woodward to see that what’s happening here.
“Over the last two matches, the attacking lines have shown real intent. There are layered plays being executed, and while not every one has landed, the structure is there. These athletes have made massive gains.” No…they haven’t. Wishful thinking and wilfull blindness.
“A year ago under Kingsley, it was chaos players running around with no cohesion. Now we’re watching a squad trying to build something.” I’d like to know what you think they’re building? Simple math: They beat Romania under Kingsley, and yes, he is ding dong and should’ve been fired years earlier, but they have struggled against Romania since under Meehan. What exactly are they building? It seems to me that the outlier was the USA game, and things are same as they ever were…
“And when you’re rotating players, dealing with retirements, injuries, and overseas commitments, it’s hard to find that gel.” Every team around the globe deals with this. This is not a uniquely Canadian problem. Do you not understand that?
“But if you understand the game, especially from a coaching lens, you’d see the defensive systems tightening, the attacking shape evolving, and the strategies being implemented especially by the defence coach in the last two games.” I will reverse it on you then “Monique”. How could you possibly be a rugby coach, watch the last two games, and think everything is right as rain? Maybe dust off your coaching lenses once in a while pal, cause you’re missing the action.
“You can call me a sycophant.” You are. I did.
“I’ll take that over being so bitter I can’t recognize growth when it’s right in front of me. You want better rugby in Canada.” Should’ve stopped there. You won’t get better rugby in Canada by carrying water for some of these replacement level guys. I get it, you have a personal, vested interest in “guys from your club” keeping their spots on the national squad, but miss me with this rah-rah rhetoric, its getting weird.
We are bad, very very bad! Not one of these players would even Make a top flight team in any European league. Cdn league is junk as is the US one. People need to start being realistic. We aren’t good! Our players aren’t good! We have fallen from the 90’s and 2000’s. We have no men, we continue to hire foreign coaches (who don’t understand the landscape) and we are led by the likes of Rees and others who should have been fired a long time ago. Its embarrassing seeing these new players walk around in jeans and jean jackets as there #1’s! are we in high school? Rugby Canada has lost its way! Its tiring hearing people constantly say they did there best, making excuses about not having money etc…. Truth is we just don’t have any good players anymore.
But monique says they’re close to excellence? I mean 24th in the world isn’t bad if you’re happy with mediocrity!!! Never be satisfied!!!
ZZ: Oh my God—do you seriously not know how to write?
You contradict yourself constantly. You start by making one point, then reframe it with different wording that directly undermines your original statement. It’s like watching someone argue with their own sentences. The punctuation alone is a crime scene commas everywhere, quotation marks tossed around like confetti. I’ve seen more coherent writing in a teenager’s group chat.
So let’s be honest: either you’re a disgruntled parent whose kid got cut and you’re venting without logic, or you’re a player who didn’t make the team and hasn’t quite figured out how to express frustration like an adult. Because no one gets this irrational and this immature over a national rugby program unless they’ve taken it personally.
Anyway, I genuinely hope you have a great day. You clearly spend way too much time being angry online instead of finding anything positive. If your life is that miserable and you need to release some tension, there’s always Tinder.
“Monique”
Facts don’t care about your feelings! You couldn’t hide the fact that you know they’re bad, and thus by association, you are bad. Your stats were meaningless, your grasp of the game seems low, and despite all your claims of the warm fuzzy feelings of “building towards something”, it seems you’re incredibly invested in defending your brave little lads. Hopefully they see this and it helps them not be so terribly shocking at their chosen profession. If they do in fact win this weekend, it will be “Monique” who did it! Never give up! Never surrender!
I genuinely hope you have a terrible day. I’m not sure why you responded to me in the first place, but seems very on-brand for you to subject other people to your exuberant nonsense. Next time, pet your support animal, and log off!
Well, it’s Friday I like to read what’s happening on Saturday and the game predictions, but I have to say Zug Zuig you have been the keyboard warrior.You’re one angry person. Either someone close to you didn’t get selected for a Canada team or you yourself put your name in the coaching hat somewhere and did not get selected. I think I read somewhere on one of your rants about saying oh you dont want to see my coaching resume. I definitely had a good laugh at the two comments you made on players one was knocking on the ball and a player chasing someone after they made a break well I have to say if you are any kind of coach that’s the last two things I would be criticizing. Now you have a great weekend GO CANADA GO