Canada storm to Pan Am gold

Canada put in an almost faultless performance over two days in Toronto. The opening three games saw the hosts rack up 151 unanswered points with wins over Colombia (55-0), Mexico (60-0) and Brazil (36-0), going on to top the pool with a 45-0 win over Argentina and 34-12 defeat of the United States, with the USA’s two tries coming in the final three minutes of the game.

Despite the loss the United States joined them in the final with similarly comprehensive wins, culminating in a 71-0 11-try defeat of Mexico.

Overall the pool games emphasised the gap between the two North American teams and the rest. Only World Series team Brazil managed to score any points against the USA or Canada, going on to win bronze with a 29-0 over Argentina.

Colombia – surprise winners of the South American place in the Olympics – finished in last place overall despite drawing with Argentina in their final pool game, missing out on the bronze medal playoff on points difference. A last-play try from Georgina Zenteno stealing fifth place for Mexico.

TheToronto Star reportsthat final took place in front of a crowd of some 18,000 people – the largest ever for a sevens rugby match (or probably any women's match, XVs or VIIs) in Canada. Canada gave their fans a little scare early on when they conceded aKristen Thomas try  — the first time they’ve ever been behind in the weekend tournament — that gave the United States an early lead, but after that it was one way traffic. Karen Paquin scored a hat-trick as Canada scored nine tries to win the final 55-7.

“This is probably the best performance of our year,” head coach John Tait told theStar, after the final. "We were clinical after that first try with the US, settled down took a deep breath [captain JenKish], I know, pulled them in and told them to relax and they really started to fire from there. For 18, 19 minutes that probably the best rugby we played all year,

“We had three goals this year: Qualify for Rio, win a world series event, and the last goal we had this season was to come here and win a gold medal. Setting goals and achieving them is a big part of this program’s success and it’s all building to the biggest step, which is gold in Rio.”

The crowd was thunderous in its cheers for the Canadians and spectators were on their feet for every moment of the action, which in a rugby sevens match is constantly. But it was all “white noise” to the players, Kish said. "The girls did a great job they tuned out the crowd, as much as we could feel the crowd behind us but as for noise we were very tuned into each other and that’s why we played so well today.

"We got to do a lap around the field and share our win the crowd, the Canadian fans,” Kish continued. "There are many more great days for this team. You can expect many more trophies from us and building towards Rio.”

Results

Canada  55–0  ColombiaUnited States  26–7  BrazilMexico  5–40  ArgentinaUnited States  40–0  ColombiaBrazil  22–5  ArgentinaCanada  60–0  MexicoArgentina  7–54  United StatesCanada  36–0  BrazilColombia  24–19  MexicoArgentina  0-45  CanadaColombia  0-29  BrazilMexico  0-71  United StatesArgentina  5-5  ColombiaBrazil  57-0  MexicoCanada  34-12  United States

Play offs

5thplace:Colombia 17-19 MexicoBronze medal:Brazil 29-0 ArgentinaGold medal:Canada 55-7 United States