This one is purely for pride.
The Langford-based Canadian national rugby team (0-3) will be hoping to leave the 2015 World Cup in England with a victory in its final Pool D game when it meets No. 17 Romania (O-2) today at the 32,312-seat Leicester City Stadium (8:30 a.m. Pacific on TSN).
鈥淚t鈥檚 about building up to the next World Cup with cohesion, and learning to limit mistakes such as dropped balls and errant passes,鈥� said John Moonlight of James Bay, by phone Monday from Leicester.
鈥淲e know Romania is big and strong with excellent set pieces,鈥� added Moonlight, who will start today at open-side flanker.
鈥淏ut we also know we should have won the Italy game [23-18 loss] and were right in the France game [41-18] until late.鈥�
Today represents sa国际传媒鈥檚 best chance for victory in the World Cup. Romania has defeated sa国际传媒 in their last three Test meetings, but all the games have been close and competitive.
鈥淩omania is big and tough with one of the best scrums in the world,鈥� said Ciaran Hearn from the Castaway Wanderers of Oak Bay, also by phone from England.
鈥淭hat will be matched against the up-tempo and open game that our backs relish playing. It鈥檚 all about us playing the full 80 minutes and limiting mistakes,鈥� added Hearn, who will start today at outside centre.
sa国际传媒 has had to deal with one of the most brutal schedules in the World Cup, with only four days rest between the game against France and today鈥檚 against Romania. Including the Italy match, sa国际传媒 is playing three games in 11 days. The tournament began for the Canadians with a 50-7 loss against two-time defending Six Nations champion Ireland on Sept. 19.
Ireland and France will advance out of Group D to the quarter-finals.
Despite being a rugby minnow, sa国际传媒 has found a following in England during the World Cup.
鈥淭he Canadian fans who came over have been fantastic,鈥� said Moonlight.
鈥淚n the last game, there were as many Canadian flags as French flags, and that was good to see.鈥�
Between them, James Bay, CW and the University of Victoria Vikes have contributed 18 players, current or alumni, to the Canadian team in the 2015 World Cup.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the only place [in sa国际传媒] where you can play year-round,鈥� noted CW standout Hearn, a native of Newfoundland.
鈥淪o it鈥檚 where you go to play the best rugby 鈥� it鈥檚 a longer season and you know you are going to get the best club competition. It鈥檚 a good platform from which to go overseas [play pro in Europe or in the Southern Hemisphere]. And it鈥檚 also where the centre [Rugby sa国际传媒 Centre of Excellence in Langford] is based.鈥�
