Canadian women in control at Vegas Sevens
The Langford-based Canadian women’s rugby team had the Las Vegas Sevens handed to them on a trey Friday night. The 2016 Rio Olympic bronze medalists went 3-0 in their opening pool by beating Russia 34-7, Argentina 38-7 and France 21-7.
Captain Ghislaine Landry had an outstanding opening day for Canada with her drive, leaderships and three tries, while Bianca Farella and Britt Benn scored the hat-trick of tries against Argentina and Russia, respectively.
Also on the Canadian roster was 19-year-old Caroline Crossley of Victoria.
Canada, which won the Sydney Sevens last month, advanced to today’s quarter-finals against an opponent to be decided.
“The French game was a really good battle at the end. You need that on Day 1 to get ready for Day 2. The first two games we got up early so didn’t really feel it until the third game,” said Canadian head coach John Tait of Mill Bay, in a statement.
“We need to be a little bit more accurate with our passing. On a narrow pitch like that, you need to have your depth and be tighter, otherwise you’ll run into the sidelines. We’ve had a day on it now, so hopefully we will be able to make the adjustments [today].”
In the men’s Las Vegas Sevens tournament, Canada fell 26-7 to Rio Olympic bronze-medallist South Africa before a last-gasp try by Mike Fuailefau of Victoria gave the Canucks a dramatic 24-21 victory over Wales. The opening day was highlighted by 29-year-old John Moonlight surpassing Phil Mack of Victoria to become Canada’s all-time men’s caps leader with 53.
“I played with [Mack] a long time and he probably would have had 30 more caps if not for all his injuries,” said Moonlight, going into the game.
“My 50th cap will still be the most special for me.”
There is a heavy University of Victoria flavour to the Canada roster in Las Vegas with Vikes players or alumni Luke Bradley of Port Alberni, Pat Kay of Duncan, Lucas Hammond, Nathan Hirayama and Isaac Kay playing Friday. Also playing were St. Michaels University School grads and Castaway Wanderers Fuailefau and Luke McCloskey.
The world No. 12 Canadian side also plays France this morning in pool play. The NBC-broadcast tournament runs though Sunday.
Both the 10-event men's and six-event women’s 2016-17 World Series seasons feature Canadian stops. The men’s Canada Sevens is next weekend at B.C. Place, with more than 33,000 fans to be in attendance each day. The women’s Canada Sevens is May 27-28 at Westhills Stadium in Langford.
Meanwhile, in the men’s XVs Americas Championship, world No. 20 Canada (1-4) closed out the tournament with a shocking lastminute 24-23 loss Friday night to No. 33 Brazil in Sao Paulo in a result that will certainly raise eye-brows.
Canada played two of its games in Langford, losing to Argentina and beating Chile.