(Montreal) Canadian rugby players at 7 won the bronze medal at the world championships that took place in Los Angeles last weekend. After bowing in semifinals 33-7 against the Australians, the Canadian women defeated the Americans by the brand of 27-7 in order to get on the podium.
Posted at 1:00 p.m.
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The Canadian team won a third consecutive bronze medal after those obtained in Hong Kong and Singapore.
“We are proud, but we are hungry. We want to go get the top 2 or even the top 1 global. We have managed to have a good season in this first post-Olympic year, but now we want to go to the door of nations number 1 and 2 to decrease the gap we have with them, “said Sabrina Poulin, who was part of the Canadian training in the last three tournaments.
Mahalia Robinson was the other Quebecer to wear the colors of the Unifolié in Los Angeles.
“We knew that if we were able to put everything in place and focus on the process, the result was going to be positive,” said Poulin.
During the preliminary round, the Canadian team won 26-0 against the Japanese and 26-17 against the British, but bowed 41-5 against new Zealanders.
-“We won the first two games, but we had a little difficulty in our match against New Zealand. This defeat put us in the best possible situation for the semi-final. After that, we lost against Australia, but we managed to win against the United States and have our medal, “said Sabrina Poulin.
During the confrontation for third place, the rivalry between Canada and the United States was indeed present.
“There were a lot of supporters who were there for the United States, but we were what we wanted. Play against the United States, at home, to show them that we were superior. We were more excited about this opportunity to bounce back as we did in the last tournaments and we knew we were capable, “said the player from Beauce.
According to her, the experience acquired by the players this season has been felt in the last three stages of the world series.
“I think we are the first team that used the most players in this series, so that, I think it’s really positive for Canada rugby. We have girls who played both at 7 and 15. There are many new faces, freshness, but also experience with girls who have made the Olympics. From Hong Kong, we could see the fruit of all this, “said the Quebecer.
In the final, New Zealanders, reigning Olympic champions, defeated the Australians 31-7 to win the gold medal. Before the Worlds, they had collected four gold medals and two silver in six stages of the world series.
Sabrina Poulin believes that this bronze medal is auspicious for the Canadian team, which will aim for the final in the next seasons.
“Often, we hear” surprise, Canada wins! “, But we want to try to change the narrative compared to that. We want more than surprises. We know what we are able to do, but now, it’s whether we are able to continue to have results by being on the podium, she added. Do all the little things correctly, have routines and have performance that is constant. »»
