November Internationals Preview – Canada

A full-course three-match tour to Europe is on deck for Canada in November with a daunting schedule against higher ranked teams in the form of Ireland, Romania, and Samoa. With controversial off-the-field business and a disappointing Americas Pacific Challenge putting a damper on Canadian enthusiasm, some good performances at test level will go a long way to raising spirits among players and fans alike.

 

2016 FORM

It was a miserable year for Canada in 2015, at least on the men’s side of things. Thankfully 2016 got off to a better start. A win over Uruguay kicked off the Americas Rugby Championship and further victories over Brazil and Chile saw them close the tournament with a winning record with losses to the USA and the Argentina XV.

While they dropped two out of three matches in June, both defeats were by less than one score with Japan escaping with a 26-22 result in Vancouver and Italy getting away with an even tighter 20-18 win in Toronto. Sandwiched in between was a solid victory over Russia that showed Canada could put points on the board when on song.

 

HOW THEY MATCH UP

Canada couldn’t have picked a worse time to re-match Ireland – and in Dublin no less – after they were soundly beaten just a year ago at the World Cup and of course last weekend’s phenomenal result in Chicago. Regardless of what kind of side Ireland fields, an upset over the 5th ranked team in the world seems incredibly unlikely.

A more appropriate test is against Romania, who sit two spots ahead of 18th ranked Canada and of course also got the edge over the North Americans in the World Cup. It’s a winnable match for Canada if they can mitigate the effects of the scrum, an area where the Oaks will try to exert their dominance.

Samoa are another side who defeated Canada in 2015 in a heart-breaker at BMO Field that ended in a 21-20 score. At 14th spot Samoa are certainly a level up from Canada in status but are also a side capable of being beaten with discipline and a lack of continuity counting against them.

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

The time is now for Djustice Sears-Duru, who at the age of just 22 has been given the keys to the car in the scrum. While he is still learning the ropes with Glasgow Warriors in the Pro 12, the powerhouse prop is already become a vital ball carrying option for Canada with the ability to get over the gainline and suck in defenders. His physicality will be key, and he could not ask for greater challenges at scrum time with the might of Romania and Samoa’s Census Johnston lining up to meet him.

Already proven on the HSBC Sevens Circuit, bullocking back row Admir Cejvanovic will close one door and open another. It was as a XVs player he first came to attention to national selectors and they will hope he finds his feet again quickly. There are no questions about his ability with ball in hand. His work off the ball and in defense will be monitored closely in the coming weeks.

An SOS for the second time arrived at Connor Braid’s door late this summer, with head coach Mark Anscombe desperate to add to his options at Canada’s troublesome flyhalf position. Braid was one of his country’s best in 2015 – albeit largely as a centre – and his decision to step away for several months was keenly felt. First capped as a 20-year-old in 2010, he has all the attributes needed to succeed at test level and there are high hopes that his best is yet to come.

Conor Trainor, like Braid, has long been considered one of Canada’s great hopes in terms of raw talent and has perhaps not quite lived up his promise with footballing skills seen largely on the Sevens circuit. He too has now opted to turn his attention to the full version of the game and has impressed with French club Vannes in the early weeks of the Pro D2. At his best he is a dangerous attacker with the ability to make something out of nothing. Canada need him to shine.

 

VERDICT

Matches against Tier 1 sides are always welcome, and having them broadcast on the national television station even more exciting. That said fans should look to performance rather than a result against a fully professional Irish side. Wins against Romania and Samoa are not out of the question and while each bring their own difficulties, if Canada get their preparation right there is plenty of reason to believe that they can emerge with a winning record from 2016 – which would be an extraordinary achievement given their woeful 2015.

 

FIXTURES

DATE	LOCAL	ET	OPPONENT	LOCATION
Sat, Nov 12	19:15	14:15	vs Ireland	Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Sat, Nov 19	18:00	11:00	vs Romania	Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Fri, Nov 25	20:00	14:00	vs Samoa	Stade des Alpes, Grenoble

 

SQUAD

NAME	POS	HGT	WGT	DOB	CAPS	CLUB
Brouwer, Rob	PR	1.91 6-3	121 265	Dec 10 1982	2	Lindsay
Ilnicki, Jake	PR	1.85 6-1	120 265	Feb 24 1992	15	Manawatu Turbos (NZ)
Kotlewski, Ryan	PR	1.80 5-11	118 260	Feb 21 1990	1	Westshore
Sears-Duru, Djustice	PR	1.85 6-1	123 270	May 24 1994	19	Glasgow Warriors (UK)
Tierney, Matt	PR	1.90 6-3	135 295	Jul 4 1996	1	Pau (FR)
Barkwill, Ray	HO	1.74 5-9	103 225	Aug 26 1980	33	Castaway Wanderers
Howard, Eric	HO	1.76 5-9	100 220	Sep 5 1993	5	Brantford Harlequins
Beukeboom, Brett	LO	1.96 6-5	113 250	Aug 13 1990	18	Cornish Pirates (UK)
Keys, Conor	LO	1.96 6-5	111 245	Jul 9 1996	–	UVic Vikes
Olmstead, Evan	LO	1.98 6-6	115 255	Feb 21 1991	10	Newcastle Falcons (UK)
Baillie, Kyle	FL/LO	1.97 6-5	111 245	Apr 7 1991	6	Westshore
Heaton, Matt	FL	1.90 6-3	97 215	Feb 9 1993	2	Darlington Mowden Park (UK)
Rumball, Lucas	FL	1.89 6-2	106 235	Aug 2 1995	7	Balmy Beach
Carpenter, Aaron	N8	1.83 6-0	109 240	Jan 9 1983	74	London Welsh (UK)
Cejvanovic, Admir	N8	1.93 6-4	110 240	Jun 26 1990	–	Burnaby Lake
Panga, Clay	N8	1.86 6-1	97 215	Jul 6 1985	4	Westshore
Mack, Phil	SH	1.70 5-7	83 180	Sep 18 1985	31	James Bay
McRorie, Gordon	SH	1.76 5-9	80 175	May 12 1988	21	UBCOB Ravens
Braid, Connor	FH	1.85 6-1	98 215	May 31 1990	19	James Bay
Parfrey, Patrick	FH	1.88 6-2	93 205	Nov 1 1991	14	James Bay
Blevins, Nick	CE	1.88 6-2	103 225	Sep 11 1988	35	Calgary Hornets
Hearn, Ciaran	CE	1.90 6-3	100 220	Dec 30 1985	50	London Irish (UK)
LeSage, Ben	CE	1.82 6-0	93 205	Nov 24 1995	–	UBC Thunderbirds
Trainor, Conor	CE/WI	1.88 6-2	100 220	May 12 1989	22	Vannes (FR)
Paris, Taylor	WI	1.85 6-1	90 200	Oct 6 1992	16	Agen (FR)
van der Merwe, D.T.H.	WI	1.83 6-0	101 220	Apr 28 1986	39	Scarlets (UK)
Evans, Matt	FB	1.83 6-0	89 195	Jan 2 1988	35	Cornish Pirates (UK)
Staller, Brock	FB/CE	1.88 6-2	95 210	Mar 24 1992	3	UBC Thunderbirds