Match Preview – Ontario Arrows vs Canada Selects

In what could well be viewed as a ‘Probables vs Possibles’ trial ahead of the June test series, the Ontario Arrows will host the Canada Selects in Toronto on Friday evening in the first of a home-and-away series. It will also be a second ‘home opener’ of sorts for the Arrows as they will finally get to play at York Lions Stadium after having both previously scheduled matches moved to the adjacent Alumni Stadium due to uncooperative weather, one of them cancelled entirely.

Of course this isn’t exactly a ‘Probables’ side as many of Canada’s first choice players are still out of country and unlikely to appear until the June tests. This selection is composed of those integrated into Canada’s centralized training group with a few late additions.

Only five of the match day 23 did not appear in the Americas Rugby Championship, one of them a starter. Second row Paul Ciulini might otherwise have been playing for the Arrows, who he suited up for just two weeks ago, but has answered the call of Kingsley Jones nearly two years since his last appearance in a Canadian shirt, a reserve appearance against Italy in June 2016.

Other Arrows named by Jones include hooker Martial Lagain, scrumhalf Andrew Ferguson, and winger Kainoa Lloyd. Three others – Lucas Rumball, Guiseppe du Toit, and Patrick Parfrey – played for the Arrows in their first ever game against Glendale last September.

Four uncapped players are on the bench. Recent u20 front row graduates Steven Ng and Liam Murray are named along with Canada ‘A’ and Rounsefell Cup-winning scrumhalf Jorden Sandover-Best. A new name to the Canadian jersey is Prairie Wolf Pack No8 Grant Crowell, who is set to cover lock. Regular openside flanker Matt Heaton has returned from England and is also named on the bench.

The Arrows will be missing tighthead prop Tom Dolezel, unavailable, and two further hookers. AJ Quattrin is recovering from a shoulder knock and Jack McRogers is training with the national u20 side. Mike Smith is handed his first start in place of Dolezel with South African prop Clint Lemkus arriving from UBC to take a spot on the bench. Hong Kong international Alex Post lines up at hooker in his Arrows debut.

Josh van Horne takes Ciulini’s spot in the second row with twin brother Tom on the bench. James Bay and Canada ‘A’ back row Travis Larsen is another arrival from BC as is UBCOB fullback Aaron McLelland, who returns to the Arrows lineup on the wing with Shawn Windsor continuing at fullback. Former Saracens academy halfback Alex Gliksten starts in place of Ferguson.

Logic dictates that a national senior selection should trump a provincial side but these circumstances don’t exactly fit the bill. Many of the Canadian players have been out of action since the ARC while the Arrows have had five games together since March. The home team may only have one capped player left – Rob Brouwer – but many have been selected to age grade or senior ‘A’ sides.

The set piece is certainly an area where the Arrows will look to assert themselves. Even absent three tight five starters they will fancy their changes in the scrum and their rolling maul has also been efficient in preseason games. Both are areas where Canada has not been convincing in recent times.

With jet leg and match fitness both going against the Selects it’s not unreasonable to suggest this will be a very challenging match. Talent alone can only overcome so much, and on paper there isn’t a great deal between the two. For the Arrows this is a chance to go head-to-head against players ranked ahead of them on the selection chart. It’s a rare opportunity and one they will be very keen to take advantage of.

Look for the Arrows to come out flying with a halftime lead making for a tense second half. Whether or not the Selects can shake off the rust quickly will determine the winner.

Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 4pm Pacific. Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate. A live stream will be available on the official Arrows YouTube channel.

ONTARIO ARROWS
1 Rob Brouwer, 2 Alex Post, 3 Mike Smith, 4 Mike Sheppard (capt.), 5 Josh van Horne, 6 Marcello Wainwright, 7 Peter Milazzo, 8 Kolby Francis, 9 Alex Gliksten, 10 Will Kelly, 11 Aaron McLelland, 12 Jamie Leveridge, 13 Jon West, 14 Johnny Sheridan, 15 Shawn Windsor

Replacements: 16 Cam Sandison, 17 Pat Lynott, 18 Clint Lemkus, 19 Tom van Horne, 20 Travis Larsen, 21 Mario van der Westhuizen, 22 Mitch Richardson, 23 Kyle Lagasca

CANADA SELECTS
1 Noah Barker, 2 Martial Lagain, 3 Cole Keith, 4 Paul Ciulini, 5 Conor Keys, 6 Dustin Dobravsky, 7 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 8 Luke Campbell, 9 Andrew Ferguson, 10 Robbie Povey, 11 Kainoa Lloyd, 12 Guiseppe du Toit, 13 Doug Fraser, 14 Cole Davis, 15 Patrick Parfrey

Replacements: 16 Steven Ng, 17 Liam Murray, 18 Ryan Kotlewski, 19 Grant Crowell, 20 Matt Heaton, 21 Jorden Sandover-Best, 22, Gordon McRorie, 23 Josh Thiel

Date: Friday, May 18
Venue: York Lions Stadium, Toronto
Kickoff: 19:00 local (16:00 Pacific)
Broadcasts: YouTube