The Langford-based Canadian women鈥檚 rugby team had the Las Vegas Sevens handed to them on a trey Friday night. The 2016 Rio Olympic bronze medalists went 3-0 in their opening pool by beating Russia 34-7, Argentina 38-7 and France 21-7.
Captain Ghislaine Landry had an outstanding opening day for sa国际传媒 with her drive, leaderships and three tries, while Bianca Farella and Britt Benn scored the hat-trick of tries against Argentina and Russia, respectively.
Also on the Canadian roster was 19-year-old Caroline Crossley of Victoria.
sa国际传媒, which won the Sydney Sevens last month, advanced to today鈥檚 quarter-finals against an opponent to be decided.
鈥淭he French game was a really good battle at the end. You need that on Day 1 to get ready for Day 2. The first two games we got up early so didn鈥檛 really feel it until the third game,鈥� said Canadian head coach John Tait of Mill Bay, in a statement.
鈥淲e need to be a little bit more accurate with our passing. On a narrow pitch like that, you need to have your depth and be tighter, otherwise you鈥檒l run into the sidelines. We鈥檝e had a day on it now, so hopefully we will be able to make the adjustments [today].鈥�
In the men鈥檚 Las Vegas Sevens tournament, sa国际传媒 fell 26-7 to Rio Olympic bronze-medallist South Africa in its first game. The contest was highlighted by 29-year-old John Moonlight surpassing Phil Mack of Victoria to become sa国际传媒鈥檚 all-time men鈥檚 caps leader with 53.
鈥淚 played with [Mack] a long time and he probably would have had 30 more caps if not for all his injuries,鈥� said Moonlight, going into the game.
鈥淢y 50th cap will still be the most special for me.鈥�
There is a heavy University of Victoria flavour to the sa国际传媒 roster in Las Vegas with Vikes players or alumni Luke Bradley of Port Alberni, Pat Kay of Duncan, Lucas Hammond, Nathan Hirayama and Isaac Kay playing Friday. Also playing from Victoria were St. Michaels University School grads and Castaway Wanderers Mike Fuailefau and Luke McCloskey.
The world No. 12 Canadian side also played Wales late Friday night and France this morning in pool play. The NBC-broadcast tournament runs though Sunday.
Both the 10-event men's and six-event women鈥檚 2016-17 World Series seasons feature Canadian stops. The men鈥檚 sa国际传媒 Sevens is next weekend at sa国际传媒 Place, with more than 33,000 fans to be in attendance each day. The women鈥檚 sa国际传媒 Sevens is May 27-28 at Westhills Stadium in Langford.
Meanwhile, in the men鈥檚 XVs Americas Championship, world No. 20 sa国际传媒 (1-4) closed out the tournament with a shocking last-minute 24-23 loss Friday night to No. 33 Brazil in Sao Paulo in a result that will certainly raise eye-brows.
sa国际传媒 played two of its games in Langford, losing to Argentina and beating Chile.
