MONDAY'S MUSINGS

August 4, 2025 Posted in Canada Rugby / CW Rugby / Game Reports / Rugby Club / Victoria BC / News / Refereeing / Fifteens / NSWT / Senior Women

W-o-M, Deleake Menin earns the hard yards!

(Photo Credit - Canadian Press via TSN)

With a scintillating second half display, Canada’s NSWT outscored their US opponents 28 – 0 for a final 42 – 10 victory. There was much to applaud and at times the play was so electrifying that it would be hard to find sufficient superlatives. The average Canadian fan is quite aware of the number of ladies on this team who play professionally overseas, so it was with surprise that I read the club connections of the US players and that sixteen of the squad are contracted with English clubs, with some ladies being “club” teammates! Probably the most noted being their on-field star and off-field Tik-Tok super star, Ilona Maher who was more than effectively reined in for this contest. Her centre partner, Alev Kelter is a veteran, first spotted at Westhills in Sevens action some years ago and always a threat when carrying and the team was led by the experienced #8 Kats Zachery whose crafty interaction with referees during matches previously, has been noted by this pundit.

Buoyed by their recent 31 – 24 victory over Fiji, all this experience enabled the US to start with great gusto and draw first blood from the kickoff with some ten or so recycles, hushing the record partisan crowd of 11,500. Canada could have been further in the mire when Sophie de Goede was sent to the bin for a “croc roll” at the breakdown. Not to be deterred, they methodically ground back, eventually earning a penalty try and late in the half adding to that to lead, to go 14 – 10 at the interval. Sure and committed Canadian defense was causing errors and the second try came from quick and accurate handling stretching the defense and the momentum swing was noticeable.

Impact indeed! Olivia De Merchant off the bench.

(Credit - Rugby Canada)

From the shed, the second half was a totally different story when CW-connected, Gabby Senft crossed at two minutes. When Olivia De Merchant drove over after coming off the bench – IMPACT INDEED – the fans at the stadium and in front of their tv’s, rose in unison. Upon re-start, it was Canada immediately scoring again when Symmonds finished off a champagne tally, quick hands, and the veteran at 38, Karen Paquin weaving some thirty plus metres, quick ruck ball to Symmonds, leaving the defense stretched and gassed. Canada added one more for good measure. Six converted tries to one!

It is hard to select one player over another in this win and superb team effort. I must credit Olivia Apps, who game in and game out, just seems to get better. Her sure tackles are a credit to one of diminutive stature. Karen Paquin, who once again completed the full eighty is an inspiration of huge proportion and her late game rampage epitomized the effort that is becoming the trademark of this team. Her forward colleagues were solid gold with #3, Deleaka Menin deservedly earning W-o-M honors. Sophie de Goede was very active, and the coaching staff would have been happy with her game. One could continue to wax sublime; however, most readers probably watched the match and have more objective opinions than what my two red eyes observed!

CW connected, Julia and Olivia. (Rugby Canada)

I might add that the need for the referee’s calls to be frequently interspersed with visits to the TMO was pedantic and disrupted the flow of the game, to the detriment of both teams and enjoyment of paying customers. It is the nature of the game these days and one just must “suck it up”. For Canada, off to the UK and one final “warm up” against #5, Ireland next weekend, with all of Canada’s rugby community solidly behind the team and their $1,000,000 effort to “win the cup”, almost accomplished.

FROM THE LIONS DEN
My beloved Wallabies got the job done last Saturday in yet another tense battle, 22- 12, in driving rain and under the watchful eyes of some 80,500 rugby fans, probably with an even split of favoritism. Rugby Union in Australia is at its lowest ebb, falling far behind Rugby League, Australian Rules and Soccer. There is no base of playing strength of any significance. The three Super Rugby teams with a limited fan base are losing money and parents are reluctant for the kids to play, are all factors of great concern to Rugby Australia. The product at the National level has not been particularly appealing to prospective sponsors. Cometh the Lions with their legion of fans. The matches held some curious appeal, not the least being Mother Country versus The Colony! But massive crowds at Brisbane, Melbourne (not noted for its rugby base), and Sydney must seem like manna from heaven to the alickadoos. The financial gains should get RA out of its debt. It is going to take considerable work to build on this in a positive fashion, but it is a glimmer of hope for the Rah-rahs.

It was a tough week to have to rebuild on after a gut-wrenching loss in the second test, injuries to the two probable starting hookers and Rob Valentini also being declared as unavailable. Somehow, it was that Digger spirit that came to the surface and a certain “larrikinism” that carried the day. Unfortunately, the weather somewhat dictated the tactics on the day, at one point both players and spectators were removed from field and stand locations due to a forty-minute lightning warning! Despite this inclemency, kudos to both teams for their sure handling and attempts to move the ball. In the end, it was won in the trenches with Wallaby, Tom Hooper, replacing Valentini earning M-o-M. Captain Itoje’ s departure did seem to rattle the Lions organization and most definitely, their first half lineout domination, of which there were many. For the Wallabies, that cheeky and annoying effervescent Nic White, probably playing his last test and Mountain Man, Will Skelton stood out.

The Green and Gold face South Africa next in the Rugby Championship in two weeks’ time, so we will see whether this fortitude can be maintained. For the Lions, a good tour, almost pulling off the “undefeated” label but not quite. A tribute to their style of running rugby, obliterating all the minor opposition, no matter how pesky it may have been, and winning the ones that truly counted. One-eyed, partisan Aussies might still find reasons that would argue against the Lions not being that dominant, however memories of a pack which dominated all the stats would be truly short-lived. The Lions said they enjoyed all aspects and that is the bottom line. Looked to me like rugby was the winner.