u20 Trophy Preview – Portugal vs Canada

The third game on the docket for the opening day of the World Rugby u20 Trophy in Bucharest is a vital contest between two sides with dreams of earning promotion to the big stage. Portugal and Canada have never before played at u20 level. They could hardly have been further apart in their placement last season, with Portugal losing to Japan in the 1st place Final while Canada were consigned to 7th place following a win over lowly Hong Kong.

This year’s offering from Portugal is not to be taken lightly. Their front row will be a particular area of strength with props David Costa and José Pimental playing their club rugby at Bath University and Périgueux respectively. Hooker Nuno Mascarenhas is based in Portugal but might be the best of the trio, already capped seven times at senior level.

Mascarenhas and Pimentel join two other starting forwards as returning players. Flanker and captain Joao Vital and combative No8 Duarte Campos also play in their second u20 Trophy tournament, as do scrumhalf Duarte Azevedo and standout fullback Manuel Cardoso Pinto. The latter has four tries in five matches for the senior test side.

Canada feature a handful of returnees but only two in the forwards. Ontario Arrows hooker Jack McRogers and captain James O’Neill will be expected to set the standard up front. Heavyweight prop Tyler Rowland and Perpignan second row Quentin James were standouts at u18 level and England-based Peter Ingoldsby gives the team two openside specialists in the back row.

A young but highly promising halfback combination sees Will Percillier partner Campbell Clarke, one of only two 17-year-olds in the competition. Jack McCarthy and Kevin Vertkas provide bulk in the three-quarter line with Elias Ergas the gas-man on the right wing. Percillier, McCarthy, and Brennig Prevost were part of last year’s selection.

Kickoff is set for 5pm local time, 10am Eastern. A live stream will be provided by World Rugby.

PORTUGAL
1 David Costa, 2 Nuno Mascarenhas, 3 José Pimentel, 4 José Roque, 5 Manuel Peleteiro, 6 Manuel Pinto, 7 João Vital (capt.), 8 Duarte Campos, 9 Duarte Azevedo, 10 João Lima, 11 Duarte Gonçalves, 12 Gonçalo Santos, 13 Gabriel Pop, 14 Rodrigo Marta, 15 Manuel Cardoso Pinto

Replacements: 16 José Alexandre Sarmento, 17 João Francisco Lima, 18 Filipe Granja, 19 Pedro Ferreira, 20 Manuel Nunes, 21 Sebastião Silva, 22 Martim Cardoso, 23 Jerónimo Portela, 24 Diogo Cardoso, 25 Manuel Marta, 26 Francisco Campos

CANADA
1 Gavin Kratz, 2 Jack McRogers, 3 Tyler Rowland, 4 Reid Davis, 5 Quentin James, 6 Peter Ingoldsby, 7 James O’Neill (capt.), 8 Michael Smith, 9 Will Percillier, 10 Campbell Clarke, 11 Jack McCarthy, 12 Kevin Vertkas, 13 Seth Purdey, 14 Elias Ergas, 15 Brennig Prevost

Replacements: 16 Tyler Rockwell, 17 Emerson Prior, 18 Guerschom Mukendi, 19 Owain Ruttan, 20 Jackson Matthews, 21 Brandon Schellenberger, 22 Lachlan Kratz, 23 Josiah Morra, 24 Tyler Duguid, 25 Mitchell Wainman, 26 Gabriel Casey

Date: Tuesday, August 28
Venue: Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Kickoff: 17:00 local (07:00 Pacific, 10:00 Eastern, 11:00 Montevideo)
Broadcasts: World Rugby