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Rugby World Cup 2007 SEND TO FACEBOOK


Webb Ellis Cup on display at Swiler's RFC
© Mark Bryant
Countdown to the 2007 World Cup - A look at Canada's pool opponents

[ed. comments below]
posted Sept 2 2007

Here are some links worth exploring to look at Canada's pool opponents: Wales, Fiji, Japan and Australia. The first is a BBC page where they talk to Geraint John (Canada), Matt Cockbain (Australia), Nicky Little (Fiji), and John Kirwan (Japan).

BBC Link

The second link is to team lineups:

Team lineups

The third and fourth links relate to betting odds, a good indication of where the 'experts' are lining up. Apparently someone bet $80,000 on the All-Blacks with a return of $1.60, a quick way to make $48,000 or lose $80,000? Ladbrokes have Australia at 12/1, Wales at 100/1, Fiji at 1000/1, Canada at 5000/1, and Japan at 5000/1.

Daily Telegraph Form Guide

Ladbrokes.com odds


A look at Canadian World Cup history and the buildup to 2007

[ed. comments below]
posted Dec 30 2006

With 2007 fast approaching it behooves us to look ahead at the 2007 World Cup and take a look at Canadian history in the previous World Cups. In 2007 we will face the following teams at the following locations and times.

Sept 9, 2007 Wales v Canada @ Nantes

Sept 16, 2007 Fiji v Canada @ Cardiff

Sept 25, 2007 Canada v Japan @ Bordeaux

Sept 29, 2007 Australia v Canada @ Bordeaux

The critical game for Canada will be the Fiji matchup. We can almost concede the Wales and Australia matches, and assume we'll beat Japan so the Fiji match will be the critical test and the ultimate measuring tool for evaluating Ric Suggitt and John Tait in their stewardship of the National Men's program. Basically if they beat Fiji they'll have accomplished their goals and will merit another four years in the driver's seat. If they lose to Fiji there will be a strong movement for a new approach and new personnel to drive the National team. If they lose to Japan, they might as well look for club positions and if they beat Wales or Australia they'll go down in the annals of Canadian rugby folklore, such is the fickle nature of sport and coaching.

If you look at Canada's record over the past five world cups you could make an argument that we are currently where we were in 1987 in terms of relative strength. We peaked in 1991, and slowly faded since then. Let's take a look at the past.

2003 - Record 1W and 3L, Coach David Clark

41-10 loss to Wales
68-6 loss to New Zealand
19-14 loss to Italy
24-7 win over Tonga

The 1-3 record sealed the fate of Australian David Clark, who made his mark in Canadian rugby history by starting the CCSD development program which later became the Pacific Pride. The program was later cancelled by Rugby Canada although it produced many of the players that went on to play professionally and many of its graduates are still feeding the national team.

1999 - Record 1W and 2L, Coach Pat Parfrey

33-20 loss to France
38-22 loss to Fiji
72-11 win over Namibia

The loss to Fiji was the key game for Canada as Fiji went on to the next round. Canada responded by piling the points on a hapless Namibia. France just narrowly got by Fiji but ended up defeating New Zealand in the semi final.

1995 - Record 1W and 2L, Coach Ian Birtwell

34-3 win over Romania
27-11 loss to Australia
20-0 loss to South Africa

This is the year South Africa won it all, a respectable showing, certainly better results than we could expect today. Canada earned a team leading two red cards at the tournament and are the world cup leaders with three red cards, the only statistic that Canada can boast world cup supremacy. Gareth Rees hit the top 20 scorers list with 25 points and the top 10 list in penalty kicks with 6.

1991 - Record 2W and 2L, Coach Ian Birtwell

13-3 win over Fiji
19-11 win over Romania
19-13 loss to France
29-13 loss to New Zealand

This is Canada's premier performance where they made the quarter-finals, their only world cup appearance in that elite group. Both Gareth Rees and Mark Wyatt made the top 20 scoring list that year. Gareth made the top 10 list in drop goals. Defense was obviously their strong suit as they only scored an average of 1.5 try per game and 14.5 points per game but held the mighty All Blacks to 29 points.

1987 - Record 1W and 2L, Coach Gary Johnston

37-4 win over Tonga
46-19 loss to Ireland
40-9 loss to Wales

These are almost the score lines we could hope for today, although a 37-4 win over Tonga might be pushing it. Gareth Rees was in the top 20 list for scorers with 26 points and the top 10 list with 7 penalties. Canada scored an average of 21.7 points per game with 2.7 tries. New Zealand won their only world cup title to date with a 29-9 victory over France.

Summary

The latest November 2006 tour results showed a 61-26 loss to Wales, worse than the World Cup average and perhaps an indication that Canada is pursuing the elusive, holy grail of expansive rugby at the cost of defensive structure. The loss to Italy of 41-6 is more in line with the previous losses to Wales. So what conclusions can be drawn from these statistics, perhaps that Ian Birtwell was the best national team coach in Canadian world cup history, and that strong defense is still a quality to be admired and sought after. Ric Suggitt has assembled a strong team that includes Ian Birtwell and Doug Tate as Technical Advisors, although that's no indication of how well he heeds their advice. He's put more effort and resources into the preparation of the world cup team than any other Canadian coach. A testament to the IRB money available in this world cup cycle and his own vision of the National program. On the down side he's probably done more to isolate the BC club structure from the national team than any previous head coach. One of the ironies is that many of the players who will make or break the 2007 Canadian effort are playing professionally in Europe and are outside the immediate influence of the Canadian coaching staff, so the sequestering of the domestic players from club competition while the European players are fully engaged in club competition has dubious merit.

In terms of history, the final record will matter, a 1-3 record will be considered a failure, a 2-2 record a success.

 
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