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The brothers Beukeboom – Brett and Matt – will start for Canada against Brazil in the final round of the Americas Rugby Championship on Friday. It will be the first time the pair have started together at any level. Older brother Brett, age 26, will be winning his 23rd cap in the second row while Matt, just 19, replaces Clay Panga on the flank to start a test for the first time having won caps as a replacement against Chile and Uruguay.
Head coach Mark Anscombe has made six changes in all following the disappointing performance against Los Teros on Saturday. Coming into the forwards along with the younger Beukeboom is hooker Eric Howard and lock Liam Chisholm. Ray Barkwill and Reegan O’Gorman drop to the bench to make room.
There are three further changes in the backs. Gradyn Bowd finishes where he ended the Uruguay game at flyhalf with Robbie Povey out of the match day squad, and Guiseppe du Toit replaces Brock Staller at fullback. Brantford Harlequins captain Rory McDonell will make his test debut on the left wing in place of Kainoa Lloyd, who made his own debut against Los Teros. Another alteration sees George Barton return to the replacements bench after missing out on the match last weekend.
Canada enter the match having one only once during the 2017 ARC, against Chile in Langford in Round 2. Their only previous match against Brazil was in last year’s competition, also played in Langford, that saw them come away 52-25 winners.
CANADA
1 Rob Brouwer, 2 Eric Howard, 3 Matt Tierney, 4 Brett Beukeboom, 5 Liam Chisholm, 6 Matt Beukeboom, 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Admir Cejvanovic, 9 Gordon McRorie (capt.), 10 Gradyn Bowd, 11 Rory McDonell, 12 Nick Blevins, 13 Conor Trainor, 14 Dan Moor, 15 Guiseppe du Toit
Replacements: 16 Ray Barkwill, 17 Djustice Sears-Duru, 18 Cole Keith, 19 Reegan O’Gorman, 20 Clay Panga, 21 Phil Mack, 22 George Barton, 23 Brock Staller
