Match Preview – Canada vs Romania

Canada will be desperate to get some momentum ahead of their World Cup Qualifying series against the USA when they welcome Romania to Ellerslie Park in Edmonton on Saturday. To do so they’ll have to win against a team they haven’t beaten in more than 20 years. Their last win against the Oaks was at the 1995 World Cup. With not much to take from the abysmal match with Georgia last weekend, Canada will at least be comforted by the return of several top professionals to the lineup.

Mark Anscombe has made comprehensive changes to the side that lost to the Lelos, retaining only four players in a selection that appears close to that which will be used in the World Cup Qualifiers. Aaron Carpenter returns to his familiar No 8 position and wins his record-setting 77th test cap, with 2015 World Cup skipper Tyler Ardron starting on the blindside flank for the first time since 2013.

It’s a new front row with Burnaby Lake’s Anthony Luca earning his first test start after making his debut as a replacement against Georgia. His clubmate Ryan Ackerman is poised to win his first cap from the bench. Ray Barkwill is recalled at hooker and Matt Tierney holds it down at tighthead prop. Evan Olmstead steps into the second row beside co-captain Brett Beukeboom.

Gordon McRorie and Connor Braid take over in the halfbacks and Nick Blevins slots into inside center. DTH van der Merwe will share the leadership duties with Beukeboom, and Ciaran Hearn starts at fullback for only the third time and the first since 2010.

Romania are coming off a loss to Japan that saw them dominate the set piece but struggle in open play. Lynn Howells has responded with four changes, two each among the backs and forwards. Luke Samoa replaces youngster Sabin Stratila at fullback, and speedster Ionut Dumitru takes the place of Jack Cobden on the left wing. The backline has a distinct Pacific Island feel to it with three players of Tongan origin adding size and strength.

Up front the aerial specialist Marius Antonescu is swapped out for vastly experienced Valentin Poparlan. The back row sees abrasive ball carrier Andrei Gorcioaia dropped to the bench and the athletic Vlad Nistor handed the start to add to the lineout options. Hard-running midfielder Vladut Popa and uncapped 19-year-old outside back Marius Simionescu have been added to the reserves.

The Oaks have had Canada’s number in their last five meetings though the largest gap in that time was only nine points. Key to each victory has been Canada’s inability to hold the scrum, an area where Romania are undoubtedly world class. With star goal kicker Florin Vlaicu’s ability to take points from anywhere, Canada will need patience and discipline to break the hoodoo that has now stretched beyond two decades.

CANADA
1 Anthony Luca, 2 Ray Barkwill, 3 Matt Tierney, 4 Brett Beukeboom (co-capt.), 5 Evan Olmstead, 6 Tyler Ardron, 7 Matt Heaton, 8 Aaron Carpenter, 9 Gordon McRorie, 10 Connor Braid, 11 Sean Duke, 12 Nick Blevins, 13 Conor Trainor, 14 DTH van der Merwe (co-capt.), 15 Ciaran Hearn

Replacements: 16 Benoît Pifféro, 17 Djustice Sears-Duru, 18 Ryan Ackerman, 19 Conor Keys, 20 Kyle Baillie, 21 Phil Mack, 22 Shane O’Leary, 23 Andrew Coe

ROMANIA
1 Ionel Badiu, 2 Otar Turashvili, 3 Andrei Ursache, 4 Johan van Heerden, 5 Valentin Poparlan, 6 Vlad Nistor, 7 Viorel Lucaci, 8 Mihai Macovei (capt.), 9 Florin Surugiu, 10 Florin Vlaicu, 11 Ionut Dumitru, 12 Sione Faka’osilea, 13 Paula Kinikinilau, 14 Fonovai Tangimana, 15 Luke Samoa

Replacements: 16 Andrei Radoi, 17 Constantin Pristavita, 18 Alexandru Tarus, 19 Marius Antonescu, 20 Andrei Gorcioaia, 21 Tudorel Bratu, 22 Vladut Popa, 23 Marius Simionescu

Date: Saturday, June 17
Venue: Ellerslie Park, Edmonton
Kickoff: 15:00 local (14:00 PT, 17:00 ET)
Referee: Shuhei Kubo (JRFU)
Assistants: Andrew Brace (IRFU) & Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Broadcasts: TSN