RWC Qualifier Preview – Canada vs USA

Canada will play host to the USA in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on Saturday in the first of a home-and-away series with big implications. The cumulative result will determine the Rugby Americas North seedings in the Americas zone qualifiers for Rugby World Cup 2023.

Both sides, win or lose, will live to play on in October but their paths will be dramatically different. The winner moves on to face Uruguay with a direct spot to France on offer; the loser squares off against upstarts Chile with one door leading to the Americas 2 qualifier and the other to the exit.

An extended hiatus from test rugby ended for both sides in July, with each suffering two defeats. The USA had a positive showing in England but slumped badly against Ireland. Canada were on the wrong side of lopsided scorelines against both Wales and England.

Despite the results the Canadians show just four changes to the run-on side. Matt Tierney arrives from France to anchor the scrum at tighthead prop while Matt Heaton is fit to resume duty on the flank. Corey Thomas moves from the side of the scrum into the second row.

In the backs there are two debutantes in Toronto Arrows center Spencer Jones and the Pacific Pride’s Brock Webster. The latter has also represented the Canada Sevens side but is typically seen at flyhalf. He will find a familiar face at fullback with Cooper Coats retained after impressing on the UK tour.

Further debuts could come from a pair of Arrows in makeshift lock Mason Flesch and scrumhalf Jason Higgins. Patrick Parfrey will hope to see game time at his home club in this the first test in St. John’s since 2006, when Rod Snow led Canada to a record win over the Eagles.

There are six changes to the USA starting lineup. Chance Wenglewski and Dylan Fawsitt replace David Ainu’u and Joe Taufete’e in the front row. The latter notably covers tighthead prop from the bench having played hooker in July. Nate Brakeley is in at lock with Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz on the blindside flank.

AJ MacGinty’s late arrival to camp sees the Sale Sharks man left on the bench with Will Magie handed the No10 shirt and Luke Carty shifting to fullback. Marcel Brache is recalled in the midfield to partner Bryce Campbell, who retains the captaincy in MacGinty’s stead.

Saracens hooker Kapeli Pifeleti gives the Eagles three reserve front rowers who ply their trade in Europe. Nate Augspurger returns from injury as backup scrumhalf, and there is a new name in Saint Mary’s Gaels midfielder Tavite Lopeti. The Collegiate All-American was selected third overall by the Seattle Seawolves just two weeks ago in the Major League Rugby Draft.

Among the notable absentees for the USA are Montpellier prop Titi Lamositele, Newcastle Falcons lock Greg Peterson, and MLR Player of the Year Mike Te’o. Harlequins center Paul Lasike is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon and Seawolves back row Riekert Hattingh is serving the remainder of his suspension.

Canada’s losses are more severe. World Cup captain Tyler Ardron, Biarritz lock Evan Olmstead, Montpellier lock Tyler Duguid, Bourg-en-Bresse flanker Matt Beukeboom, and Stade Français scrumhalf Will Percillier remain with their clubs for various reasons.

Out injured are Rouen flyhalf Shane O’Leary and a pair of experienced wings in Taylor Paris and Jeff Hassler. The latest casualty is veteran lock or loose forward Kyle Baillie, who is in camp with the team but sidelined for the first test with the hopes of playing in the second.

While Canada retain the advantage in historical results with 38 wins from 63 matches, two of them drawn, in recent years the Eagles have dominated the their northern neighbors. They carry a six-game win streak into the match and it’s been eight years since Canada were last victorious in Toronto during the RWC 2015 Qualifying series.

The hyper-partisan crowd should create a cauldron-like atmosphere in St. John’s. Canada have breakdown experts in Heaton and Lucas Rumball and look dangerous out wide, but may struggle to earn clean possession against the intimidating presence of Nate Brakeley, Nick Civetta, and Cam Dolan in the lineout.

Adding to the aerial superiority is the tactical kicking strength of Magie and Carty, while Campell and Brache are a physically imposing midfield. All told the Eagles enter as clear favorites, though with MacGinty held in a supporting role the margins constrict somewhat.

Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, 1:30pm Eastern, 10:30am Pacific. Live broadcasts will be available on FloRugby in the USA and via Premier Sports in Canada.

CANADA
1 Djustice Sears-Duru, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Matt Tierney, 4 Corey Thomas, 5 Conor Keys, 6 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 7 Matt Heaton, 8 Siaki Vikilani, 9 Ross Braude, 10 Peter Nelson, 11 Kainoa Lloyd, 12 Spencer Jones, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Brock Webster, 15 Cooper Coats

Replacements: 16 Eric Howard, 17 Cole Keith, 18 Tyler Rowland, 19 Mason Flesch, 20 Michael Smith, 21 Robbie Povey, 22 Jason Higgins, 23 Patrick Parfrey

USA
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Nick Civetta, 6 Hanco Germishuys, 7 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Ruben de Haas, 10 Will Magie, 11 Mika Kruse, 12 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Christian Dyer, 15 Luke Carty

Replacements: 16 Kapeli Pifeleti, 17 David Ainu’u, 18 Joe Taufete’e, 19 Siaosi Mahoni, 20 Andrew Guerra, 21 Nate Augspurger, 22 Tavite Lopeti, 23 AJ MacGinty

Date: Saturday, September 4
Venue: Swilers Rugby Park, St. John’s
Kickoff: 15:00 local (10:30 Pacific, 13:30 Eastern)
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistants: Moe Chaudhry (Canada) & Robin Kaluzniak (Canada)
TMO: Chris Assmus (Canada)
Broadcasts: FloRugby (USA), Premier Sports (Canada)

Recent results:
2019-09-07 – Canada 15, USA 20 (BC Place, Vancouver)
2019-07-27 – USA 47, Canada 19 (Infinity Park, Glendale)
2019-03-08 – USA 30, Canada 25 (Starfire Stadium, Seattle)
2018-06-23 – Canada 17, USA 42 (Wanderers Grounds, Halifax)
2018-02-10 – USA 29, Canada 10 (Papa Murphy’s Park, Sacramento)
2017-07-01 – USA 52, Canada 16 (Torero Stadium, San Diego) *RWC Qualifier
2017-06-24 – Canada 28, USA 28 (Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton) *RWC Qualifier
2017-02-18 – Canada 34, USA 51 (Swangard Stadium, Burnaby)
2016-02-13 – USA 30, Canada 22 (Dell Diamond, Round Rock)