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)
Angostura wrote:
He will be we play Victor as the third centre already
Bullscot wrote:
Here’s the roster of the Canucks
http://canucks.nhl.com/club/roster.htm
They mostly tend to be about 6′ to 6’1″ and round 85-90kg
I think the heavy guys are not fast enough
They also stay on the ice for very short shifts, about 45 seconds at a time. The guy with the longest shifts in the NHL does about 62 seconds
Angostura wrote:
Kolbe is not a pint, definitely a Nippie maybe a half jack if he’s lucky 😛
17th minute: Samoa 3/0 Canda, earlier penalty over by Michael Stanley.
live feed here: http://www.irb.com/live/video.html
Samoa 6/0 Canada 19th min – another Michael Stanley penalty, looks to be a good striker of the ball
Samoa 9/0 Canada, but Canada have a long range effort at goal now
Great kick by Gordon McRorie from centre spot halfway line:
Samoa 9/3 Canada
Half time Samoa 9/3 Canada, long range effort from Michael Stanley just short, from a few metres inside his own half with a bit of an angle
38 @ Bullscot:
It seems the IRB Live Stream of the game is not available for us here in SA at present…
I watch rugby here
http://www.vipleague.sx/sports/rugby.html
@ Victoriabok:
VIP has lots op popups but it’s the only way to see some games live
39 @ grootblousmile:
Hi GBS that’s a pity wonder why that is, if it is not been broadcast on TV there surely it should be on the IRB feed.
Samoa 16/6 Canada, now in 67th min, penalty for Canada and converted try for Samoa since the break.
Penalty to Canada for infringement in the tackle
Gone for touch so lineout Canada 5m out
Try Conor Trainer for Canada
Samoa 16/13 Canada – good conversion by James Pritchard from acute angle, st
Samoa 23/13 – Samoa hit back straight away, poor wild pass gets knocked on deep in Canada 22 and Winston Stanley scores, converted by his cousin Mike
Final score Samoa 23/13 Canada
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