Canada’s men’s team reversed an earlier loss to USA in the pool round to win the Bronze medal match 19-17. Argentina were the class of the tournament and went undefeated winning Gold. Chile were the surprising Silver medal winner as they defeated USA in the semi-finals. The USA men sent a development side that only had 2 players from their team that won the Olympic qualifier in August.
Finally some good news from Rugby Canada on the coaching front, Sean White has been confirmed as head coach through to Paris 2024. The only question is why only a year when Kingsley Jones was given two years and failed to meet objectives, qualifying for the World Cup. Sean White brought a team back from the brink of falling off the World 7s Series and therefore potentially saving the Vancouver 7s as a stop on the World 7s Series. He deserves this and more. I suppose using Rugby Canada logic, if Canada fail to qualify for Paris 2024 he’s guaranteed a 2 year extension after that.
As expected the women had an easy time of the North American Olympic qualifying as the USA had prequalified and weren’t at the tournament. Also as expected the men would have difficulty getting past USA. The men will have to win the repechage tournament in order to qualify.
It was a heroic effort by Canada on Day 2 as they dug deep and made a nation proud. They needed to put a large score on Tonga to ensure they would make the final on points differential and that’s exactly what they did with a +36 defeat of Tonga. Now they were in the final even if Uruguay defeated Kenya, which they did. It would put Kenya and Canada in the final and Kenya had won the pool round encounter. It was a tense match, tied 7-7 at the half, Canada kept their nerve and found the overlap with seconds left on the clock. Brock Webster had done well to move the ball down the pitch with a couple of line breaks, Phil Berna and Alex Russell had a 2 on 1 inside the Kenya 22 and Berna delivered the perfect pass for Russell to beat the cross cover. Webster put the ensuing kickoff deep and Canada were able jackal the ball for the win.
MEN
After 2 great games on Day 2, Canada couldn’t get it together on Day 3, looking completely disorganized in the first half against Argentina and going down 26-0 after 7 minutes. They were missing Matt Oworu and that may be a testament to how important he is to the team. In the second match against France they shook up the roster and gave many of the subs the start. At this point 3rd or 4th matters less than evaluating who can step up next weekend. Jack Carson and David Richard stood out as they went into the half down 7-5. Canada kept it close in the second half with a Brock Webster try, down 14-12, then it was all France.
Canada are going to the relegation tournament in London, they’re 25 points behind Uruguay for 11th so it’s mathematically impossible to catch them, even if Canada won the tournament and Uruguay finished last. So the Toulouse tournament serves two purposes, stay ahead of Japan who are 8 points behind Canada and in the automatic relegation position. If Japan made the Cup round and Canada didn’t there could be a danger of that happening. Japan are in a pool with Samoa, Australia and Ireland so that scenario is unlikely to happen. The second purpose in Toulouse is to get Canada ready to win the relegation tournament the following weekend that will include Tonga, Canada, likely Kenya, and either Uruguay or Spain.
Canada finished 14th in the tournament, losing the 13th place match to USA. Japan had a good tournament, gaining 5 series points, Canada picked up 2 points. Japan closed the gap on the automatic relegation position to 8 points. If Japan made the Cup round in Toulouse and Canada had one of their 1 point tournaments, they’ve had 2 so far this year, Japan could make the relegation tournament and send Canada to automatic relegation. Based on tournament results so far it’s unlikely, Japan are in a pool with Samoa, Australia and Ireland in Toulouse.
The men fell further off the pace in trying to avoid the relegation tournament. With two tournaments left, Singapore next week and Toulouse in May, it’s looking unlikely that Canada will make up the 18 points on Spain and 17 points on Uruguay to contest for the 11th spot and exemption from the relegation tournament in London. Spain made the quarter-final in Hong Kong which gave them 10 series points and allowed them to pass Uruguay who garnered 5 series points. Canada earned 2 series points in Hong Kong. Canada are in a pool with Fiji, Spain and Samoa in Singapore so they’ll have a chance to go head to head against Spain in that tournament.
The men have 4 tournaments left, but only 3 for Canada to get out of the relegation zone. Canada are currently in 14th place with 20 points. At the London tournament teams placed 12-14 will battle it out with a fourth team added to remain in the series. The 15th placed team, currently Japan at 10 points, will be automatically relegated. Unless Canada can make the Cup round in a couple of the upcoming tournaments, it’s looking like they’ll be in the four team relegation tournament in London. They have to make up a 14 point gap on Uruguay who currently occupy 11th spot. Also chasing are Spain in 12th and Kenya in 13th.
It was a short day for the men. After the excitement of upsetting Australia on Day 1, it hasn’t gone well for them. What are the odds of defeating the 2022 Series winners and them meeting the #2 team in the 13th place semi-final?