Cudmore leads Canada against Ireland

Jamie Cudmore will captain Canada in their World Cup opener against Ireland on Saturday. The Clermont Auvergne second row will be playing his fourth tournament, and has led his country out in each of the last two tests against Georgia and Fiji, as well as the warm-up fixture against Glasgow Warriors in Halifax.

As expected, regular skipper Tyler Ardron will not be risked having only recently returned to training after suffering a knee injury against Samoa in the Pacific Nations Cup. Utility back Harry Jones is also out, recovering from the shoulder knock that forced him off in the Fiji match at the Stoop just 10 days ago. Both are expected to return to fitness in the near future.

The rest of the team features an unusual mix, with the team different from both the Georgia and Fiji tests, and at least three first choice players left on the bench, or in the case of Connor Braid out of the match day squad completely. Aviva Premiership regulars Jebb Sinclair and Richard Thorpe will both start from the reserves, a move that suggests they are being rested for the match against Italy.

Hubert Buydens starts at loosehead prop, with dynamic youngster Djustice Sears-Duru to come on as an impact sub, and new Cornish Pirates signing Brett Beukeboom partners Cudmore in the engine room. Kyle Gilmour and John Moonlight offer similar profiles on the flanks, while former captain Aaron Carpenter lines up at no8 after being used primarily as a hooker over the past several months.

Scottish-born Gordon McRorie combines with sevens standout Nathan Hirayama at the halfbacks, and Nick Blevins forms a sizeable midfield duo with Ciaran Hearn. The outside backs feature Guinness Pro 12 stars DTH van der Merwe and Jeff Hassler, with Cornish Pirates vice-captain Matt Evans once again at fullback in what will be seen as an area of strength in the side.

Canada have never beaten Ireland in seven previous attempts, though they did earn a draw at Fletcher’s Fields in June of 2000. Their last meeting was at BMO Field in June 2013, with the visitors coming away winners by a score of 40-14. Only six players in the Canadian lineup remain, while no more than four are expected to return from the Irish starters that day.

CANADA
1 Hubert Buydens 2 Ray Barkwill 3 Doug Wooldridge 4 Brett Beukeboom 5 Jamie Cudmore (capt.) 6 Kyle Gilmour 7 John Mooonlight 8 Aaron Carpenter 9 Gordon McRorie 10 Nathan Hirayama 11 DTH van der Merwe 12 Nick Blevins 13 Ciaran Hearn 14 Jeff Hassler 15 Matt Evans

16 Benoît Pifféro 17 Djustice Sears-Duru 18 Andrew Tiedemann 19 Jebb Sinclair 20 Richard Thorpe 21 Phil Mack 22 Liam Underwood 23 Conor Trainor