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The two lowest-ranked teams at the Rugby World Cup are scheduled to play at Kamaishi on Sunday. Namibia have never before tasted victory at the tournament and will fancy its chances, while Canada is looking for its first RWC win since 2011. Ironically, the two teams may not have the opportunity to do so.
With the path of Super Typhoon Hagibis headed straight up Honshu and set to rain down enormous sheets of water across Japan’s main island, the contest is at risk of being cancelled. World Rugby has already made the extraordinary decision to pull the plug on two of Saturday’s matches. If it does go ahead it may be sparsely attended with public transportation around the area likely shut down or at best severely disrupted.
Canada has been busy preparing in any event, and has named a team that shows five changes to the run-on side that faced South Africa. Three of those are in the forward pack that has lost Kyle Baillie and Mike Sheppard to injury, and Josh Larsen to suspension.
Djustice Sears-Duru and Eric Howard are recalled to start in the front row with Conor Keys filling the void at lock. With no further second row options left in the squad, it will be either Tyler Ardron or Toronto Arrows No8 Luke Campbell who provides emergency cover. Dustin Dobravsky is parachuted straight to the bench after being flown in this week.
Two changes in the backs see Gordon McRorie replacing Phil Mack at scrumhalf, the latter’s playing career now over with an impending move into coaching with the Seattle Seawolves. Patrick Parfrey is fit to resume at fullback as Andrew Coe drops to the bench.
Namibia have made three changes to their starting pack. First choice tighthead prop Aranos Coetzee returns at the expense of AJ de Klerk, and Johan Retief is at lock in place of injured PJ van Lill. Wian Conradie is recalled on the flank with the battered Thomasau Forbes left out completely.
The starting halfbacks that impressed against New Zealand – Damian Stevens and TC Kisting – will settle for the bench this week as Eugene Jantjies and sharp-shooter Cliven Loubser will get the start. Darryl de la Harpe takes over from Justin Newman in the only other change. Captain Johan Deysel has shaken off a shoulder knock to take part.
With so much uncertainty surrounding the conditions, it’s difficult to predict a result. Canada beat Namibia 72-11 at RWC 1999 but won by only four points at Colwyn Bay in November 2014. On form the African representatives are the better side, but they are one notch below Canada on the World Rugby Rankings. Kicking is likely to play a significant part and in Loubser, Namibia have the advantage. They enter as slight favorites.
Kickoff is set for 12:15pm local time, Saturday 8:15pm Pacific, Saturday 11:15pm Eastern, and 12:15am in Rio de la Plata. Live broadcasts will be available on ESPN 3 in Latin and South America, NBC Sports Gold in the USA, and TSN channels 1 and 4 in Canada.
NAMIBIA
1 André Rademeyer, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 4 Johan Retief, 5 Tjiuee Uanivi, 6 Prince Gaoseb, 7 Wian Conradie, 8 Janco Venter, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 10 Cliven Loubser, 11 JC Greyling, 12 Darryl de la Harpe, 13 Johan Deysel (capt.), 14 Lesley Klim, 15 Johann Tromp
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 AJ de Klerk, 18 Desiderius Sethie, 19 Max Katjijeko, 20 Rohan Kitshoff, 21 Damian Stevens, 22 TC Kisting, 23 Chad Plato
CANADA
1 Djustice Sears-Duru, 2 Eric Howard, 3 Jake Ilnicki, 4 Evan Olmstead, 5 Conor Keys, 6 Lucas Rumball, 7 Matt Heaton, 8 Tyler Ardron (capt.), 9 Gordon McRorie, 10 Peter Nelson, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 13 Conor Trainor, 14 Jeff Hassler, 15 Patrick Parfrey
Replacements: 16 Andrew Quattrin, 17 Hubert Buydens, 18 Matt Tierney, 19 Luke Campbell, 20 Dustin Dobravsky, 21 Jamie Mackenzie, 22 Shane O’Leary, 23 Andrew Coe
Date: Sunday, October 13
Venue: Unosumai Stadium, Kamaishi
Kickoff: 12:15 local (Saturday 20:15 Pacific, Saturday 23:15 Eastern, 00:15 Rio de la Plata)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistants: Pascal Gaüzère (France) & Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Broadcasts: ESPN 3 (Latin/South America), NBC Sports Gold (USA), TSN 1/4 (Canada)
