CRC Match Preview – Bears vs Blues

The Ontario Blues will look to continue their unbeaten run in 2017 when they take on the BC Bears at Calgary Rugby Park on Wednesday in the first game of the Canadian Rugby Championship double-header. With the two sides set to rematch on Saturday with the MacTier Cup on the line, both have opted to make several changes from their lineups from Sunday’s matches.

Peter Milazzo will become the youngest player to captain the Blues with regular skipper Rob Brouwer named among the reserves. Milazzo and Mike Sheppard are the only forwards remaining of the starting side that defeated the Wolf Pack. Bytown Blues bookends Pat Lynott and Ryan Surgenor join with AJ Quattrin in the front row with Canada lock Paul Ciulini filling out the second row. Marcello Wainwright steps in for Lucas Rumball on the flank, and Canada ‘A’ rep Seb Pearson is recalled at No 8.

It’s a first start for two players in the backs as Mario van der Westhuizen will partner Mitch Richardson in the halfbacks and Kyle Lagasca takes over from Josh Campbell at inside centre. Brandon McLeod comes in on the wing with Johnny Sheridan at fullback.

Meanwhile the Bears have rotated the entire pack with an eye towards finding a first win over the Blues since 2012. The front row of Blake van Heyningen, Paul Ahn, and Noah Barker start where they finished in the win over the Rock. Craig McLaughlin and Shea Wakefield provide solid lineout targets and the new loose forward trio is Tua Va’a, Kevin Leask, and Tarvis Larsen.

Phil Mack leads the side from scrumhalf with fellow international Guiseppe du Toit bumped inside to the No 10 shirt. Mike Nieuwenhuysen also shifts one spot in with Doug Fraser tabbed to start at outside centre after making a positive impact from the bench on Sunday. A new name on the wing is Reid Watkins. The Okotoks, Alberta, native and Simon Fraser collegiate wrestler is called into the squad to replace the injured Brock Staller.

Kickoff is set for 5pm local time, 4pm Pacific, 7pm Eastern. A live stream will be available on Rugby Canada’s Facebook page and on Spalk.

BC BEARS
1 Blake van Heyningen, 2 Paul Ahn, 3 Noah Barker, 4 Craig McLaughlin, 5 Shea Wakefield, 6 Tua Va’a, 7 Kevin Leask, 8 Travis Larsen, 9 Phil Mack (capt.), 10 Guiseppe du Toit, 11 Karsten Leitner, 12 Mike Nieuwenhuysen, 13 Doug Fraser, 14 Reid Watkins, 15 Aaron McLelland

Replacements: 16 Andrew Lackner, 17 Anthony Luca, 18 Neil Courtney, 19 Cam Polson, 20 Jordan Reid-Harvey, 21 Gavin Rowell, 22 Riley DiNardo, 23 Harjun Gill

ONTARIO BLUES
1 Pat Lynott, 2 AJ Quattrin, 3 Ryan Surgenor, 4 Paul Ciulini, 5 Mike Sheppard, 6 Marcello Wainwright, 7 Peter Milazzo (capt.), 8 Seb Pearson, 9 Mario van der Westhuizen, 10 Mitch Richardson, 11 Dan Moor, 12 Kyle Lagasca, 13 Andrew Coe, 14 Brandon McLeod, 15 Johnny Sheridan

Replacements: 16 Eric Howard, 17 Rob Brouwer, 18 Tom Dolezel, 19 Lucas Rumball, 20 Andrew Wilson, 21 Andrew Ferguson, 22 Josh Campbell, 23 Kainoa Lloyd