Archiv » The Canadian team is a toug

When the Canadian womens rugby team won the Nations Cup shortly after he took over the program last year, head coach Francois Ratier held a post-tournament meeting with his players. He asked them what they wanted the teams identity to be and the players had the answers he was looking for. Ratier then chipped in himself by writing down the number of days left until the IRB Womens Rugby World Cup final. What can we do every day to make it happen? he recalled asking his players. And now, we are here. Ratier was dreaming big at the time. Canada had never even reached the podium -- never mind the championship game -- in the six previous editions of the tournament. Now his team has a shot to win it all on Sunday against England at Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris. We have the passion, we have the rage, we want it, Ratier said. But then we just have to execute and do it. It has been an impressive run by the Canadians, who have finished fourth on three occasions and were coming off a sixth-place showing in 2010. England, meanwhile, is a 2010 runner-up and has never finished lower than third, winning it all in 1994. The 2014 Canadian squad has surpassed expectations and theyve done it by grinding down the opposition. Canada opened the tournament with comfortable wins over Spain and Samoa before fighting England to a 13-13 draw. Next up was an impressive 18-16 victory over France in front of a sellout crowd that nearly boosted the host side to a comeback win. The Canadians held strong though, with Magali Harveys try standing up as the difference. The Canadian team is a tough, united side that believes it belongs in the mix with the worlds best. Canada has proved that by playing a fast, physical brand of rugby and using a team-first mentality. It takes Ratier back to that meeting a year ago after Canadas 27-13 win over England to win the Nations Cup for the first time. It was a victory that he said started the players on their current journey. He still remembers the terms the players used to describe the teams identity. They came back with really simple words, he said. One of them was Fearless. Which is great, because thats what they are. Canada also defeated England 29-25 earlier in that tournament in Denver. England got some revenge a few months later by easily dismantling Canada 32-3 at The Twickenham Stoop in the final game of Canadas European tour. Harvey and captain Kelly Russell, both recently shortlisted for the womens player of the year award, have continued their strong play in France. Both have been leaders for the Canadian side. Weve put in the work, so were happy to be where we are, Russell said of her squad. We have one more goal to achieve here and thats winning it. England lost to New Zealand in the last three finals, but the Black Ferns failed to advance from the pool stage this year. Its a cliche, but we really have taken it one game at a time, said England coach Gary Street. If you had said to us at the start of the tournament that we would have the opportunity to play France or Canada in the final then of course, we would have taken it. Were massively looking forward to (the final). England advanced with a 40-7 rout of Ireland, who will play France in the third-place game before the final. A packed house is expected and with Frances archrival providing the opposition in the championship game, there should be plenty of local support for Canada this time around. We are not nervous, Ratier said. We just trust ourselves and were going to play our best rugby. Well see it at the end if its a win or a loss. But for sure were going to leave everything on the field. Wholesale Basketball Jerseys Authentic . Casey Janssen was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday due to a strain in his left abdominal area and lower back. Cheap NBA Jerseys China . Coach Jorge Sampaoli resisted naming any major surprises in the list published Tuesday at the site of Chiles football association. Chile is pinning its hopes on the recovery of Vidal. http://www.wholesalechinajerseys.net/. These days, just about anyone can get a taste of the friendship that has blossomed between All-Star Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City Thunder teammate James Harden, most famous in the past two weeks or so for the elbow to the head he took from the Los Angeles Lakers Metta World Peace. Cheap NFL jerseys China .com) - Pittsburgh Steelers running back LeVeon Bell, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Elvis Dumervil and New England Patriots punter Ryan Allen were selected as the AFCs top players for Week 14 of the NFL season. Supply NFL Jerseys . -- Rookie Victor Oladipo came off the bench to score 20 points and Glen Davis had 18, leading the Orlando Magic to a 112-98 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.DAVIE, Fla. - Miami Dolphins guard Daryn Colledge says he should have taken himself out of the lineup sooner when he came down with a headache that forced him to the sideline.Colledge left the Dolphins game Sunday at Jacksonville after three series, all three-and-outs. The Dolphins said he suffered a migraine.I had a medical issue pop up in the first drive and I stupidly, selfishly thought that I could play through it and tried to fight through it, and in the process got my quarterback sacked twicce and really set the offence back, Colledge said Tuesday.dddddddddddd I apologize to those guys.Colledge has never missed a game in his nine-year career. He said he hopes to start Sunday against San Diego, but must receive medical clearance.Theres certain protocol that the team has to now follow to get me back on the field, Colledge said. Ive got to pass all the same tests as somebody that went through a concussion.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '