Match Preview – Canada vs New Zealand Māori

With a record-breaking crowd anticipated at Vancouver’s BC Place, new Head Coach of Canada Kingsley Jones will officially begin his tenure in charge on Friday evening. He could not have asked for a more challenging opponent to mark the occasion with the Māori capable of knocking off just about any Tier 1 side, let alone a Canadian team struggling to retain its footing in Tier 2 after dropping to their lowest point of 24 on the World Rugby Rankings.

The Māori rarely taste defeat but did so in their last run-out, a resounding 32-10 result against the British & Irish Lions. They will be keen to restore some wounded pride and also to welcome in their own newly-minted leader in Clayton McMillan. To accomplish the task is a side loaded with Super Rugby talent and with only one newcomer in the starting lineup.

Veteran Hawke’s Bay hooker Ash Dixon leads the side out with an intimidating forward pack alongside. Jarrad Hoeata is one of three capped All Blacks in the side, the former Cardiff Blues lock also the oldest man in the side at 34. Highlanders lock Tom Franklin is named on the blindside flank and dynamic Blues No 8 Akira Ioane will be a key figure at the back of the scrum.

Turbo-charged halfback Brad Weber is a focal point in the backs with Chiefs teammate Charlie Ngatai a classy player at fullback. Tim Bateman is the most-capped Māori player in the midfield and outside him are two strapping wingers with plenty of pace. The bench is made up entirely of new caps, six of whom have Super Rugby contracts for the 2018 season.

McMillan will see a familiar face on the other side of the pitch in Tyler Ardron, who spent the last several weeks under his guidance at Bay of Plenty in the Mitre 10 Cup. The World Cup captain is one of four players in the side who faced the Māori four years ago to the day in Toronto, a 40-15 defeat under then-coach Kieran Crowley. Other returnees are front rowers Hubert Buydens and Ray Barkwill, and new team captain Phil Mack.

Both of Canada’s uncapped players are found in the pack. Northland lock Josh Larsen will face many familiar foes including Taniwha teammate Dan Pryor, and the versatile Dustin Dobravsky is named on the flank. Test caps will not be awarded for the match but this will be the first time the pair have worn a senior Canadian XVs jersey. Dobravsky has prior experience with the National Senior Men’s Sevens side and was a CRC champion with the BC Bears.

While the match falls outside the official World Rugby test window Canada has access to a half-dozen European-based players, four in the starting lineup. Heavyweight tighthead Matt Tierney arrives from France and arriving from the UK are Kyle Baillie, Matt Heaton, and Dan Moor. Newcastle Falcons lock Evan Olmstead was a late addition to the squad during the week and Ealing’s Djustice Sears-Duru covers prop but there is no sign of Shane O’Leary, the incumbent flyhalf who had been earmarked for inclusion at the original squad announcement.

There is no debate required, Canada enter the match as overwhelming underdogs. The New Zealanders will show no mercy to their hosts and there is every chance for a big score. Virtually any other result would be an historic achievement. Canada must instead look to individual performance. With more professionals due to join the squad on their European trip, several at BC Place could well be competing for a spot on the plane.

Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 10pm Eastern. A live broadcast will be available on TSN.

CANADA
1 Hubert Buydens, 2 Ray Barkwill, 3 Matt Tierney, 4 Kyle Baillie, 5 Josh Larsen, 6 Dustin Dobravsky, 7 Matt Heaton, 8 Tyler Ardron, 9 Phil Mack (capt.), 10 Patrick Parfrey, 11 Dan Moor, 12 Guiseppe du Toit, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Brock Staller, 15 Andrew Coe

Replacements: 16 Eric Howard, 17 Djustice Sears-Duru, 18 Ryan Kotlewski, 19 Evan Olmstead, 20 Lucas Rumball, 21 Andrew Ferguson, 22 Robbie Povey, 23 Kainoa Lloyd

NEW ZEALAND MĀORI
1 Chris Eves, 2 Ash Dixon (capt.), 3 Marcel Renata, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 5 Jarrad Hoeata, 6 Tom Franklin, 7 Dan Pryor, 8 Akira Ioane, 9 Brad Weber, 10 Ihaia West, 11 Ambrose Curtis, 12 Rob Thompson, 13 Tim Bateman, 14 Sean Wainui, 15 Charlie Ngatai

Replacements: 16 Liam Polwart, 17 Ross Wright, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Jordan Manihera, 20 Sam Henwood, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Shaun Stevenson

Date: Friday, November 3
Venue: BC Place, Vancouver
Kickoff: 19:00 local (22:00 ET)
Referee: Kurt Weaver (USAR)
Broadcasts: TSN