MONDAY'S MUSINGS

  


                                   

                                            NATIONAL TEAMS LONG LISTS

 
This past week, our NSMT and NSWT announced selection long lists for summer tours.  The women commence with a trip to South Africa for two tests against the Springbok women, after camp in Perth.  This will serve as a warm-up for their RWC campaign.  It is with happiness that we note Sophie deGoede has passed fitness tests for her selection.  Sophie has patiently and diligently ‘re-habed’ to get back on the pitch, version 201.  The women’s selection recalls a victory from four years ago over the USA when Olivia de Marchant was captain and an “all CW” back row of deGoede, Senft and Paquin ruled the roost on this day.

                                     de Marchant congratulates try-scorer, Bermudez, vs USA, 2019.

 
We congratulate these ladies, along with Julia Schell, Caroline Crossley, de Marchant, and Olivia Apps, all wearers of the Tricolor, Crossley and deGoede, are CW pathway players from their mini days.



 

  

It is a very strong women’s selection which will be in the mix at the end. We congratulate ALL team members and wish them well. RWC is an expensive venture which can use any generosity that rugby fans can contribute. Any donations can be made at this link https://rugby.ca/en/donate

On the men’s side, a brace of CW grads and recent successful U20 players, Spencer Cotie and Josh McIndoe, lead a quartet which includes Josiah Morra and Isaac Olson.  The men will play Belgium, Sapin, USA and Japan.  This campaign will be under the reins of a new coach, Steve Meehan, someone who we know little about, and his appointment has not been dealt with the customary fol-de-rol that we have become used to with such appointments.  Most of the squad is under contract to MLR clubs or elsewhere, so it remains to be seen if this is influencing player growth.  Good luck to ALL members of the squad.


                                         PICKING UP ON PAULSON

                                                                                 

Liam opens the Bengalis account in their win over Chennai, 26 – 0, a match in which he scored a brace.  His Bengaluru team lies second in tries scored after seven matches.  Liam has scored three and is the third leading try scorer for his club. All Black sevens star, Rocketman’ Akulia Rokolisoa leads the parade with six!  Bengaluru sits in third place after seven matches. Go, you good thing, Liam!


                                                    FROM THE LIONS DEN

Friday last the Lions lost their first “match” which was against the Argentina Pumas in Dublin.  The score was 24 – 28.  Despite the Lions “growing pains”, this was still a commendable feat for Los Pumas.  The Lions have one more warm-up before departing to Australia at the end of the month where their first match will be against the Queensland Reds.