A new atmosphere permeates Canada91裸聊视频檚 men91裸聊视频檚 rugby team these days 91裸聊视频� one of confidence.

Belief bubbled up when the squad downed world No. 20 Romania in Ottawa last month and it lingers as the 21st-ranked Canadians begin their Pacific Nations Cup quest in Vancouver on Sunday.

91裸聊视频淚 think (confidence) is probably something we91裸聊视频檝e lacked in years past due to a number of different factors,91裸聊视频� captain Lucas Rumball said Thursday. 91裸聊视频淏ut I think we need to start believing we91裸聊视频檙e a good team, start believing in ourselves, and see what can come with that.91裸聊视频�

Canada91裸聊视频檚 conviction could be put to the test Sunday when the squad takes on No. 14 Japan at B.C. Place to open its Pacific Nations Cup run.

The two sides have not met since 2016 when the Canadians dropped a 26-22 decision in Vancouver.

That game has stuck with Rumball over the years.

91裸聊视频淚 was young in my career at that time. I think it was my third or fourth cap,91裸聊视频� said the 29-year-old forward, who hails from Toronto. 91裸聊视频淪o I was still kind of living in the moment and a little overwhelmed by things. But I remember a tight game.91裸聊视频�

Eight years later, Japan remains a tough opponent, he added.

91裸聊视频淭hey stick to their game plan really well, they work very hard,91裸聊视频� Rumball said. 91裸聊视频淪o you can never take a moment off.91裸聊视频�

Japan91裸聊视频檚 an organized team, and Canada will need to impose its own style of play to control the game, said vice-captain Ben LeSage.

91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e probably one of the fittest teams in the world. They just try and challenge other teams in terms of ball and play time, all those sorts of things,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 think when you make mistakes against them, they91裸聊视频檙e going to capitalize and they probably don91裸聊视频檛 make as many mistakes as other teams do.91裸聊视频�

Sunday91裸聊视频檚 game will kick off a busy stretch for the Canadians.

Afterwards, the team will head to Carson, Cali., where they91裸聊视频檒l continue the Pacific Nations Cup in a battle with the 19th-ranked United States on Aug. 31.

Canada and the U.S. will then join Japan, No. 10 Fiji, No. 13 Samoa and No. 16 Tonga in Tokyo for the tournament91裸聊视频檚 semifinals and fifth-place playoff on Sept. 14 and 15. The final and third-place playoff are set for Sept. 21 in Osaka.

Having a packed international schedule is a nice change of pace for the Canadians, said LeSage, who won a Major League Rugby championship title with the New England Free Jacks earlier this month.

91裸聊视频淚 think first and foremost, it91裸聊视频檚 just exciting for us to have rugby and be in a tournament,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淪ince the (2019) World Cup, there91裸聊视频檚 been sort of test matches few and far between. So just to have this recurring tournament where we91裸聊视频檙e playing some of the best rugby countries in the world, it91裸聊视频檚 exciting to be involved with that and have Canada in the mix.91裸聊视频�

The Pacific Nations Cup allows the squad to 91裸聊视频済et into a bit of a rhythm,91裸聊视频� he added, and that91裸聊视频檚 big for a team that mixes veterans like LeSage and Rumball with up-and-coming athletes 91裸聊视频� especially as Canada strives to earn a spot at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

91裸聊视频淥bviously we want to win the Pacific Nations Cup and win every test match we play. But with World Cup qualification being next year, there91裸聊视频檚 not a lot of pressure this year,91裸聊视频� LeSage said.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e got a young team. A lot of guys, (Sunday) will be the first time they play in front of a crowd this big. We91裸聊视频檙e staying at world-class hotels, using world-class facilities. It91裸聊视频檚 a pretty amazing opportunity just to be involved. So I think you can take lessons this year and build confidence going into next year.91裸聊视频�