As Langford opens its doors to the world for the Canada WomenB次元官网网址檚 Sevens rugby tournament this week, the Canadian team is eyeing the top rung of the ladder in advance of the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Sitting in a tie for second overall with Australia in the World Rugby WomenB次元官网网址檚 Sevens Series after placing third last month in Atlanta B次元官网网址� the top four series finishers automatically qualify for Rio B次元官网网址� the Canadian players could be forgiven for dwelling on the one that got away down in Georgia.
The Canadians came the closest of any team to beating series leader New Zealand in Atlanta, dropping a narrow 24-22 semifinal decision to the Kiwis, who went on to humble the Americans 50-12 in the championship game at the third of six rounds of this Olympic qualifying series.
While heB次元官网网址檚 impressed with the improvement heB次元官网网址檚 seen in his Langford-based squad over the course of the series, Canada head coach John Tait is cautiously optimistic about the how that result might affect future meetings between the teams.
B次元官网网址淭hat was only our second game against them this year, but both games have been very competitive,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚 think we match up well with them. What IB次元官网网址檓 pleased with most is we can trade blows with them offensively.B次元官网网址�
The semifinal match saw the Canadians leading or tied for most of the game, but as Tait points out, the sevens game is so fast-paced that the flow of a match can change in the blink of an eye.
B次元官网网址淲e took a step forward at Atlanta. I think itB次元官网网址檚 not a matter of if, itB次元官网网址檚 when we beat them.B次元官网网址�
But first, thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of important rugby to be played ahead of any possible rematch during round four this weekend at Westhills Stadium. The host team joins the U.S., South Africa and Russia B次元官网网址� Canada beat them 28-17 for third at Atlanta B次元官网网址� in Pool C. SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 12:50 p.m. opener for Canada is a rematch against Russia.
Meanwhile, New Zealand lines up in Pool A with England, Fiji and Spain, while Pool B groups Australia, France, Brazil and China.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not looking much beyond our own pool,B次元官网网址� Tait says. B次元官网网址淭hree of the top four teams (in the series) are all in one pool. WeB次元官网网址檝e been really focused on that.B次元官网网址�
Results on the first day are critical to where teams are slotted in for SundayB次元官网网址檚 playoff action. The top two teams from each of the three pools advance to the quarter-finals, as well as the top two finishing third-place sides. Scoring as often as possible is the best way to secure good placement for Sunday, which means a quarter-final match against one of the third-place pool finishers, Tait says.
B次元官网网址淓very possession counts. That ball B次元官网网址� when you donB次元官网网址檛 have it B次元官网网址� youB次元官网网址檝e got to do everything within your grasp to get it back,B次元官网网址� he says.
Without a doubt, the Canadians will be watching the othersB次元官网网址� results Saturday to determine strategy for late-round games, he adds.
From a fan perspective, when the pressure and the speed of the game go up, the entertainment factor goes up as well. B次元官网网址淚f you want to be successful in sevens, youB次元官网网址檝e got to play that fast-paced game.B次元官网网址�
While Team Canada is filled with superb athletes, some of the best at mixing the speed and power game are Ghislaine Landry and Ashley Steacy.
Landry, from Toronto, has used her catlike agility and reflexes to amass 151 points in the first three rounds, second only to New ZealandB次元官网网址檚 Portia Woodman with 165. Lethbridge native Steacy, whose siblings James and Heather are already qualified for Rio in their sports, may not have size or her side, but she packs a punch, Tait says in an interview with CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Olympic program website.
B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 got a ton of courage. SheB次元官网网址檚 our smallest player but definitely one of our hardest hitting players,B次元官网网址� he says. She is really evasive and that, combined with her ball-handling skills, makes her a real threat.B次元官网网址�
This weekend Canada is without star captain Jen Kish, who was injured in the first game in Atlanta. The native of Ottawa, a finalist for the 2013 IRB WomenB次元官网网址檚 Player of the Year award, is recovering well and will likely be ready for the next round, Tait says.
For more information on the series, visit . For more about Team Canada, head over to and click on WomenB次元官网网址檚 7s.
