Canada Head Coach Kieran Crowley has announced his starting roster to face Samoa on Friday at Stade de la Rabine in Vannes, France in the third game of Canada’s year-end tour.
Following a loss to a Championship XV side in Worcester on November 2nd, Canada snapped a three test match losing streak last weekend in Colwyn Bay, Wales with a narrow 17-13 victory over Namibia.
This weekend, Crowley’s 17th ranked side will take on 11th ranked Samoa, who are fresh off a 24-13 loss last weekend to Canada’s Rugby World Cup 2015 opponent Italy in Ascoli Piceno, Italy. Before last weekend’s loss, “Manu Samoa” held the 9th spot in World Rankings.
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For the third consecutive game, Canada will be lead by captain Hubert Buydens at loose-head prop, with Aaron Carpenter and Jason Marshall rounding out the front row. In the second row, 31-cap veteran Jamie Cudmore returns to Canada’s line up alongside Brett Buekeboom of Plymouth Albion.
With John Moonlight returning home to prepare for the Dubai and South Africa legs of the IRB Sevens World Series, Canada’s back-row features Kyle Gilmour, Nanyak Dala and Jebb Sinclair. All three played a crucial role in Canada’s victory last weekend, with Dala scoring the game-winning try.
Crowley’s backline looks similar to last weekend, the biggest change sees Canada’s all-time points leader returning to his usual fullback position, and DTH van der Merwe moving to the wing. Gord McRorie, Connor Braid, Ciaran Hearn and Conor Trainor all return from last weekend.
Osprey’s standout Jeff Hassler, who was a last-minute scratch from the lineup before facing Namibia, returns to the wing and will be a major offensive boost for the backline.
Canada’s substitutions include Ray Barkwill, Jake Ilnicki, Andrew Tiedemann, Jon Phelan and Richard Thorpe of London Welsh. Thorpe, whose mother is from Burlington, Ontario and is a dual Canada-England citizen, is a mobile back-rower who could receive his first Cap off the bench.
Replacement backs include Sean White, Pat Parfrey and Jordan Wilson-Ross, with the latter making his debut last weekend.
Canada and Samoa last faced off two years ago and the Pacific Island nation easily won that contest 42-12 from Parc Eirias in North Wales. Following Friday’s test match, Canada will depart for Bucharest for their final game of the year-end tour against Romania on November 22 at Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf.
Kick-Off is at 19:00 French Time (20:00 SA Time, 18:00 GMT) at Stade de la Rabine in the west of France, and you can watch LIVE at www.irb.com. Follow @RugbyCanada on Twitter for full game updates.
Teams:
Canada: 15 James Pritchard, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Conor Trainor, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Connor Braid, 9 Gordon McRorie, 8 Jebb Sinclair, 7 Nanyak Dala, 6 Kyle Gilmour, 5 Brett Buekeboom, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 3 Jason Marshall, 2 Aaron Carpenter, 1 Hubert Buydens (Captain)
Replacements: 16 Ray Barkwill, 17 Jake Ilnicki, 18 Andrew Tiedemann, 19 Jon Phelan, 20 Richard Thorpe, 21 Sean White, 22 Patrick Parfrey, 23 Jordan Wilson-Ross
Unavailable due to injury:
Tyler Ardron – (Ospreys) Lakefield, ON
Matt Evans – (Cornish Pirates) Maple Bay, BC
Harry Jones – (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
Phil Mack – (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Phil Mackenzie – (Sale Sharks) Oakville, ON
Mike Scholz – (Castaway Wanderers/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
Liam Underwood – (Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON
Samoa: 15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Alofa Alofa, 13 Rey Lee Lo, 12 Alapati Leiua, 11 David Lemi (Captain), 10 Michael Stanley, 9 Kahn Fotuali’i, 8 Ofisa Treviranus, 7 TJ Ioane, 6 Maurie Fa’asavalu, 5 Dan Leo, 4 Filo Paulo, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Wayne Ole Avei, 1 Zac Taulafo
Replacements: 16 Maatulimanu Leiataua, 17 Viliamu Afatia, 18 Anthony Perenise, 19 Kane Thompson, 20 Jack Lam, 21 Pele Cowley, 22 Winston Stanley, 23 Faatoina Autagavaia
Date: Friday 14 November
Venue: Stade de la Rabine, Vannes
Kick-Off: 20:00 SA Time (19:00 France Time, 18:00 GMT, 13:00 Canadian Eastern Time, 10:00 Canadian Pacific Time, 08:00 Saturday Samoan Time)
Expected weather: Considerable clouds with rain tapering off. High of 14°C and low of 10°C
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland), Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO: Geoff Warren (England)
There you go VicBok article just for you, hope your adopted team does you proud
Thank you Bullscot, they try but they don’t have the players.
I guess they’re better at rugby than we would be at hockey
2 @ Victoriabok:
Yes its a pity. Think they do have some really good players but problem is that it is maybe too few players that are top class. Guys like DTH vd Merwe (maybe I am a bit biased supporting his club Glasgow Warriors) and other wing Jeff Hassler are very good in my opinion while I thought the no 7 flank Nanyak Dala also looke a quality player although it was against Namibia last week.
Pity the game is starting the time it is, a few hours later would have worked better this side, hopefully will at least be able to watch the last few minutes of it. Was good to be able to watch Canada and Namibia last week even if it wasn’t the best quality game.
2 @ Victoriabok:
Have you taken to hockey, seems like quite good entertainment but don’t understand the rules so it seems a bit thuggish to me.
Bullscot wrote:
He once went to a fight….and a game of hockey broke out
Bullscot wrote:
It’s a fast game one of the fastest. It took me a while to see the puck. The players are on the ice for very short periods of time. They are about the same size as a flanker.
Bullscot wrote:
I’ve met DTH here in Victoria
Hi guys.
Talking about fights – i think there could be a few fists thrown in this game if things get a bit tense.
8 @ Victoriabok:
Ok that’s cool was it at a game or was he just visiting your area? DTH has been at Glasgow for a while now, he is highly rated and appreciated by the fans as far as I can tell, certainly at least this fan. He seems a nice guy, think he had a bit of a Canadian with at times hint of Afrikaans accent, only thing is he is a Stormers fan oh well we all have our flaws 😛 guess you would expect coming from Worcester he would support them.
7 @ Victoriabok:
Yeah think if I got to learn more about the game could get to like it, we do have an ice rink here where they did do some hockey, but the nearest proper ice hockey team is more than an hour drive away. Interesting to get a perspective on sizes by comparison to rugby players, they seem wider too me probably because of the oversized clothing they wear over all the padding. Just a question are they more Willem Alberts or Deon Stegmann sized players? Guy I work with used to be heavily involved in coaching ice hockey some time back, locally and also at Scottish youth level so he is really enthusiastic about the game, he is the size of two props, maybe perfect for a good goalie…
@ Bullscot:
Hi Bullscot,
I think ice hockey players come in all sizes … you must try and get a copy of the book ” Boy on Ice- The life and death of Derek Boogaard”….. It is a fascinating read about his rise and fall as an Enforcer in the National hockey League… This bloke was 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighted about 120 kg’s.
I do not know the sport personally but based on the book it appears as if the role of the enforcer ( aka “goon”) is to protect his teams best players and to hurt the opposing team’s best players and also to start fights with the enforcers in the opposing team. A number of these guys come from boxing backgrounds. Pro Ice Hockey seems to be the only major team sport which tolerates fighting. The injuries ( mainly facial and head) those guys suffer are horrendous.
@ robzim:
So, what you are saying is, act like Bakkies
nortie wrote:
Not sure about his balance on ice but otherwise he would fit the bill.
Btw.. I see Jebb Sinclair is also in the Canadian team.. i am not sure if he ever played Ice hockey but he certainly knows how to use his fists… his knockout on jean Deysel 2 seasons ago is one of the best punches in the cc’s history 🙂
@ robzim:
Nice punch…perfect recipient.
Pity about the dumbass ref that day, even we can’t compete 12 against 16
@ nortie:
Interesting that the other WP player ( Tyrone Holmes) who was sent off by the dumbass ref on that fateful day also represented South Africa at …….. you guessed it… Ice Hockey..
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Jaque-Fourie-to-join-Sharks-20141114
@ Angostura:
What an excellent signing
@ Angostura:
Then again it depends on the cost…
@ MacroBok:
Just conjecture at this stage
Sharksworld reports that there is also a rumour about Hennie Bekker joining the Sharks
For my part I’m not keen on any or all of the following making the trip from Japan to play for the Sharks & Bokke: Frans Steyn, Ryan Kankowski, Jacque Fourie & Hennie Bekker
We can do without expensive, out of condition veterans – give the young bucks a chance …
sorry not Hennie, of course, 😳 , but Andries Bekker
Morkel & Tahir put most of the batsmen ahead of them to shame
Congrats Aus
@ Angostura:
Only the mad and desperate will sign Sicknote Bekker.
@ Angostura:
Yes thats the thing if mossie came at a good deal then great but he was one of the priciest players in Japan…so it is only a short term benefit or they want sburu to get that “experience”. Then it may be a good investment… It is a gammble either way
@ robzim:
Yep signing two outside centers is a bit odd. If i had to pick one id get fourie and leave andries there in japan
@ MacroBok:
Shit, & I thought Andries was a winger
@ Angostura:
He is just a very tall Brent Russel
@ MacroBok:
Actually, seeing that Frans Steyn, Ryan Kankowski, Jacque Fourie & Hennie Bekker are by now so adept to playing with half pints they should fit in seamlessly with the PW Stormers … 🙂
Bullscot wrote:
His family moved to Victoria, I think he played for Oak Bay here
robzim wrote:
They intimidate the other teams playmakers
A couple of years ago our local NHL team, the Vancouver Canucks, were in the playoffs against the Boston Bruins. We were a much better team than them and won the first two playoff games but they simply started beating the snot out of our players and won the Stanley Cup
They’ve found the enforcers all incur brain damage from repeated blows to the head and they have problems when they get older.
One of the old enforcers donated his brain, and when he died they analyzed it and found lots of damage
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