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For the Canadians, Moonlight said London — every tournament, really — now presents the same challenge: “prove what we’ve got. We don’t want to be just another one and done team.”

Photo by Martin Seras Lima / World Rugby

Leadership as a group

This year brought another change: Moonlight hasn’t played captain every tournament. He’s led the Canadians nearly every time out since taking over for Nanyak Dala in 2013-14. Hirayama was captain in Paris. Harry Jones was captain in Wellington and Sydney.

That’s really just a reflection of how things run behind the scenes, Moonlight said.

“I’m still going to say what I need to say, when I think it needs to be said,” he explained. “The only thing that really changes is who goes to the photo before the tournament and who runs out first.”

“If anything it’s made things easier for me as a player.”

The motor’s still running

Moonlight’s pretty firm: as long as he’s still firing well, and the money question can be managed, he’s going to keep playing sevens.

He may not score as much as he used to, but he’s happy contributing to a winning team.

“I’d love to score 100 tries but wins are better,” he said.

Moonlight, by the way, comes into the weekend on 98 tries for his career. He’s nine back of his cousin Dave, who’s second on the all-time list to Sean Duke’s 124 career tries.

Hammond returns

Lucas Hammond was a late scratch last week in Paris. His return is a welcome one, Moonlight said.

“He’s such a good sweeper,” he said.

Figure on Hammond playing as the first choice scrum-half/sweeper, with playmaker Nathan Hirayama standing wider on attack and defence. Last week the Canadian points leader swapped back and forth with Pat Kay. Kay seems most likely to return to an off-the-bench role, one he’s filled very well for much of the season.