Canadian rugby men’s team faces key match at USA Sevens in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS — Canada fell 33-19 to powerful New Zealand on Friday to finish Day 1 at the HSBC USA Sevens with a 0-1-1 record.

The Canadian men face Samoa (1-1-0) in their final pool match Saturday, needing a win to preserve their chances of advancing to the Cup quarterfinals. The rugby sevens tournament wraps up Sunday.

The Las Vegas stop comes one week before the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series hits Vancouver. The popular two-day Canadian event has drawn 213,630 spectators in its three years on the circuit.

Tim Mikkelson had two tries and Akuila Rokolisoa, Joe Ravouvou and Jona Nareki added singles for top-ranked New Zealand, which led 14-12 at the half. Rokolisoa added four conversions.

Luke McCloskey, Mike Fuailefau and Harry Jones scored tries for No. 11 Canada. Nate Hirayama added two conversions. 

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New Zealand, which has now beaten Canada 36 times in 41 meetings, tops the season standings after winning two events and finishing third in another.

So far this season, the Canadian men have tied for 11th in Dubai, Cape Town and Sydney. They tied for seventh in Hamilton, New Zealand.

Spain stands eighth overall and Samoa is No. 10.

Canada took advantage of a Spanish mistake to score with no time remaining for a 12-12 draw in its opening game Friday. New Zealand blanked Samoa 33-0 in the other early Pool A match. Samoa then beat Spain 26-21.

Pablo Fontes, finding a gap between two defenders, scored with three minutes remaining for a converted try that gave the Spaniards a 12-5 lead over Canada.

The game seemed over as the seconds ticked away and Spain kicked to touch to end the contest. But the kick failed to find touch, giving Canada a second chance.

Admir Cejvanovic made the most of the opportunity, capping off a desperate Canadian attack by touching down to cut the Spain lead to 12-10. Hirayama then kicked a tough conversion to tie the match.

Connor Braid also scored a try for Canada. Alejandro Alonso had the other try for Spain.

Spain, helped by two Canadian penalties, pressured off the opening kickoff at Sam Boyd Stadium, with Alonso finishing off the attack.

A break by Hirayama took the ball to the right corner where Braid won the battle at the breakdown to touch down for the try and tie it at 5-5.

Fuailefau was sent to the sin-bin late in the first half for a high tackle. And Hirayama was sin-binned early in the second.

A two-month labour dispute ahead of the season did little for the team’s preparation. More recently, inclement weather has made Langford, B.C., a less than hospitable training base.

Injuries have also taken a toll.

Coach Damian McGrath is missing without speedster Justin Douglas (concussion) and Lucas Hammond (ankle). Pat Kay and Cole Davis were late withdrawals.

Jones, sidelined by a shoulder injury since the Rugby World Cup Sevens in July 2018, and Cejvanovic returned to the lineup.

The Canadian Press