The Canadian men couldnB次元官网网址檛 climb out of an early hole and lost 29-19 to the U.S. to finish second in their pool in SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 opening day of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
The men had cruised past Germany 24-5 and rallied for a 19-14 win over Chile in their first two games. Against the U.S. they quickly fell behind 19-0.
B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 have any possession in the first six minutes,B次元官网网址� said coach Henry Paul. B次元官网网址淲e have to work harder on our set pieces and our kickoffs.B次元官网网址�
Paul was pleased his team didnB次元官网网址檛 quit.
B次元官网网址淲hen we actually had the ball in hand I was impressed,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e battled back. IB次元官网网址檓 really proud.B次元官网网址�
Canada will face Great Britain in SundayB次元官网网址檚 quarterfinal while the U.S. plays Kenya.
The Canadian women were beaten 22-12 by the U.S. and 19-5 by Great Britain before defeating Mexico 39-0 in the opening day of the Fast Four competition.
Canada (1-2) will play the U.S. (2-1) in one semifinal Sunday while Great Britain (3-0) faces Mexico (0-3). The winners play for the gold medal while the losers meet for the bronze.
B次元官网网址淲e built every game,B次元官网网址� said coach Kelly Russell, a member of the Canadian team that won bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics. B次元官网网址淭o end the game with a success like that is really positive moving into Day 2.B次元官网网址�
On the menB次元官网网址檚 side, Matthew Percillier, Anton Ngongo and Jack Carson B次元官网网址� all players appearing in their first World Rugby Sevens Series B次元官网网址� scored tries for Canada against the U.S. Brennig Prevost kicked two converts.
Canada has nine players making their series debut.
B次元官网网址淭he veteran guys are leading by example and the young guys are taking the opportunities and really showing what they can do,B次元官网网址� said captain Phil Berna, a member of the team that finished eighth at the Tokyo Olympics. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e not playing timid.B次元官网网址�
Paul said his team must be better against Great Britain.
B次元官网网址淲e know they are a great team,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e know they have a lot of World Series experience. WeB次元官网网址檒l give them a ton of respect, go out and try and show energy and enthusiasm.B次元官网网址�
Canada trailed Chile 14-12 when Percillier took a pass from Berna to score the winning points. Veterans Andrew Coe and Jake Thiel also scored tries for Canada in that game.
B次元官网网址淲e found our footing in the second half,B次元官网网址� said Percillier, a member of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. B次元官网网址淚f we bring that tempo the whole game no one is going to keep up with us.B次元官网网址�
Prevost scored one try and set up another in the win over Germany. Josiah Morra of Toronto scored two tries while Prevost added two converts.
Alysha Corrigan of Charlottetown, P.E.I., scored two tries in the womenB次元官网网址檚 win over Mexico. Emma Chown of Barrie, Ont., Fancy Bermudez Chavez of Edmonton, Olivia Apps of Victoria, Chloe Daniels of Sutton, Ont., and Asia Hogan-Rochester of Toronto also scored.
Canada led the U.S. 12-5 at half time of the opening match before giving up 17 second-half points.
B次元官网网址淪evens comes down to fitness and those extra couple of metres,B次元官网网址� said Apps, the team captain. B次元官网网址淭he U.S. really took it to us. They found our weaknesses in the defensive line and used them perfectly to keep possession and score.
B次元官网网址淚t was a tough match.B次元官网网址�
Chown scored two tries while Daniels kicked two converts.
Renee Gonzalez, a Scarborough, Ont., native who now attends the University of Victoria, scored CanadaB次元官网网址檚 lone points in the loss to Great Britain.
The other menB次元官网网址檚 quarterfinals will see South Africa play Spain, Chile face Jamaica and Germany take on Mexico.
The tournament is the first HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series event since COVID-19 put the brakes on the circuit last March. Canada finished third in the last tournament played in Vancouver.
COVID-19 concerns meant attendance at BC Place Stadium was capped at around 13,500 in the lower bowl, but that didnB次元官网网址檛 deter fans from dressing for the event. Scattered among the crowd were wizards in tall hats, a bunch of yellow bananas, different varieties of furry creatures, several pirates, a group dressed like canned clams, what looked like a bottle of ketchup, some Mounties, a blue shark, and several people in loud Hawaiian shirts.
This yearB次元官网网址檚 tournament has only 12 menB次元官网网址檚 teams instead of the normal 16. Rugby powerhouses like New Zealand, Fiji, Australia and Samoa decided to skip the event.
Several veterans of the Canadian menB次元官网网址檚 team like Nate Hirayama, Connor Braid, Justin Douglas and Conor Trainor all retired after the Tokyo Games.
World Rugby says there will be no relegation from the 2021 Series and the results will not count toward seedings for future events.
The two-day tournament ends Sunday.
The teams next head to Edmonton to play next weekend.
Jim Morris, The Canadian Press
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