Canada Men Finish 12th at Dubai; Women Finish in 8th Place: Match Replays
A worrying time for the men’s program as they share bottom of the standings with Japan now, losing to Japan this tournament. Is it time to look at the coaching of the team at this point, does the team need rejuvenation, leaving things as they are looks like a formula for relegation. With the men’s XVs program relegated from the World Cup for the first time, under a foreign coach, are the men’s 7s to follow the same fate? Some decisive action is required.
The women are also at the bottom of the standings, tied with Ireland, as the two teams below them, Ireland and Spain performed better this tournament. It’s worrying times for them as well, defence, the unlauded hard work, is glaringly missing from this group under their interim coach. Will they be able to turn things around in the new year under a coach, yet to be named.
Canada Men
Canada 19 – Fiji 33
Canada actually were leading at the half 12-7 with the bench players getting the start, Nhanala, Kratz, Webster starting. Theo Sauder doesn’t show in the match day 12 so a possible injury there. Canada went up 19-7 before Fiji replied with four tries. The match was played on the B field so there’s no video unfortunately. A good first half for Canada but unfortunately, as in other games, difficulty competing in the final minutes of the match. Canada will face Japan in the 11th place playoff.
Josiah Morra 2′
Jarvis Dashkewytch 5′
Elias Ergas 8′
Canada 12 – Japan 21
Nicholas Allen 8′
Brock Webster 9′
Canada Women
Canada 12 – Russia 14
This loss typified the problems facing the women’s team right now. They had gone ahead in the match with a late try, they had just over a minute to kickoff and play defence. Russia scored immediately, the player winning the kickoff beat three possible Canadian defenders. Is it fitness, is it a mental block or players sticking to a system too rigidly and not playing what’s in front of them? Canada get one more chance to step up and win a game in the pool round when they play Brazil.
Elissa Alarie 9′
Sabrina Poulin 11′
Canada 17 – Brazil 12
Canada went up 17-0 and saw their lead slip away in the second half but held on for their only win of the weekend.
Sabrina Poulin 3′
Nakisa Levale 6′
Krissy Scurfield 9′
Canada 12 – Ireland 26
Shocking defence from Canada, the first attempted tackle which leads to the first Ireland try, tells all about this match. Players love scoring tries but seem reluctant to do the hard work on defence.
Asia Hogan-Rochester 7′
Chloe Daniels 13′
*Canada 0-5 on Day One in Men’s and Women’s Tournaments – Day Two Kicks Off at 21:44 PT: Match Replays*
Canada Women
The Canadian women lost both games on Day 1. The Australia match was always going to be a tough battle but the 52-0 scoreline was a shocker. Canada needed to beat Spain in their next match but failed to do so. The defensive line speed of the team was poor, putting little pressure on Spain. Canada had the lead with time expired but were out on their feet by that time, Spain had more energy, the fitness training paying off in the dying seconds for the win.
The women’s team under former coach John Tait were renowned for their relentless and physical defence, it’s a long road back to that performance standard. Questions now have to start being asked, who is the coach to lead them back to that standard of play?
Canada play Russia and Brazil next, Russia is 2-0 and Brazil is 0-2.
Canada 10 – Spain 12
Breanne Nicholas 9′
Olivia De Couvreur 13′
Canada 0 – Australia 52
Canada Men
The Canadian men lost 3 games on Day 1. The first against USA was tough to watch as Canada were dominated physically. The missed tackle count was high. It was poor rugby from Canada. The one bright point a late try by Elias Ergas on a strong solo effort.
Canada played better against Australia, leaking two early tries but getting one back before half, a great solo effort by Theo Sauder. Canada tied it up in the second half when Australia took a yellow card. Australia then put in two tries with Canada getting one at the buzzer.
Canada started the scoring in the Kenya match with Brennig Prevost touching it down after some patient buildup by the team. The teams exchanged tries and it was tied up at 14 with 3 minutes left in the match. Canada looked to go ahead but a simple dropped pass let them down. Kenya then put in two tries.
Unfortunately Canada end up with Fiji in the 9th place semi as Fiji lost their first two matches and then crushed Argentina but it wasn’t enough to make the top 8. They’ll likely be an angry team and it won’t be pretty for Canada. It would be a good time to give some of the bench some playing time. It’s the final match, likely against Japan, that will be the most important one for Canada in terms of positioning themselves to avoid relegation this season.
Canada 14 – USA 38
Thomas Isherwood 6′
Elias Ergas 16′
Canada 17 – Australia 24
Theo Sauder 7′
Josiah Morra 9′ & 15′
Canada 14 – Kenya 26
Brennig Prevost 2′
Thomas Isherwood 9′
*Dubai 7s Part Deux: Brennig Prevost Bolsters Men’s Team in Second Dubai Tournament*
Jake Thiel is out for the second Dubai tournament and Brennig Prevost takes his place. Jake should be good to go for the Spain tournaments in January. Then it’s Vancouver in February.
The men kick it off 22:28 PT Thursday evening vs USA. They then face Australia at 1:58 PT early Friday morning, followed by Kenya at 5:46 PT to complete their Day 1. On current form it would take an exceptional effort by Canada to knock off one of these team. The four lowest teams will compete for 9th place on Day 2. Based on the first tournament form that would likely be Canada, Spain, Japan and one of France, Kenya or Ireland. With all the new players brought into the squad, a manageable goal would be to increase the gap on Japan and overtake Spain in the standings by the end of the tournament.
On the women’s side Canada kick it off against the undefeated Australians at 00:46 PT early Friday morning. They then face Spain at 7:07 to finish Day 1. A win over Spain and a 1-1 record is a likely outcome. Day 2 sees them face Russia and Brazil. Brazil have been the surprise team so far finishing ahead of Canada and USA in the first tournament. A win here for Canada to put them 2-2 would be a step forward. They then would get in the 5th place playoff, an improvement from their 8th place in the first tournament. Like the men’s squad, there’s a lot of player turnover and progress will be slow throughout the season.
from Rugby Canada
Rugby Canadas Womens and Mens Senior 7s squads return to HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series action, this Friday, December 3.
Canadas rosters update, presented by Velocity Trade, see no changes to the womens squad from last weekends competition, while the mens side officially welcomes in Victorias Brennig Prevost with interim captain Jake Thiel sidelined due to injury.
CANADAS MENS SEVENS DUBAI ROSTER
1. Theo Sauder (Vancouver, BC) – Vancouver Rowing Club
2. Brennig Prevost (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
3. Nick Allen (North Vancouver, BC) – Capilano RFC
4. Andrew Coe (Markham, ON) – Markham Irish RFC
5. Cody Nhanala (Ottawa, ON) – Ottawa Ospreys
6. Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) Toronto Saracens
7. Brock Webster (Uxbridge, ON) – Oshawa Vikings
8. Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars RFC
9. DShawn Bowen (Toronto, ON) – Unattached
10. Lachlan Kratz (Victoria, BC) – NOLA Gold
11. Elias Ergas (Vancouver, BC) UBC Thunderbirds
12. Thomas Isherwood (Okotoks, AB) – Foothills Lions RFC
13. Jarvis Dashkewytch (Tsawwassen, BC) UVIC Vikes
CANADAS WOMENS SEVENS DUBAI ROSTER
1. Olivia De Couvreur (Ottawa, ON) – Ottawa Irish
2. Renee Gonzalez (Toronto, ON) – University of Victoria Vikes
3. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish/University of Victoria
4. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
5. Breanne Nicholas (Blenheim, ON) – London St. Georges
6. Emma Chown (Barrie, ON) – Aurora Barbarians
7. Sabrina Poulin (St-Georges de Beauce) – Town of Mount Royal Rugby
8. Nakisa Levale (Abbotsford, BC) – Abbotsford RFC
9. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads
10. Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Wester Athletic Association NWAA
11. Elissa Alarie (Trois-rivieres, QC) – Westshore RFC/ Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC/Braves de Trois-Riviéres
12. Chloe Daniels (Sutton, ON) – RC Maple Leafs Academy/Queens University
13. Krissy Scurfield (Canmore, AB) – University of Victoria Vikes
WHERE TO WATCH
Broadcast coverage of the HSBC Sevens Series will be available in Canada via CBC. All events are available to live stream via cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app and the free CBC Gem streaming service.
Canadas Mens team kick off their first game on Friday, December 3 at 1:28am ET (10:28 local in Dubai), while Canadas Womens begin play at 3:46am ET (00:46 local in Dubai).
TOURNAMENT UPDATES
Stay updated throughout the weekend and follow all the action from the Emirates Dubai 7s tournament by visiting World Rugby’s official website! It’s a one-stop shop for schedules, results and more: https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/