The Langford-based Canadian national team is winning a lot of friends across the rugby world with its surprising performance at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
Canada - with a roster comprised largely of players who are on or have played for Island clubs - made the biggest leap in the weekly IRB world rankings in jumping from 14th to 11th.
But this is a group, at 1-1 in the World Cup, that is now beyond moral victories. That was evident Sunday following a 46-19 loss to traditional power France in which the scoreline was deceptive.
"We came here tonight to win and not to make up the numbers," Canadian head coach Kieran Crowley of Mill Bay told reporters in his post-game media conference.
"It was very disappointing from our perspective. If you accept those pats on the back because people said we played well, then you are never going to win."
Canada, an immense underdog, led 10-7 late in the first half and was within six points of France at 25-19 with 15 minutes remaining.
The fifth-ranked French exploded for three beautifully flowing late tries but that final accounting didn't tell the total tale. Which made it all the harder to swallow at the end as France went to 2-0 in Pool A.
"I'm heartbroken right now," said Canadian captain Pat Riordan in his TV interview after the game.
Riordan, also captain of the University of Victoria Vikes, was among the 14 players dressed for Canada who are from or have played with Island clubs, including nine of the starters.
The difference between a team of full-time pro players such as the French and mostly amateurs from the B.C. Premier League became evident as the match wore on. Imagine the Canadian men's hockey team of NHLers playing a group of amateurs from any second-tier hockey nation and you get the idea what Canada was up against.
"In the first half we hardly missed a tackle. Then we fell off that level in the second half. When you play day-in and day-out at this level [like the French do], it makes a difference," said Crowley.
Canada played mighty France on just four days' rest after beating Tonga 25-20 in its opener, while the French had nearly a week's rest after opening with a 47-21 victory against No. 13 Japan.
Canada will have to beat Japan on Sept. 27 in Napier and the vaunted top-ranked All Blacks on Oct. 2 in Wellington to have any chance of gaining one of the top-two spots out of Pool A to advance to the quarterfinals. But there is still a third-place bonus to play for. The top three teams in each pool will be granted automatic qualification for the 2015 World Cup in England.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
