When the Canadian womens rugby team won the Nations Cup shortly after he took over the program last year, head coach Francois Ratier held a post-tournament meeting with his players. [url=http://www.customcubsjersey.com/custom-daniel-descalso-jersey-large -1780n.html]Daniel Descalso Jersey[/url] . He a

When the Canadian womens rugby team won the Nations Cup shortly after he took over the program last year, head coach Francois Ratier held a post-tournament meeting with his players. Daniel Descalso Jersey . He asked them what they wanted the teams identity to be and the players had the answers he was looking for. Ratier then chipped in himself by writing down the number of days left until the IRB Womens Rugby World Cup final. What can we do every day to make it happen? he recalled asking his players. And now, we are here. Ratier was dreaming big at the time. Canada had never even reached the podium -- never mind the championship game -- in the six previous editions of the tournament. Now his team has a shot to win it all on Sunday against England at Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris. We have the passion, we have the rage, we want it, Ratier said. But then we just have to execute and do it. It has been an impressive run by the Canadians, who have finished fourth on three occasions and were coming off a sixth-place showing in 2010. England, meanwhile, is a 2010 runner-up and has never finished lower than third, winning it all in 1994. The 2014 Canadian squad has surpassed expectations and theyve done it by grinding down the opposition. Canada opened the tournament with comfortable wins over Spain and Samoa before fighting England to a 13-13 draw. Next up was an impressive 18-16 victory over France in front of a sellout crowd that nearly boosted the host side to a comeback win. The Canadians held strong though, with Magali Harveys try standing up as the difference. The Canadian team is a tough, united side that believes it belongs in the mix with the worlds best. Canada has proved that by playing a fast, physical brand of rugby and using a team-first mentality. It takes Ratier back to that meeting a year ago after Canadas 27-13 win over England to win the Nations Cup for the first time. It was a victory that he said started the players on their current journey. He still remembers the terms the players used to describe the teams identity. They came back with really simple words, he said. One of them was Fearless. Which is great, because thats what they are. Canada also defeated England 29-25 earlier in that tournament in Denver. England got some revenge a few months later by easily dismantling Canada 32-3 at The Twickenham Stoop in the final game of Canadas European tour. Harvey and captain Kelly Russell, both recently shortlisted for the womens player of the year award, have continued their strong play in France. Both have been leaders for the Canadian side. Weve put in the work, so were happy to be where we are, Russell said of her squad. We have one more goal to achieve here and thats winning it. England lost to New Zealand in the last three finals, but the Black Ferns failed to advance from the pool stage this year. Its a cliche, but we really have taken it one game at a time, said England coach Gary Street. If you had said to us at the start of the tournament that we would have the opportunity to play France or Canada in the final then of course, we would have taken it. Were massively looking forward to (the final). England advanced with a 40-7 rout of Ireland, who will play France in the third-place game before the final. A packed house is expected and with Frances archrival providing the opposition in the championship game, there should be plenty of local support for Canada this time around. We are not nervous, Ratier said. We just trust ourselves and were going to play our best rugby. Well see it at the end if its a win or a loss. But for sure were going to leave everything on the field. Jody Davis Jersey . Perhaps as important, shes sending a message to 17-year-old gold medal favourite Sara Takanashi of Japan. Iraschko-Stolz relegated Takanashi, who has 10 World Cup victories this season, to second place in two of three training jumps Saturday. Ron Santo Jersey .The McLaren MP4-30 was launched on Thursday, with chief executive Ron Dennis saying it marks the start of a lengthy journey back to winning grands prix and eventually world championships.McLaren, which hasnt won a grand prix since 2012, will be using Honda engines for the first time since 1992, and has signed two-time world champion Fernando Alonso to partner Jenson Button for the upcoming season. http://www.customcubsjersey.com/custom-brad-wieck-jersey-large-1640n.html . - Mathew Barzal scored 3:47 into overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds downed the visiting Everett Silvertips 4-3 on Tuesday in Western Hockey League playoff action. DETROIT -- Stan Van Gundy has agreed to a $35-million, five-year contract to be the Detroit Pistons coach and president of basketball operations, a person with knowledge of the details said. Detroit gave Van Gundy the powerful combination of jobs on Tuesday, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. The deal was first reported by ESPN.com. The Pistons announced in April that they were not renewing Joe Dumars contract, ending his 14-year run as president of basketball operations. Van Gundy is taking over a team that has Andre Drummond, one NBAs top young centres, and money to reshape its roster this summer. Van Gundy has a 371-208 career record with the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat. He was fired in 2012 following his fifth season with the Orlando. He stunned the Heat in December 2005 by resigning for family reasons after two-plus seasons. The Golden State Warriors might have wanted Van Gundy, who went to high school in nearby Martinez, California, to be their new coach. While the Warriors roster seems more attractive, Van Gundy is getting a rare chance to be the coach and decision-maker for an NBA franchise. Doc Rivers does both jobs for the Los Angeles Clippers. The Pistons are desperate to be regarded as relevant in the Motor City -- where theyve become an afterthought -- and hiring Van Gundy seems to be a splashy move they needed to make. Sammy Sosa Jersey. Ultimately, though, Van Gundy will have to win more than he loses in Detroit, as he has in each of his eight seasons. Van Gundy has won 59 games three times, once in Miami and twice with the Magic. He has helped his teams advance in five out of seven postseasons, leading Orlando to the 2009 NBA Finals. Miami lost to the Pistons in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals. Detroits season has not lasted longer than the regular season in five years, its longest playoff drought since 1978-83. The Pistons won their third NBA title in 2004, early in a six-year run of reaching at least the conference finals. The Pistons signed Josh Smith, traded for Brandon Jennings and hired Maurice Cheeks last off-season and were expected to at least contend for a post-season spot. Instead, the new players didnt blend with returning players such as Drummond and Greg Monroe well enough to push the Pistons into the playoffs and coach Maurice Cheeks lost his job 50 games into the regular season. Detroit finished the season with a 29-53 record and with John Loyer as coach. The franchise is hoping it has a lottery pick next month. The Pistons will have to give their first-round pick to the Charlotte Bobcats if the selection is No. 9 or later as part a salary cap-saving trade Dumars made to get Ben Gordon off the payroll two years ago. ' ' '