Barkwill leads Canada against Brazil

Ray Barkwill will captain for the first time in his 29th test when Canada host Brazil at Westhills Stadium in round three of the Americas Rugby Championship on Saturday. The veteran hooker retains his spot as interim head coach François Ratier has named five changes from the side that lost to the Eagles last weekend, four enforced.

Injuries have ruled out Callum Morrison, Gordon McRorie, Mozac Samson, and Phil Mackenzie with Kyle Gilmour also still sidelined after missing Saturday’s game. Team captain Hubert Buydens has been swapped to the bench with Djustice Sears-Duru handed his third test start and his first since the World Cup warm-up against Georgia at Esher.

University of Victoria’s Liam Chisholm steps into the second row after making his debut as a replacement against the Eagles, while Oakville’s Andrew Ferguson does the same at scrumhalf. Try-scorer Duncan Maguire takes Mackenzie’s place on the wing, and there is a new name as uncapped UBC Thunderbirds centre Brock Staller wins his first cap in place of Samson.

Staller joined the squad during the week to bolster the thinned backline resources along with Burnaby Lake strike runner Joe Dolesau. Last seen in a Canadian shirt at the 2013 ARC, the Fiji-born Dolesau covers outside centre and wing and could win his first cap at the age of 33.

Two others make their first appearances in a match day squad after being included in the original ARC squad. St. Albert scrumhalf Jake Robinson is joined by Truro Saints outside back Brett Johnson. Eric Howard, Rob Brouwer, and Mike Hamson are among the reserves for the third consecutive match, but have yet to make their test bow.

The match will serve as an historic first as the two countries have never met before in a senior international. Canada currently own a 1-1 record in the ARC, defeating Uruguay in round one before losing to the USA. The Tupis have come up short in both matches – to Chile and Uruguay – but have earned plaudits for their performances, losing by narrow margins in each despite being heavy underdogs.

Kickoff is set for 4pm local (PST) / 7pm EST and the game will be streamed live by Rugby Canada.

CANADA
1 Djustice Sears-Duru 2 Ray Barkwill (capt.) 3 Jake Ilnicki 4 Paul Ciulini 5 Liam Chisholm 6 Lucas Rumball 7 Alistair Clark 8 Clay Panga 9 Andrew Ferguson 10 Gradyn Bowd 11 Duncan Maguire 12 Nick Blevins 13 Brock Staller 14 Dan Moor 15 Pat Parfrey

16 Eric Howard 17 Hubert Buydens 18 Rob Brouwer 19 Kyle Baillie 20 Mike Hamson 21 Jake Robinson 22 Joe Dolesau 23 Brett Johnson