The end result was disappointing, but the experience will go a extended way for Canada’s senior men’s 15s rugby squad subsequent a 57-34 reduction to Spain on Sunday.
Rated 15th in the environment, Spain was regarded as the favourite coming in, but for Canada’s young squad this was an prospect to see what is actually needed to earn on the international pitch.
“There’s a ton of superior in what we did,” reported Canada head coach Kingsley Jones. “Our breakdown perform was really excellent, there was some good performances from a person or two men and women and our lineup was outstanding until we lost [players] so perhaps a very little tiredness, but we absolutely experienced tempo in the place we desired.”
Spain picked up appropriate where it left off scoring in the opening minutes of the next fifty percent, but Canada replied as captain Lucas Rumball punched his way in to make it 45-20.
“We have bought to study to start off a lot quicker,” explained Rumball soon after the match. “It’s something we have carried out in the previous as very well, is wait right up until the sport is out of hand and we’ve dug ourselves a hole and then we discover that spark.
“If we want to be a best crew we really have to have to begin from the go.”
Spain went on to score two times additional, but the home crowd witnessed a sturdy complete when at the 71st moment Canada was ready to swing the ball and go wide ending with Kainoa Lloyd punching in the check out. With time winding down Canada scored the moment more as Jack McRogers scored his first-ever consider as he attained his initially cap to make it 57-34.
Jones felt his workforce obtained greater as the sport went on, but admitted this sort of matchup will be necessary for Canada’s to enhance on its 21st globe ranking.
‘It’s always a finding out experience’
“It is really generally a understanding expertise as they say,” claimed Jones. “They’ve had a taste of the physicality that they are up from and the accuracy and until you enjoy the improved teams you will not likely get greater.”
Sunday’s game marked the first international check match hosted at TD Spot in Ottawa and although the 4,178 spectators didn’t get the result they have been hoping for they did get to see a few common faces in Connor Keys, who grew up just 20 minutes west of downtown Ottawa, and Dawson Fatoric.
“Truthfully, it was unbelievable to be in a position to enjoy in entrance of relatives and friends and folks I haven’t witnessed in a long time,” said Keys. “It was not a great score, but it was a lot of fun to engage in in front of all of them and I am however proud of our effort as a crew.”
Spain dominated the scoreboard scoring six attempts in the to start with half.
“Undoubtedly, that halftime result seriously is the 1 you’re really unhappy with,” said Jones. “Unquestionably, the initially half the physicality that we required wasn’t there and Spain was correct and took each and every opportunity.
From the opening moment Canada struggled to incorporate Spain’s physicality as they grabbed a 7- direct just five minutes into the match.
Canada bought on the board on a penalty conversion by Peter Nelson to make it 7-3, but the checking out workforce went on to score again-to-again attempts to just take a commanding 21-3 lead.
A further penalty conversion by Nelson permitted Canada to make it 21-6.
Down 26-6 enthusiasts lastly experienced a thing to cheer about in the 24th moment as Lindsey Stevens — producing his to start with start off after Andrew Quattrin was a late scratch due to injuries — scored his to start with worldwide attempt.
Spain would rating 2 times far more prior to the half ended.
The match was the end result of Canada’s two-week camp and subsequent the loss gamers will return to their respective club teams. Sunday’s match was also the second worldwide examination for the Canadians on residence soil as they cruised to a 45- win about the traveling to Belgians last weekend in Halifax, N.S.
Right after failing to qualify for the 2023 Entire world Cup in France, Canada has set its aim on 2027.
“We need to have as quite a few of these form of matches as feasible,” said Rumball. “You only actually get improved by suffering from it and the only way to experience it is participating in these intercontinental matches and so we need to have as lots of as probable.”
