Canada ‘A’ Tour – Who Will Get The Call?

The Canadian Rugby Championship is all over, and today the national brain trust will grab a coffee with maple syrup and sit down to decide which 28 players will travel to the UK in three weeks’ time. Rugby Canada has yet to formally announce the tour, of course, but in case you missed it Canada ‘A’ will play against Doncaster, Ulster ‘A’, and Glasgow Warriors over a 10 day stretch starting on August 20.

Also worth taking into consideration is that a new ‘Americas Pacific Challenge‘ is set to take place in October, giving Canada’s best domestic players two decent blocks of high level competition to work with. These games are very welcome indeed. The timing of the October matches in particular will allow some senior players without overseas contracts a chance to get quality pitch time directly ahead of the November test series. This will surely come into account when making decisions for the August trip.

The original school of thought was to select a side directly from the CRC but with a handful of players choosing to go PRO and a few others tied up in the sevens program that likely won’t quite be the case. Nor should it be. The UK trip also provides an opportunity for pro scouts to have a first-hand look at Canadian players who may have impressed either in PRO, the CRC, or the Americas Rugby Championship.

Using the ARC squad as a template for selection is a good way to start, as a good chunk of those players can plan on being invited. A few will miss out with pro contracts, a couple others might need a rest, and one or two might have dropped out on form. Of course new head coach Mark Anscombe will have the largest say this time, and there is a real chance to find a couple bolters on the list.

FRONT ROW

Five props and two hookers should go, another front rower could be added pending overall squad makeup. Of the six props involved in June three are out of the picture. DJ Sears-Duru has signed for Glasgow, Matt Tierney is back in France with Pau, and Hubert Buydens is out long-term with a knee injury. That leaves Tom Dolezel, Ryan Kotlewski, and Jake Ilnicki. The latter two should be certainties. Ilnicki has been playing south of the border but Canada does not have the depth to leave him home. Unless he has picked up a new contract elsewhere, he must travel.

Dolezel falls into the same category as Doug Wooldridge. Both are veterans who will likely have the option themselves of deciding. Dolezel could opt out to prepare for his new role as head coach of the Western Mustangs, while Wooldridge is newly married and might have other things on his mind. The other veteran is Rob Brouwer, who was involved in the ARC but left out of June. He could well be recalled to shore up the loosehead side.

There aren’t a lot of young guns jumping up and down at the moment, but it could be that they just aren’t getting opportunities. Jordon Power from the Rock has done reasonably well and has the added bonus of being able to cover hooker. Alex Forrest and Keelan Chapman were also positives in the scrum. Forrest might be worth a look being a loosehead, where the cover looks a little thin. Alternatives seem to be Anthony Luca from the Bears, or the Wolf Pack’s Peter Houlihan and John Braddock. None have made compelling cases, while u20 prospect Cali Martinez played no part in the CRC.

Eric Howard has been easily the form hooker in the CRC and is a certainty. Fellow Blues prospect AJ Quattrin didn’t see much game time and Alex Mascott was short of his best with the Bears. Casey Reed and Matt Harrison battled it out for the Wolf Pack and both look fitter than they have in the past. Reed is just ahead at the moment and in with a shout.

One who could get a look is Martial Lagain, the Rock’s second-half hooker who went well in the scrum and in the loose. Like Benoît Pifféro, Lagain comes from the French system where he was in Bayonne’s academy system before moving to Quebec. At 29 years old he’s a little old for a rookie but then Ray Barkwill didn’t win his first cap until the age of 32. As for ‘La Flama Blanca’, it’s been a tough PRO season and now seems a good time to take a few weeks off to recuperate for October.

SECOND ROW

With a good portion of Canada’s second row preferences overseas the pickings are slim. The best from the CRC was likely Jon Phelan, hardly a new name with 23 caps on his ledger already. He is no longer contracted to Doncaster but might fancy a trip back to wish his pals well for the new season. If he’s up for it, he should tour. Kyle Baillie is ideally a blindside flanker but has been playing lock in PRO for Ohio and will be needed there on this trip. One name who could fit the bill is Aaron Flagg, the bruising Abbotsford lock who spent the season playing blindside for Moseley in England and is now out of contract.

Other contenders from the CRC might be… well there aren’t many. Liam Chisholm was part of a struggling Bears pack but given the time already invested in him should get the nod once more. Sam Clark trained with the ARC squad but lacks the size to be a lock at this level and there are other options in the back row at the moment. A decent bet might be Conor Keys, a starter for the u20s who opted to play for the Rock despite coming from Ottawa. Another young option might be Conor Turner, another 20-year-old who played a major role for the Wolf Pack and isn’t short on bulk.

BACK ROW

As ever there are loads of options at loose forward. Look for five to get the call with Baillie also an option on the flank. Lucas Rumball is a certainty. Matt Heaton might go but will likely have to report for duty with his new club Darlington Mowden Park sooner than later. Admir Cejvanovic has made an immediate return to XVs and looks another probable. Matt Mullins would have been nice to see in an Ontario jersey but didn’t take part and is likely to stick with the 7s program for now.

Mike Hamson and Clay Panga were involved in the ARC and have been in good form, but do they fit in Anscombe’s master plan? Alistair Clark and Kyle Gilmour have been battling injuries but could be involved if they’re fit in time. Zac Coughlan and Matt Murphy were also impressive for the Rock, while Ollie Nott is unquestionably one for the future at openside. Adrian Wadden only saw a few minutes as a replacement for Ontario on Sunday but has the height and is another future contender. Look for a surprise or two in the loose forwards.

HALFBACKS

Scrumhalf is an easy one with a clear hierarchy at the moment. Fitness permitting Gordon McRorie will go, as will Jamie Mackenzie. Andrew Ferguson is next on the list and his inclusion will depend on whether they opt for two scrumhalves or three, or again whether McRorie is good to go. Jake Robinson is behind door number four.

Flyhalf has one certainty in Paddy Parfrey. After a not-so-great performance against the Blues he redeemed himself with two solid games to end the CRC. His understudy at the Rock, Aidan McMullan, has been brilliant both at first receiver and as a wing. At only 19 he has a big future ahead. Do not be surprised to see him travel.

Two other youngsters are also in contention, BC’s Guiseppe du Toit and the Wolf Pack’s Robbie Povey. On form Povey is in the lead, though du Toit also has obvious potential and could be seen as a possible at no12. Gradyn Bowd is still injured and Dylan Horgan didn’t appear in the CRC, while Liam Underwood’s status is unclear after making his return in June.

MIDFIELD

Mozac Samson was the standout centre in the competition and should make the trip. His age counts against him but form should be rewarded. Ben LeSage also looked quality but missed the last couple matches. Brock Staller will go, likely as a midfielder but with the ability to cover across the backline and kick goals. Emil Sehic had an impressive tournament for the Rock and his name will be on the watch list though this trip might be too soon.

One or both of Nick Blevins and Phil Mackenzie could get the call depending on if they’re physically up for it. Blevins could probably use a bit of a break. Mackenzie might relish a return to national duty after opting out of the June tests, and of course he also covers wing which potentially opens up a spot for another forward or halfback to travel. Another in a similar spot is Conor Trainor. He missed the CRC but must surely be back in the XVs picture soon now that the Olympic ship has sailed.

OUTSIDE BACKS

Dan Moor and Jordan Wilson-Ross are the first names penciled in. With Mackenzie and/or Trainor going that more than likely covers the wing spots with McMullan extra cover if needed. Brett Johnson only played two games and hardly touched the ball. His immediate future should be with the 7s program anyway, but stranger things have happened. If a specialist fullback is taken look for Jack Fitzpatrick to be involved, provided the shoulder knock he took on Sunday isn’t anything serious. None of Duncan Maguire, Joe Dolesau, Trent Cooper, or Theo Sauder took part in the CRC and are unlikely to be in contention.