Culture key to Canada’s success

Canada have had a strong buildup to this year’s World Cup with a raft of games over the past year preparing them for a tournament at which they have every right to dream big.

In recent years the Canadian 7s programme has grabbed much of the limelight and with good reason with the John Tait coached side finishing second at the Rugby World Cup Sevens and third on this year’s World Series circuit by some distance.

But it has been an eventful year for the 15s programme as well, with strong performances and good results highlighting that Ratier’s side will be a huge threat in Paris and will certainly be ranked among the front runners.

Two test wins over rivals USA in April set them up well for theirsummer seriesin New Zealand - where they beat Australia with a solid showing and then in losing twice to New Zealand, still showed signs of their growing potential with the Black Ferns being pushed all the way in both tests.

For Ratier, who took over from Tait who is now totally focused on the country's 7s programme, more structured preparation and solid game time means his side are growing in confidence .

“We  have definitely had a good year of preparation for the World Cup with the Nations Cup, a tour of France and England and the end of 2013, then the Can-Am Series and then the tour of New Zealand, but that is what we needed as the team had not played since 2012. We will be confident going to Paris and I expect strong performances from this squad.”

“We have learned a lot over the past few months in particular. Although we lost twice to New Zealand and were happy with much of the performances in those games, we were very disappointed to lose and that is a mark of how we have progressed.”

Canada have been pooled with Spain, Samoa and England in Paris and Ratier is sharp off the mark when asked his thoughts in their opponents.

“Spain play a lot of rugby, Samoa are physical and fast and England are all of those things so it will be tough. We are not looking beyond the opening game against Spain - that’s the decider first and foremost and then we will see where we are.”

This year was also something of a landmark for the 15s programme in Canada as they played their100th test gamewhen they ran out against the USA in the second of their two tests.

Pleasingly to mark the occasion, where they became the first women’s nation outside Europe to reach the test century, they beat USA for the second time in a week having done so convincingly 51-7 in the first game.

Ratier isn’t putting too much emphasis on that score line though.

“We know that Pete (Steinberg) didn’t put his best Team on the field for that game and I did. I wouldn’t read too much into it, though of course we really put in a great performance on that day and everything was working for us. I don’t think that represents the difference between the two nations though at all.”

While Ratier has called on a handful of the players who are leading the Canadian 7s charge including standout, Mandy Marchak he will, in the main, rely on players who have been a key part of the 15s programme since the last World Cup - something that will give his side strong continuity and depth.

Having come into the role relatively recently, he is enjoying the challenge the women's game is giving him.

“There hasn’t been a huge amount of change in terms of how I am coaching to how I was coaching with men's sides. I have the same philosophy of rugby and my expectations are the same in terms of style of play, team culture and work ethics. Culture is key and I really enjoy working with this squad.”

“They are a hard working group and and I know the number of financial sacrifices the players are making to be able to play at his level. Rugby Canada is helping us the most that they can and we have the support of our provinces too, but it’s stilltough for some players. They put a lot in.”

And Canada apart, who does he see as the key threats in France?

“Like everyone else I would pick out France, England and New Zealand and everyone else is a dark  horse.”

Including his own side.. Canada are a team not to be taken lightly