The Castaway Wanderers of Oak Bay have provided a healthy dollop of players to the Canadian World Cup effort with Ciaran Hearn starting the opener in centre, Hubert Buydens at prop and Ray Barkwill as hooker.
Advertisement
“It’s the one thing Ireland has been able to do in recent seasons, be consistent”. Canada men are a well-established team on the World Series 7s circuit, pumping resources into this sport since its inclusion into the Olympic Games. Could it be the Irish who prevail?
Rather, it is far more likely that France will top our pool and Ireland will face into the quarter finals against the best team in the world. Back in 2007 when Ireland floundered at the World Cup, Canada’s current Head Coach Kieran Crowley had just coached the New Zealand U-19s to victory in the underage edition.
The rugby-mad tourists will pour millions of pounds into the English coffers, and it is no wonder that Ireland will mount a serious bid for the 2023 tournament.
The previous day, Australia steam roll the French. French coach Philippe Saint Andre has already said that is a major problem – he must play his key players but on the other hand can’t afford to risk injuries either. I think friends went to play there because of dad.
“The fact that we’re moving to big cities like London and Cardiff and that side the guys who haven’t been to World Cups haven’t felt, but in terms of realising the importance of each game I think a lot of lads have experience at European level”.
“If you’re playing well as we were then that build-up of expectation is natural and inevitable, but it’s something you have to keep outside the group as well”.
Hassler is one of eight players in the starting XV to be making their World Cup debuts, while Cudmore is featuring at his fourth tournament. Ireland v Australia in the final of the 2015 World Cup. Maybe Kay is emotionally re-living the kick-at-all-cost game that won finals for England and South Africa?
“If Ireland deliver big performances, there’s no chance for Canada to do anything in this game”. You must still put your best foot forward against the Six Nations Champions.
If Fiji aren’t penalised off the pitch early on – the home nation often gets most marginal decisions – and produce the form they showed while being crowned Pacific Nations Cup winners recently, it could be a tasty encounter. Trying to figure them out can leave you unfulfilled and frustrated, but all it takes is a subtle change of the light and they can be a revelation.
Am I speaking like an All Black?
The Springboks seemed on the up a year ago but lost their way last autumn and during the Rugby Championship with coach Heyneke Meyer seemingly over-reliant on his veterans. They outsmarted us and we probably played in to their strengths a little bit. By half-time they trail 0-24 and the game is effectively over.
Romania impressed last time round, and ran Scotland close in Invercargill.
First-choice inside centre Robbie Henshaw is reportedly out of contention for Saturday’s game against Canada, although the extent of his injury is not known. And the team needs to start scoring tries.
England brace themselves for an onslaught at Twickenham when the Scots come to town, but Vern Cotter has enlisted so many Southern Hemisphere players through residency and the granny rule that there is no real animosity for the English coming for the Scottish side.
Advertisement
Ireland will win by 30 points.
