EOYT: Canada vs Russia, 17/11/2012

[LittleGuy]

Love the thoughts on Hassler guys, thanks for your analysis Canucks, I was way too small for gridiron so it's nice to hear about the intricacies and nuances of Hassler's style. I wonder who will be on the outside when the sorting of the lineup is done if Hassler can keep playing well. Evans and Mackenzie are both around and it's hard to leave Pritchard on the bench with a lack of other goalkickers. Add in Paris who is growing and players like Trainor the depth is looking good.

Agreed rugger, Mack and Wilson also showed better game vision, Wilson unlocked Hassler on his first try by recognizing the oppourtunity on the sideline, while Mack made a great pass to send him on his second score.

Does anyone know what the attendance for the evening was, I've been looking for it everywhere and can't find it. I'm guessing it was a little less than the previous week if crowd noise is anything to go by, the lack of announcment also has me leaning towards it having been a small crowd.

Edit: Also apparently it got turned into a triple header with RGC 1404 playing before the two tests.

 

[Dougydeluxe]

Maybe I am of a different mind set... but I think that the RB style fits better at a Full back position. Hassler played well, but against a better team they will be able to swarm him very quickly and it wont matter how good he is.

That is why I feel FB is a better position, when he enters the line in attack he has a bit more time to way up options, come in with some speed, and then use the great lateral steps and acceleration to beat the first up tackle. He also should be able to have great countering ability from kicks.

This might be a bit biased as my first (maybe second year) at Dalhousie we had a converted RB, play at FB for our seconds team and every time they kicked to him, he was almost always able to gain 30+ yards. He had a perfect combo of speed control with decision making to slice through two to three tackles.

 

[psychic duck]

Hassler looked very impressive. I heard about him as one of Canada's best at the JWRT 2011, but he seems to have stepped up to international well.

I think (not sure) Canada's next international fixture is the USA match next year that will decide who is Americas 1 in the RWC, and becomes the first team officially to qualify.

The Canadian backline is certainly becoming very exciting.

There is Trainor, Evans, Mackenzie and van der Merwe and now Hassler already performing well. And youngsters Paris and McCann have contracts with Heineken Cup sides and should improve and become more important parts of the side in the future. The only thing is that Pritchard may not reach RWC 2015, and may need replacing over the next 12 months so Canada can have a decent goal kicker. You don't want a situation like the USA have where their goal kicking is very poor with unnatural goal kickers.

I think if Pritchard can help Canada to good results against Ireland and the inaugural extended PNC, and help Canada to qualify for the RWC 2015 in the match against USA and become Canada's top points scorer of all time, then that would be a nice send off for him. He really has been a stalwart of Canadian rugby these last few years.

On another note. Russia were very poor in nearly every aspect. They have gone backwards this year under Kingsley Jones. They have lost heavily and comfortably to every top 18 side they have faced this year. And with RWC qualifying starting next year in the ENC, they may well be in a struggle to finish top 3. They only finished 4th this year and in 2011, and with Spain's quick improvement they face a difficult task to reach the RWC 2015. They've got some big problems with their set piece, tactical kicking and defence. Vladimir Ostroushko was their only player to come out of these Colwyn Bay matches with reputation enhanced. On merit, it should be Spain who deserve matches with sides like USA and Canada next year.

 

[Canucks]

Maybe I am of a different mind set... but I think that the RB style fits better at a Full back position. Hassler played well, but against a better team they will be able to swarm him very quickly and it wont matter how good he is.

That is why I feel FB is a better position, when he enters the line in attack he has a bit more time to way up options, come in with some speed, and then use the great lateral steps and acceleration to beat the first up tackle. He also should be able to have great countering ability from kicks.

This might be a bit biased as my first (maybe second year) at Dalhousie we had a converted RB, play at FB for our seconds team and every time they kicked to him, he was almost always able to gain 30+ yards. He had a perfect combo of speed control with decision making to slice through two to three tackles.

Ya I could see what you mean. Fb is the prime position for an impact player however it does require a pretty wide skill set at international level.

 

[Dougydeluxe]

Ya I could see what you mean. Fb is the prime position for an impact player however it does require a pretty wide skill set at international level.

You are completely right, and maybe they are just breading him into international rugby before they might move him to FB.