April 16, 2022 Vancouver, BC (ISN) – The Canadian Men’s Sevens side finished day one’s pool play of the Vancouver Sevens at BC Place to sit in third place in pool “C” with a record of 1-2 after a win over Spain to advance to Sundays 9th place quarter finals.
The Canada Sevens men, with perhaps the most arduous of opening draws at the 2022 Vancouver Sevens this weekend, showed their grit from the opening kickoff of the day however would fall just short in loses to both top-ranked South Africa and number two ranked Australia, before rebounding with a 26-21 victory over Spain.
In Canada’s opening match against Australia, the Canadian side would catch the team from down under napping at the ball and would jump out to a 10-0 lead in the first three minutes of play on try’s by Alex Russell (1′) and Jake Thiel (3′). Unfortunately for the home side, Australia would sharpen their response to run off the next four trys on efforts by Corey Toole ( 6′) , Josh Turner (8′), Nathan Lawson (11′) , and Maurice Longbottom (13′) for the come from behind win.
Canada’s task wouldn’t get any less difficult as the morning progressed as they faced the 2022 World Rugby standings leader South Africa. Despite Canada’s current 13th place standing, the Canadian men gave South Africa just about all they could handle, forcing the Blitzboks to find a last minute try to defeat the Canada Sevens hosts 19-14.
South Africa’s JC Pretorius would hit the board first, before Canada’s David Richard would dot the ball down. South Africa would reply in the seventh minute on a try by Ronald Brown. Canada would match South Africa again when Cooper Coats be cast free for the score. Always with an answer, South Africa’s Selvyn Davids would break the hearts of the Canadian-fan faithful in the 13th minute to give Canada their second loss of the game.
In Canada’s final match of the opening day, they would go head to head with a Spain side that had also dropped their earlier pair to South Africa and Australia by and aggregate 69-12 score compared to Canada’s 45-24 aggregate losses. Spain, currently holding down 7th place in the World 7’s standings, six spots better than Canada, played hungry for a victory however Canada would find a match for everything the Spaniards would throw their way. Canadian Brock Webster’s try in the 11th minute, after a Spain turnover their own end, would prove the winner for Canada. Canada would benefit with additional trys by David Richard (1′), Elias Ergas (6′), Brenning Prevost (7′). Pol Pla would contribute a pair of trys, and Nicolas Pieto and single in the loss. Canada would match Spain on try conversions three aside.
With the win, Canada will enter Sunday’s playoff round with a 9th place quarter final match against 0-3 Japan @ 9:22 PST. Canada will have to be wary of Japanese side after falling to Japan in an 11th place playoff in Dubai in their sole meeting so far this season. Canada will look to improve on their last two finishes in Seville and Singapore, where they bowed out in their ninth-place quarter finals matches.
