On Friday night, BC Place hosted the largest audience for fifteens rugby ever in Canada as our national team played host to Maori All Blacks from New Zealand.
The energy of the 29,480 fans in BC Place was electric as the two teams made to the pitch for the anthems. Then the Maori All Blacks performed the much anticipated Haka. It was a thrill for all in attendance to witness the iconic Maori challenge in person.
While it was a long stretch for a Rugby Canada team to triumph over any All Blacks team, especially with new head coach Kingsley Jones only having just come onboard and getting used to the team. With just 4 practices in the books with the young team, Jones had to be pleased with their performance. Although it wasn’t a win, the Canadians held the Kiwis to 9-51, not nearly the rout expected. The Canadians had chances throughout the match showing flashes of skilled play but some costly errors and turnovers allowed the visitors’ skill to shine through.
There was plenty of All Blacks fans amongst the Red and White army but everyone was a fan of an exciting rugby match, which these teams delivered, in spades.
Next up for Rugby Canada is a series of European matches then a World Cup qualifier at BC Place on January 27th as Canada strives to secure a berth in the 2019 Rugby World Cup