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North America’s finest will go head-to-head for a third time this year in the final dress rehearsal ahead of departure to Japan. Both coaches have selected strong teams that should closely resemble the lineups for their opening World Cup matches on September 26. Having lost both matches on US soil, Canada will hope Vancouver can give them the edge to get a result at last.
It’s been a long time since Canada beat the USA in a test match. Six years, in fact, with 10 defeats and a draw since. Only four Canadians from that day remain in active service for the team, all of them backs. Two – DTH van der Merwe and Ciaran Hearn – will start the match with Nick Blevins on the bench. Phil Mack’s recent entry into fatherhood will preclude his involvement on this occasion.
There was a near miss in Seattle during the Americas Rugby Championship. A last-minute try saved the Eagles on that day. Most recently, however, was the one-sided result at Glendale, a 47-19 score that flattered the visitors. Canada have made only minor changes since that day, most notably the selection of Eric Howard and Matt Tierney in the front row.
Justin Blanchet’s excellent performance in Langford last weekend is rewarded with a spot on the blindside flank as Kyle Baillie moves up to lock. The same can’t be applied to Shane O’Leary, who is forced to settle for a spot on the bench despite an equally impressive showing. Instead it’s Peter Nelson who again wears the No10 shirt with Patrick Parfrey recalled at fullback.
The Eagles will roll out what looks likely to be their first choice pack for Japan absent the recovering Nick Civetta. Eric Fry, Joe Taufete’e, and Titi Lamositele make their first appearances of the warm-up matches just in time to be come acquainted in the front row. Greg Peterson steps in for Civetta at lock.
It’s not just Canada who have a conundrum at scrumhalf. Nate Augspurger is given a chance to prove himself with Shaun Davies left on the bench and Ruben de Haas missing entirely. Will Magie fills in at flyhalf with AJ MacGinty not quite fully fit, and Martin Iosefo will have one more opportunity to secure a spot on the left wing as Mike Te’o returns from injury on the bench.
Canada have managed only short stretches of credible rugby in recent weeks, a 30-minute stretch against Leinster almost enough to steal a win at Hamilton. The USA, on the other hand, have looked well conditioned and confident, though they were ultimately left disappointed in the loss to Japan.
Given the respective momentum of the two sides there’s little to suggest that Canada can turn around a 28-point gap in just a few weeks but there is always something to be said for home field advantage. If they are to have any hope of challenging Italy, they must prove competent against the Eagles. A win may just be too much to ask for.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 10pm Eastern. Live broadcasts will be available on FloRugby in the USA and on both TSN1 and TSN4 in Canada.
CANADA
1 Hubert Buydens, 2 Eric Howard, 3 Matt Tierney, 4 Evan Olmstead, 5 Kyle Baillie, 6 Justin Blanchet, 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Tyler Ardron (capt.), 9 Gordon McRorie, 10 Peter Nelson, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Jeff Hassler, 15 Patrick Parfrey
Replacements: 16 Andrew Quattrin, 17 Djustice Sears-Duru, 18 Jake Ilnicki, 19 Mike Sheppard, 20 Matt Heaton, 21 Jamie Mackenzie, 22 Shane O’Leary, 23 Nick Blevins
USA
1 Eric Fry, 2 Joe Taufete’e, 3 Titi Lamositele, 4 Ben Landry, 5 Greg Peterson, 6 Hanco Germishuys, 7 John Quill, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Nate Augspurger, 10 Will Magie, 11 Martin Iosefo, 12 Paul Lasike, 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Blaine Scully (capt.), 15 Will Hooley
Replacements: 16 Dylan Fawsitt, 17 Olive Kilifi, 18 Paul Mullen, 19 Nate Brakeley, 20 Malon Al-Jiboori, 21 Shaun Davies, 22 Bryce Campbell, 23 Mike Te’o
Date: Saturday, September 7
Venue: BC Place, Vancouver
Kickoff: 19:00 local (22:00 Eastern)
Referee: Alex Ruiz (FFR)
Assistants: Mike Adamson (SRU) & Sean Gallagher (IRFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Broadcasts: FloRugby (USA), TSN1/4 (Canada)
