The opening day of the Paris Sevens couldn鈥檛 have gone much worse for the Langford-based Canadian rugby team with three consecutive losses in pool play. But it ended better with three straight victories on the consolation side Sunday for ninth place as sa国际传媒 bested Wales 31-12, England 41-28 and Ireland 28-12.
It was a confidence boost with the North American, Latin American and Caribbean Olympic qualifier for Tokyo 2020 up next on July 6-7 in the Cayman Islands.
It also showed sa国际传媒 can win without star Connor Braid of Victoria, who was second behind leader Vilimoni Botitu of Fiji in the DFH Impact Player season standings, but is out for the season with a dislocated collarbone incurred the week before in the London Sevens.
Sunday was the momentum shift sa国际传媒 needed. The national team lost two months of training last fall at Westhills Stadium to a labour dispute with Rugby sa国际传媒, then head coach Damian McGrath was let go. Braid鈥檚 injury only adds to sa国际传媒鈥檚 woes. But Sunday鈥檚 rebound seemed to bear out Braid鈥檚 confidence in his teammates.
鈥淚 have utmost confidence in this group and strongly believe the boys can do it and qualify for the Olympics,鈥� said Braid.
sa国际传媒 may have just found its Braid replacement with a breakout performance Sunday by Josiah Morra of Toronto, who had several spectacular field-length plays.
Mike Fuailefau of Victoria and former University of Victoria star Nathan Hirayama also had notable weekends. Also in the lineup were Luke McCloskey of Victoria and Isaac Kaay of the UVic Vikes.
The top four teams in the 2019 World Series standings qualified directly for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Fiji, New Zealand, South Africa and the U.S. have locked up those berths. The latter is a big break for sa国际传媒, which now will not have to face the Americans in the North American and Caribbean qualifier.
Interim head coach Henry Paul, in his first World Series tournament as Canadian bench boss, guided sa国际传媒 into the quarter-finals of the London Sevens the week before, and now ninth in Paris.
