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“You want to chase something. We’re chasing a top eight (spot) and on Day 2 seeing where we can go from there,” he said. “That first game against Scotland is going to be the big one.”

Photo by Jeff Vinnick / NHL1 via Getty Images

Last year, the Canadians won the ninth-place “bowl” title, winning all their games on Day 2 before claiming the bowl final against France on the game’s last play after the French were unable to clear the ball to end the game.

John Moonlight crashed over for the try and the crowd went wild; they went wilder still when Nathan Hirayama hammered home the conversion to seal the win.

“Last year we finished in amazing fashion,” Jones said. “You can’t ask for anything better. I don’t think many fans quite knew what we were playing for, but they knew we were playing for something and that was enough.”

Scotland coach Callum McRae took note last year how energized the Canadian crowd can be. At the Sydney Sevens in January, his team was in a similar spot, playing host team Australia in pool play.

The key, he said, was to focus playing smooth, mistake-free rugby in the early stages, to avoid giving the home crowd things to roar about.

“Ultimately there’s a charged crowd there, you don’t want to give them anything to cheer for too early,” McRae said. “If you try and take it on too aggressively, then you’ve allowed for the stadium to play its part.

“We’re very much looking forward to it,” McRae added. “All we’re focused on is performance and getting the win.”

Canada will then face Russia (mid-afternoon), who are hard-edged but have mostly struggled this season, before closing the day against New Zealand in the day’s final match. The All Blacks remain fearsome, but the Canadians beat them in each of the past two seasons and drew with them in the season’s second tournament in Cape Town, South Africa.