Canada confident ahead of first clash

Meghan Mutrie talks to Canada's Gillian Florence and Mario Gallo just hours away from their first World Cup against Scotland. The game is the opening match of the competition. The Canadians are confident that they can do well enough in their pool to qualify for the semi-finals with France likely to be their biggest threat in topping the pool. Both players have been named in Canada's starting line-up which is below.

MM: Youve been to enough World Cups to comfortably predict this, but what can the Canada girls expect to go through as far as nerves are concerned?

GF: I think there will be obviously some anxiety, and I think people will get pretty emotional. I know that happened to me at the last World Cup; just being in Canada and the pressure of playing New Zealand in the opening match, and I let it get to me and I think a lot of people have to keep that in check.

Yes, you want to take in the moment and enjoy the experience and all those clichs, but you have to remember you have a job to do. At the end of the day youre a rugby player; you individually do what you have to do to perform, and to get the team to perform, and that keeps our game plan and structure in place.

I dont want to say its just another rugby game, but you have to have that balance of yes, its a big game, yes its a tourney and yes its a World Cup and every game counts so you have to perform at your best but keep that in check too Play. Just play. Do what you know how to do and it will come together.

MM: Compared to your previous World Cup experience, where would you say this team is at mentally and physically in terms of preparedness?

MG: Were definitely better off as a team, we've put in a lot of time in the gym and on the track. We've been drilled that rugby is a high impact sport so we need to be explosive and efficient and I think weve achieved that goal.

Mentally we are very aware of what out goals are for the World Cup. We have a squad of 26 that have a lot of international experience, so theres not a rookie on this team per say, because even the young girls have four or five international games under their belts. Come World Cup, they wont be shocked or come across something they havent seen before. We are prepared competitors in this tournament.

MM: And where would you say this team is at in terms of confidence right now?

MG: Confidence is built from within. We tell each other how good we are [laughing] but actually, everyone comes to this team having been leaders on other teams, whether thats club or provincial, so they already have that internal backup. Youll hear us say back yourself on the field, and its because we want to make sure that each of us are using the attributes were given and let the coaches decide what combination of attributes to put together on a given day. I think each athlete is very confident as to what they bring to the table, and they understand if theyre not picked that its only because its just not what the coaches were looking for that day.

MM: How would you describe the quality of personalities that make up this team?

MG: We have various types of personalities, but we make it work [laughs]. We have all types: young girls who get along with us - the old girls, lots of young leaders, introverts, extroverts but because we have a common goal of winning the World Cup we just make it work.

This is probably the best team Ive been on as far as comic relief goes. We just laugh and we play hard and we enjoy each others company. Its been a great trip so far.

Canada team to play Scotland

1. Leslie Cripps 2. Lesley McKenzie 3. Corinne Jacobsen 4. Megan Gibbs 5. Paige Knauf 6. Barbara Mervin 7. Gillian Florence 8. Kelly Russell 9. Julia Sugawara 10. Anna Schnell 11. Maria Gallo *VICE-CAPTAIN 12. Sarah Ulmer 13. Mandy Marchak 14. Heather Moyse 15. Ashley Patzer 16. Tabitha Stavrou 17. Kim Donaldson 18. Jennifer Kish 19. Heather Jaques 20. Laura Stoughton 21. Brooke Hilditch 22. Cheryl Phillips