Canada to face All Blacks in Singapore rugby 7s quarter-finals

Captain John Moonlight scored his 98th career try on the rugby sevens circuit as Canada advanced to the Cup quarter-finals at the Singapore Sevens on Saturday.

The Canadian men defeated Russia 28-15 and Hong Kong 34-0 before being bulldozed 35-7 by Olympic champion Fiji.

It marks the fourth tournament in a row — and fifth in six events — that the Canadian men have reached the quarter-finals.

Canada, currently ninth in the overall standings, will face No. 4 New Zealand on Sunday. The Canadian ran the All Blacks close in a 15-14 loss in Vancouver last month but their overall record against New Zealand is 2-32-1.

In the other quarter-finals at the National Stadium, it's England versus Kenya, Fiji versus the U.S., and Australia versus South Africa.

'Not good enough'

Singapore is the eighth stop on the 10-event HSBC World Rugby Sevens circuit.

Moonlight moved within two tries of a century against No. 15 Russia. Justin Douglas, Luke McCloskey and Mike Fuailefau also scored tries.

Lucas Hammond, Fuailefau, Harry Jones, Matt Mullins and Jared Douglas — Justin's older brother — all scored in a romp over Hong Kong, which was invited to the tournament as Asian champion.

Canada paid for a poor performance against No. 2 Fiji, which is coming off a tournament win in Hong Kong.

Waisea Nacuqu scored three tries and Mesulame Kunavula and Sevuloni Mocenacagi added singles for the Pacific Islanders in a lopsided game that saw three yellow cards: two for Fiji and one for Canada (Issac Kaay).

Nacuqu's first try came after teammate Setareki Bituniyata beat three Canadian would-be tacklers.

With his team down 21-0 at the half, coach Damian McGrath told the Canadians to pick it up. "It's not good enough," he said.

But the tailspin continued. Jared Douglas, on a pass from his brother, scored a consolation try for Canada with no time remaining.