Canuks complete mission in Marseilles mud bath
CANADA’S journey to maintain their record of qualifying for all nine World Cup finals has been a long and trying one but you also sense the Canuks have rediscovered themselves in the process.
The Canadians completed the process with a very hard fought and flattering 27-10 win over Hong Kong in a rain drenched Marseilles on Friday night and now take their place in Pool B alongside New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and Namibia. That’s some challenge but for this weekend at least they can kick back and murder a few beers.
It’s been a tough few years for Canada who not only have been losing ground globally but also locally, with old rivals in the Americas such as USA and Uruguay easily qualifying ahead of them.
There have been divisions between the Sevens squad and the National XV and Canada was very slow to mobilise a franchise in the professional MLR in the USA, although thankfully the Toronto Arrows are on board for the coming season and a Vancouver team is likely sooner rather than later.
The prospect of missing out on the World Cup though has really galvanised all concerned. Kingsley Jones, below right, – who took Russia to RWC2011 – was parachuted in to take charge and the players who really ‘wanted it’ – led by the experienced trio of Evan Olmstead, Tyler Ardron and DTH van der Merwe – came to the fore.
The repechage tournament generally was a success, but one suggestion. In future it needs to be staged on a 4G or composite pitch. Torrential rain all week left the Stade Delort pitch in very poor shape and on Friday the earlier match between Kenya and Germany only worsened the situation. The finale deserved a better playing surface.