Canada players stay relaxed before their semi final with Georgia
15 APRIL 2007
By Jeremy Inson
After finishing in second place in the Division B pool standings at the IRB Under 19 World Championship 2007, Canada are on course to achieve their pre-tournament aim of winning the title when they take on Georgia in the semi finals at Gibson Park, Malone on Monday.
In pursuit of this aim the Canada coach Gary Johnston has looked for inspiration from the movie world and it seems to have worked following victories over Zimbabwe, Russia and Romania.
“We came with the motto ‘no try.’ Do or do not, no try. It comes from Star Wars. When Luke was asked to save the Empire, he said he would do his best, he would try. Yoda said, ‘do or do not, there is no try.’
“For us the Empire is lost if we don’t win the B Division,” Johnston said.
Canadian injuries
Unfortunately for Canada, they will be without one of their most experienced players for the rest of the tournament.
“We’ve had some bad news in that Matt Evans, who is the only repeat player from Dubai, is out with a spiral fracture. We’ll be without him and he is one of our team leaders and was man of the match for the last game,” he said.
Johnston feels that his team has yet to play to its maximum and realises it is imperative that they reach it against Georgia.
“I think Canada is yet to play their best game and we need that for the Georgians and certainly for Italy who are most likely to go through.
“Georgia are definitely a team that could beat us, they have the tools, they have the attitude, so we have to be at the top of our game to beat them.”
Unknown opponents
Canada captain Nathan Hirayama realises there is an element of a step into the unknown when they face Georgia for a place in the final.
“I don’t know much about Georgia, but from what I hear, they have been playing pretty solid through the tournament and I think it will definitely be a tough game for us,” Hirayama said.
It has been an odd tournament off the field for fly half Hirayama, who sat a University of Victoria exam in bio-mechanics and physiology whilst in Belfast.
“That was a little bit different. I don’t think I was as well prepared as I may have been, but I think I managed the exam well and I think I passed,” he said.
Hirayama feels that Canada have only benefited by being in such exalted company at the tournament and it is up to them to put these lessons into action.
“Just the professionalism of these other countries is what sets us apart. Hopefully we can take some of this stuff back home and put it to use.”
We came with the motto ‘no try.’ Do or do not, no try. It comes from Star Wars. When Luke was asked to save the Empire, he said he would do his best, he would try. Yoda said, ‘do or do not, there is no try.
Canada head coach Gary Johnston
Rollercoaster ride
It has been a rollercoaster ride for Georgia captain Archil Kobauri, following a win over Romania and a loss to Zimbabwe, the semi final place was only assured by beating Russia.
“We started this tournament very well and it was very good psychologically as we won against favourites Romania. But the second match was awful, against Zimbabwe, because we thought we would win easily,” Kobauri said.
Nonetheless with Russia as Georgia’s third pool stage opponent Kobauri, the number 8, was always confident that local pride would spur them onto the semi finals.
“Georgia and Russia have a very interesting history at every level. We know the boys were more motivated and I think we didn’t want to destroy this tradition. That is why we played well against Russia and beat them,” he said.
Kobauri feels that a high tempo game will be the best way of beating Canada, with the back three particularly important.
“We must play the same rugby as we played against Russia. It was quick rugby and our full back and wingers played well. If we play the same sort of rugby we can get a similar result,” he said.
he team declarations for the Division B semi finals and other playoff matches are coming in. Click here to see the squads for Italy v USA, Canada v Georgia, Tonga v Zimbabwe, Uruguay v Chile, the Cook Islands v Russia and Chinese Taipei v Romania.
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