You’d be forgiven for not following the Canada versus Maori All Blacks match on Sunday if you live outside of Canada.
It was streamed live and for free on the IRB website, but Canada did not face the full All Blacks.
There was Australia versus England to watch, not to mention all the other non-rugby events going on.
Nevertheless I’m hoping you’ll consider at least watching some highlights, because this was more than just an exciting match.
It may have far-reaching consequences for North American rugby.
The game was played in front of 22,500+ people (of whom I was one) at BMO Field, home of the Major League Soccer franchise Toronto FC.
This makes it the largest crowd ever in Canadian rugby history. It was broadcast live on TSN, the country’s largest sports broadcaster, during midday.
It was the next iteration in more prominent games being played, as a result of Rugby Canada’s aggressive efforts to promote the game.
In just the last year or so, BMO Field has hosted four big matches: a Test against Italy, another against Ireland, and the definitive Rugby World Cup qualifying match against the USA.
All of these matches saw increasing crowds and increasing media prominence, most if not all also being broadcast live.
Rugby Canada has used the Pacific Nations Cup matches and Americas Rugby Championship tournament to take the game to different cities across the country, with smaller stadia.
This has allowed it to strategically focus the big matches like these on BMO Field.
Ireland drew 20,000 fans, while the USA match saw unprecedented post-match coverage, which doubled as Rugby World Cup 2015 promotion.
The Maori All Black game blew these games out of the water.
There was a palpable sense of anticipation in the city and across the country, an enthusiastic capacity crowd, and ample post-match coverage.
This may have been the case for other matches, but that would have been just among the rugby crowd, which, as in most of the world, is insular but passionate.
Very rarely has this been extended to the general population, however.
This was a perfect match for that occasion.
The sky was clear even if the air was cold. Eight tries were scored, six by the Maori, and two by Canada (including the first try of the game, a near-perfect pushover maul, to which the crowd erupted).
Running rugby and skill dominated proceedings.
If we are being realistic, there are some downsides this match displayed about rugby in Canada.
For one, it’s pretty plain that a lot of the publicity centered on the novelty of the Haka and about a third of the crowd probably didn’t realise until match day that the Maori All Blacks are not the All Blacks.
This might paint a picture of a still-ignorant public.
But for once, the crowd appeared to understand the rules. For once they cheered more than the hits, and instead cheered good lineouts, scrum steals, offloads, etc.
This was probably the first game I’ve watched where I haven’t had to explain the rules to a newbie.
Moreover, people realised the strength and depth of rugby in New Zealand.
In talking to a lot of people, they had an innate understanding about the global structure of rugby; which national teams were good and where the game was played.
People appear to know something about the game on the field as well as know something about the game off it.
After the match, many people felt this is what it must be like to be in Prague, for example, and watch Team Canada play hockey against the Czech national team.
It’s a trope in Canadian sports that whenever we lose to someone at any sport other than hockey (that is, ice hockey to you folk) we say “at least we’d win at hockey”.
But that pessimistic attitude was mostly absent.
In its place was just awe at the skill level of the Maori, respect for their style of play, discussions about this game, not another.
There were no commiserations to rationalise the gap between the Maori and the Canadian team, which didn’t have most of their Europe-based pros to call upon.
No one appeared to brush off the result and revert to type.
Even as a defeat, this game illustrates the increased prominence the game enjoys locally.
Next summer BMO field will host Scotland. I think that with any luck, by then we’ll see further development, and Canadian fans will more than ever come to watch the game on its own merits.
I know for a fact the newbies I went with were converted and have said they intend to go.
This Saturday the Maori will play the USA in Philadelphia. The last I heard, this match was also sold out.
It’s very likely the novelty of the Haka and the misunderstanding of which team they’re facing will inflate the crowd and publicity somewhat there, as it did in Toronto.
But with any luck, the end result will be the same; fans having learnt something about the game.
With that in mind, I’ll be cheering for the Americans, which I hope you realise is a major sacrifice for a Canadian to be making.
Harry Jones
Guest
Colin, good spirit shown by Canada in that brawl with Georgia.
In Brief
Guest
I heard them say it was 18000. That was great rugby, maybe not in terms of technical quality, but just in terms of seeing big guys running, massive tackles and a willingness to get stuck in. Lots of fun and the crowd were amazing.
Anne
Roar Rookie
Just watched highly entertaining USA vs Maori. What an atmosphere! Will this awake the sleeping giant?
atlas
Guest
great game and what a fantastic crowd (commentator said sell-out, but how many?), love the roar from the stands - for both sides - good advertisement for rugby and sport
p.Tah
Guest
How good is it to see a full Stadium at a US 'Test match'. Good game vs the Maori so far.
SRSUCKS
Guest
Pretty sure Chris Smylie is a North Harbour player, not Wellington
Matt
Guest
To be fair though WCR, Scott Johnson has never really set the world alight and neither of those guys really were at the top of their games while coaching USA. Johnson left early to go to the Ospreys, a side who have constantly underperformed. And Eddie O'Sullivan made a brief return to the US in 2011 after being outed in Ireland after never making the most of what many have described as 'Ireland golden generation'. Crowley seems to have done really well with Canada with what many would suggest is a smaller player base and development pathway. I think it would be great to get more really top level coaching in to the USA. It's no good bringing through talent if you can't properly finish it to a world standard. You only have to look at how Japan have grown under Kirwan and particularly under Eddie Jones
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
They have tried both Eddie O'Sullivan and Scott Johnson in the past with no avail. It's not a coaching issue at that level. It's a talent issue via development leading to the Eagles. This is being addressed now and will begin to translate more and more over the next 5 to 10 years.
stillmatic1
Guest
agree. the wife and I went to 2 Canadian games at the WC (vs tonga/japan), and really enjoyed watching them play. the performance of the captain, in particular, was outstanding (cant recall his name though). for us, apart from nz winning the thing, the games between the minnows were the highlight of our 7 weeks watching the rugby.
Carl
Guest
The skills aren't immediately transferable. Much like Izzy playing AFL and that one goal that cost GWS $1m. The NFL is full of 300 pound guys who would have to lie down after a couple of phases of rugby. And their backs can all run at lightning speeds but there's no requirement to be fit in a stop-start game where each team has 46 guys playing on game day That's 92 players at each game! There's no reason for them to sacrifice size, power or speed for fitness. They also have amazing talent development through the college system which attracts crowds of 80,000+ to games. Scouting for talent outside of the states and from other sports probably isn't worth their time when they can just focus all their scouting resources on guys with proven skills from actually playing the sport. I heard someone describing what would happen if an NFL team decided to play rugby. He said the NFL team would steamroll any Rugby team for about 3 minutes. Then for the next 77 minutes the Rugby team would run circles around them. That sounds about right haha.
Carl
Guest
It does sound a bit like that but I was just trying to balance the argument a bit. I would love nothing more than for Canadian Rugby to get to the point where they can play against top teams every year even if only for one off games much like Samoa or Japan do. There's no doubt that games like the Maori AB game are definitely helping the game and they're doing a great job with the limited resources available, they even have a full womens comp here in Toronto. The climate here though probably has a substantial impact given that you can't really train outdoors for a big part of the year. Imagine having a runny nose and having it freeze on your face!
Matt
Guest
American Dave, just on your comment regarding the recent dominance from Canada at senior Men's level... Is it time that USA Rugby looked at bringing in some top level foreign coaching experience? I think Keiran Crowley has had a strong impact with Canada and really improved their play. I think he's also helped get Canadian players pro contracts through network links. On that note, a recently released Wallaby Coach with excellent credentials could be just the man. Possibly either as a Director of Rugby (managing on-field high performance), or as a technical support to Coach Tolken. It would certainly be great to get someone with that kind of experience grooming the young talent emerging from the High School and College systems. You'd also have someone who is in the ear of many professional club coaches, to promote players deserving of full time contracts.
Pyes
Guest
Canada is coached by keiran Crowley, a great all black and former coach of taranaki so there shouldn't be any down fall there. I think the awe is what kills Canada (as a kiwi who lives there)
American Dave
Guest
This is hard for me to write (cue tightening of fingers) but Canada has done well. The growth in general is good to see, though I am more than a little ashamed of the US' recent record against our northern neighbours.
IvanN
Guest
It would be welcomed, I imagine it could only be good for the game if NZ and SA had more 'big games' than only against eachother. Okay NZ more so, SA still has somewhat of a challenge with Aus and Eng, but you know what i mean.
IvanN
Guest
very interesting info thanks, Why does the NFL not buy more International Rugby players ? I think that if that had to happen, more and more Americans would take note of where these guys came from and the game of Rugby would get attention.
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
I don't know the exact numbers of African American kids playing but I do know there are quite a lot playing the game via the Play Rugby program in both New York and Los Angeles to name a couple. It's a growing sport and it will likely grow its demographics. Though, Pryde Rugby out of Washington would easily be a top 5 program and they are exclusively African American.
Bakkies
Guest
Plays for Glasgow is a strong finisher. Has had a few injuries
Greg
Guest
Doesn't sound like you are easily pleased with anything rugby does to be fair. There were plenty of great tries scored, by both Canada and the Maori AB's. A great deal of the advertising was also put on social media and the word Maori was pretty clear. Not sure how anyone could really be disappointed by the event really.
atlas
Guest
No. I mentioned Australian Super franchise, no mention of playing for another country eg Qantas Wallabies/Australia - he can play for any franchise he likes as no NZ franchise selected him. New Zealand's designated second team ('protected players') is the NZ Juniors who last played in 2009 (not NZ U-20 as many think). All countries' national Sevens players are similarly 'protected' for that country, forever. Maori All Blacks is not a NZ representative side - it is a side representing New Zealand Maori. Playing for Maori All Blacks does not 'protect' a player for NZ rugby. The only teams that do this are the All Blacks, the NZ Juniors, and the NZ Sevens All Blacks teams. IRB Men's and Women's Next Senior National Representative Team 2013 here: http://www.irb.com/mm/Document/LawsRegs/Regulations/02/06/85/13/121218DOIRBNextSeniorNationalRepresentativeTeam2013-23-07-2013.pdf