Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Nations Cup: Witness rugby's fiercest rivalry

Tonight's games in the Nations Cup promise a few contrasts. England will start things off (9.30pm) with their game against South Africa who they have met twice before and, well not exactly been troubled by. Scores of 101-0 and 74-8 would - with all their opponents improvements - tend to point to and English win. Indeed if South Africa get within 50 points they would probably could it a triumph. However, England may well hold back a little with Canada and a possible battle for the title.

Meanwhile Canada desparately need to bounce back from their shock defeat in Sunday (and, aside from the opening 20 minutes, unconvincing win last Thursday as well). Trouble is that the team they need to bounce back against are their deadliest rivals in what must be women's rugby's greatest internatonal "derby" - the "CanAm" (kick-off 11.30pm - if you can stay up to watch it, available as a recording tomorrow morning if you can't).

Canada and the USA have met 22 times since 1987. Few match-ups have a longer history and none are closer - 13 wins for the USA, 9 for Canada. This is North American rugby's Calcutta Cup, their Ashes, the one that matters more than all the rest. It promises to be the best game of the tournament so far. Canada should be favourites, but USA are coming into the game on the high of their first win for three years. Not to be missed!

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