Canada 22 South Africa 36

Canada
Tries: Geoff Bylund, Robin Legault (2), Enoch Wamalwa
Goals: Kale Hutchings (2), Graham Dobbs (1)

S Africa
Tries: Christof Swanepoel, Stevie Meyer (2), Hans du Plessis, Rupert Wells, Johan Fritz, Christo Louw
Goals: Francois Greyvensteyn (2), Pieter van der Nest (2)

Great game today, very entertaining and let me tell you that South Africa look good. Anyone thinking they'll be easy beats in the WCQ are in for a shock.

www.internationalrugbyleague.net/apps/blog/

www.internationalrugbyleague.net/apps/blog/

Crowd was 790 by the way.

Must be a very different SA team the one I saw a couple of years ago were awful and thrashed by Yorkshire BARLA.

www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/e ... p?id=10145 Crowd listed as 1005 on the official CRL 'site jonny.

www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/e ... p?id=10145 Crowd listed as 1005 on the official CRL 'site jonny.

I used the SA site and they said 790 www.sarugbyleague.co.za/ Hope you're right and i'm wrong!

I used the SA site and they said 790 www.sarugbyleague.co.za/ Hope you're right and i'm wrong!

Not me jonny, the CRL

Not sure what to read into the result, South Africa at full strength and a week away from a world cup qualifiers, Canada certainly five players missing the from the match squad, including long term injured Matt Gleed and Stephen Conlan, and Danny Topou, Dale Fitzgerald unavailable, plus Harlequins Louis Robinson who was suspended, all big misses to the team

I interviewed the South African coach after the game and he said he was disappointed in their performance and it was the worst they'd played in 6 months. He said jet lag was probably a factor and expects a much stronger performance from them in the qualifiers. Everyone in the Canada camp said they're the strongest team they've played this year. The fact that these boys have been playing together for a few years is definitely going to be an asset against the USA and Jamaica in the qualifiers.

I hope there's a way we can watch online as I'm really interested to see how the teams go. Anyone who does get to watch the games, keep an eye out for the SA loose forward Steve Meyer. Cracking player.

As for Canada, they're really pleased with the progress that's been made this year. Lots of big things in the pipeline for next year. I can't wait.

who had they played in the last six months

I think he may have been comparing this performance to their provincial competition, as they haven't played an international to my knowledge this year.

Canada certainly missed some key players - Louis Robinson, Danny Tupou and Stu McNicholas in particular.

A 50/50 record for the first proper season is a creditable performance and a lot to build on for next year. The question is what the plans for 2012 are going to be, from both the domestic and international angles.

I do know that they are lining up a lot of internationals, plus a domestic comp which will hopefully include teams in Ottawa & Montreal.

The Rugby League Show also got renewed for 4 years! Looks like more 4 more years of ing about with a microphone & a camera for me

How many clubs are there in Canada at the moment, and are any junior sides being set up?

Does this make you the Canadian television equivalent of Clare Balding?

Thats great news and good level of commitment to get a multi-year deal.

Haha. I doubt they'll ever let me near the mic to do live telly. That's got trouble written all over it

This year there was a round robin comp with 4 clubs in Southern Ontario(Toronto City Saints, York Region Reds, Scorborough Centurions & Niagara Bobcats - all linked their UK namesakes - I think Bobcats is linked to Keighly). They're hoping to add 2 teams (Ottawa & Montreal) for a proper league style competition next year. There has been talk about bringing League into some Toronto schools. Not sure where that is at the moment. Apparently they play touch rugby up to a certain age group before switching to Union anyway so it shouldn't be too much of a stretch to get them playing League instead.

There's work underway to set up a West Coast league but I don't know much about that right now. I haven't really heard anything about junior sides yet. The approach seems to be a top down one with focus on getting the National team and then the domestic comp as much publicity as possible to build up interest in the sport.

Good stuff. They seem to be making great strides to say they were only set up last year.

Very good idea setting up the links with clubs over here too, we may see an Alberta Airlie Birds pop up

Alberta Sharks

As an aside, I interviewed a family of 4 on Sunday who were at the game, all wearing their brand new Canada shirts with pride. It was their first ever game of rugby league and they were there because of the game that had been shown on national TV a few weekends earlier.

I also heard that the South Africans completely sold out of merchandise on Sunday. They now have nothing left to take to the WCQ.

Now thats brilliant news.

What kind of stuff were the Saffers selling spooky? Also, do you have any idea if the CRL have any intention of producing a DVD of this year's international highlights?

I didn't actually get the chance to look at their stuff but I think it was shirts & training tops. Not sure how much they actually brought with them, but there were quite a few local South Africans in the crowd. I guess they didn't really figure on that kind of demand at the Canada game.

I'll ask about the DVD. The CRL guys are on their way to Philly to cover the WCQs so I might not get an answer right away. But I should be meeting with them when they get back so I'll try to remember to raise it again then.

Thanks spooky.