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The ‘amazing, beautiful’ crowd reaction to Canada’s epic upset in Vancouver
By Finn Morton
When the full-time whistle sounded in the women’s third-place playoff at SVNS Vancouver, the Canadians on the field and those in the stands celebrated as if they were champions.
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In one of the upsets of the season so far, Canada defeated SVNS Series front-runners Australia to claim a “beautiful” bronze medal in front of their passionate home fans.
As the players swarmed one another on the field, the crowd let out a goosebump-worthy cheer that echoed throughout the venue at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium.
Absolute SCENES on the full-time whistle from @RugbyCanada 🙌🇨🇦#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSVAN https://t.co/ldJKqZKz1T pic.twitter.com/nPQcwPnKCt
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) February 26, 2024
It was an incredible moment that was worthy of a final. Canada’s 19-14 win over Australia stole the show at SVNS Vancouver as everyone made sure to soak up the momentous achievement.
“That was the most amazing, beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced,” Canada’s Charity Williams told RugbyPass. “I kind of feel like I blacked out a little bit but I knew that everyone was in an uproar.
“This is our family, this is our friends in the stands. Everyone in there is there is there for us.
“I just knew if we brought it home, we would feel it.
“This Series stop is probably one of the best in the world. Our Canadian fans ride so deep and they love rugby, but they especially love women’s rugby in Canada.
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“We see some of these people all the time at home, we train here, so we’re all just so connected.
“There’s honestly no place like rugby in Canada, especially at BC Place.”
Canada couldn’t have started the third-place playoff any better, either. Krissy Scurfield, who was named in the SVNS Series’ Dream Team after the event, got things underway in minute one.
Scurfield put a powerful right-hand fend on Australia’s Maddison Levi before running another 70 metres or so to open the scoring.
Canada strike first in our Bronze final 🥉#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSVAN | @RugbyCanada pic.twitter.com/dRjzILg8Zc
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) February 25, 2024
Madison Ashby hit back for the Aussies a couple of minutes later, and while it was tense at the break with the scores locked at seven-all, it was Canada’s night in the end.
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Chloe Daniels and Charity Williams both crossed for five-pointers, and while Australia made it a one-score game with a Levi try in the 13th minute, Canada did enough to hang on.
“We have a bit of a new franchise in the last four or so years and we haven’t done that with this team,” Williams explained when asked about the significance of beating Australia.
“This is one of the biggest accomplishments since we’ve been together.
“I was just telling the girls, I’ve been on this team for a very long time and this is the best I’ve ever felt winning – not even gold, we won bronze but I feel like we won golf.
“It’s the most amazing experience. I’m just so proud to be a part of this team and I just know it only goes up from here, we just set a standard.”
If there was one more during the match itself which summed up the occasion best it was Williams’ try in the 11th minute.
Williams picked the ball up at a ruck and noticed there were open pastures ahead of her. The speedster ran in between Dominique du Toit and Madison Ashby to help give Canada a 12-point lead.
But the effort, it must be said, was deserving of style points as the Canadian opted to do a forward-roll somersault while placing the ball down.
“I don’t even know where that came from honestly,” she said, laughing.
“I just needed to touch the ball down in the most ridiculous way possible because it just felt like that was the pinnacle moment that shifted the game for us.”
The SVNS Series heads to Los Angeles next from March 1 to 3 and tickets can be bought HERE.
Women’s 7’s is excellent, a showcase for the sport.
“Worthy of a final” is a step too far. It is super difficult to make a final. But brilliant result for the home nation. Very emotional, very heartwarming.