CANADA 52
BRAZIL 25
Two nations better known for their respective exploits on soccer fields and hockey rinks around the world met Saturday afternoon on the rugby pitch at Westhills Stadium in Langford.
World No. 19 sa国际传媒 defeated No. 42 Brazil 52-25 in the first-ever Test match between the nations before 1,865 lively fans.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 perfect. But the way we have come together as a group is what made this so much better,鈥� said Clay Panga of the Westshore Velox Valhallians, who scored two tries for the young Canadian squad.
To be named man of the match on his home stomping ground 鈥� Panga also coaches the Westshore Valhallians women鈥檚 team 鈥� made it all the more special.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing feeling,鈥� said the native of New Zealand, who plays No. 8.
鈥淐oaching the women鈥檚 team has made me a better player and given me a better perspective of the game.鈥�
The Canadians are now 2-1 in the Americas Championship tournament after defeating No. 21 Uruguay 33-17 two weeks ago at Westhills and losing 30-22 to the No. 16 U.S. Eagles last week in Austin, Texas.
The Americas Championship was created because World Rugby, as the re-branded IRB is now known, wants to give the second-tier nations more Test matches to help build up their programs.
鈥淢ore games is what we need,鈥� said Panga.
鈥淭his annual tournament is going to be huge for our development.鈥�
The Brazilians, wearing their familiar yellow jerseys and blue shorts, are 0-3. But they were competitive in earlier 25-22 and 33-29 losses to No. 24 Chile and Uruguay, respectively.
鈥淏razil never gave up and was a threat all game. We had to play hard to win this game,鈥� said Canadian coach Francois Ratier.
sa国际传媒 is building its roster long list on the road to the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a win-win as we develop these younger domestic players in events like this Americas tournament to go with the 22 or 23 players we have playing pro overseas,鈥� said Panga.
Among those who are using the opportunity well are scrum-half Andrew Ferguson, whose kicking accounted for 13 Canadian points Saturday.
鈥淭his gives the younger guys a chance to shine internationally, myself included,鈥� said the native of Mississauga, Ont.
Lucas Rumball added two tries for sa国际传媒 and Paul Ciulini, Michael Hamson and captain Ray Barkwill one each.
The sport is expecting a growth spurt in Brazil with Rio hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics in August and sevens rugby making its Games debut.
鈥淚t鈥檚 tough to compete with soccer. But rugby is starting to grow, especially with the Olympics coming,鈥� said Brazil captain Daniel Danielewicz.
Few countries have taken on the burden of hosting back-to-back soccer World Cups and Summer Olympics as Brazil has with its 2014 and 2016 double, and it has at times creaked under that financial and organizational weight.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a tough question,鈥� responded Danielewicz, when asked.
鈥淚 think we should have improved other things first, but it has been good to have the exposure we would not have got received if not for the Olympics coming.鈥�
sa国际传媒 concludes the American Championship tournament on the road at No. 5 Argentina next Sunday and at Chile on March 6.
鈥淎rgentina is always a challenge,鈥� said Ratier, of next week鈥檚 game against one of the great rugby-playing nations.
RUGBY NOTES: The Langford-based Canadian women鈥檚 sevens team, medal-touted for the Rio Olympics, went 2-1 Saturday in its pool at the Brazil Sevens in Sao Paulo and advanced to meet France in today鈥檚 quarter-finals.
