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Canada will meet Spain in the second of the two international tests at El Pantano in La Vila on Saturday. The two sides most recently collided in Ottawa a little over a year ago, with the Leones beating the Maple Leafs for the first time and in convincing fashion at that.
Both teams missed out on the World Cup though it should be noted that Spain qualified before being controversially dumped from the tournament after fielding an ineligible prop as a reserve in two matches. Canada missed out for the first time after losing to the USA and then Chile in the build-up.
While the Leones played a full Rugby Europe Championship series in the spring, their summer output was limited to just a single test against Argentina in late August. Canada have been even more hard done by this year with only a hastily-organized two-test trip to Tonga that same month.
Kingsley Jones has recently seen his contract extended by two years but remains under pressure to deliver a result. If Canada loses to Spain on Saturday they will drop below 60 points on the World Rankings for the first time. Jones has opted for continuity in his squad but there are six changes to the run-on side from the second test in Nuku’alofa.
Experience is added up front in the form of Djustice Sears-Duru and Cole Keith at prop, and Kyle Baillie on the blindside flank. Matthew Oworu swaps his sevens shirt for a No8 at the expense of Siaki Vikilani, who stays in the match day squad on the bench. Toronto Arrows flanker Lucas Rumball captains the side while celebrating his 50th international.
It’s a new midfield combination with Free Jacks duo Gabe Casey and Ben LeSage paired for the first time. Once-capped Casey makes his run-on debut while LeSage has recovered from injury and recently spent time training with English Premiership side Gloucester. Josiah Morra is another sevens regular who takes the spot of Kainoa Lloyd on the wing, and there is a potential first cap for Seattle Seawolves scrumhalf Reid Watkins who is named on the bench.
Los Leones have a new Head Coach incoming in the form of former Pumas regular Pablo Bouza, but he will not formally take over until the New Year. Miguel Velasco continues to lead the side in the interim and has selected a mix-and-match side with several young players included.
The front row is all France-based with 20-year-old Stade Français hooker Álvaro García making his test debut alongside returning captain Jon Zabala. Mario Pichardie moves from the back row to lock, and Biarritz academy standout Ekain Imaz, another 20-year-old, gets a first start at No8.
Curiously there is no specialist flyhalf included with utility back Iñaki Mateu instead wearing the No10 shirt. Alvar Gimeno returns to the midfield after a long absence and 43-test veteran Jordi Jorba starts on the wing. There are three potential new caps on the bench in loosehead prop Marcos Muñiz, back row Pepe Borraz, and versatile three-quarter Pau Aira.
Warm and sunny conditions are expected which should allow for an exciting contest. Spain are currently four spots above Canada on the World Rankings and were substantially better in Ottawa a year ago, but both lineups are considerably different this time. Several of the Leones side suited up for the Iberians in the Rugby Europe Super Cup this past weekend. With more recent game time and home field advantage, Spain should be considered favorites.
Kickoff is set for 8pm local time, 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern, 4pm Brasilia. Live broadcasts will be available Star+ in Brazil, RugbyPass TV in the USA, and TSN+ in Canada.
SPAIN
1 Thierry Futeu, 2 Álvaro García, 3 Jon Zabala (capt.), 4 Mario Pichardie, 5 Alejandro Suárez, 6 Facundo Domínguez, 7 Matt Foulds, 8 Ekain Imaz, 9 Tani Bay, 10 Iñaki Mateu, 11 Jordi Jorba, 12 Gonzalo López, 13 Álvar Gimeno, 14 Martiniano Cian, 15 John-Wessel Bell
Replacements: 16 Santiago Ovejero, 17 Marcos Muñiz, 18 Joaquín Domínguez, 19 Marc Sánchez, 20 Pepe Borraz, 21 Ike Irusta, 22 Pau Aira, 23 Federico Casteglioni
CANADA
1 Djustice Sears-Duru, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Cole Keith, 4 Izzak Kelly, 5 Conor Keys, 6 Kyle Baillie, 7 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 8 Matthew Oworu, 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Robbie Povey, 11 Josiah Morra, 12 Gabe Casey, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Isaac Olson, 15 Peter Nelson
Replacements: 16 Foster DeWitt, 17 Liam Murray, 18 Conor Young, 19 Mason Flesch, 20 Siaki Vikilani, 21 Reid Watkins, 22 Mitch Richardson, 23 Andrew Coe
Date: Saturday, November 11
Venue: El Pantano, Villajoyosa
Kickoff: 20:00 local (11:00 Pacific, 14:00 Eastern, 16:00 Brasilia)
Broadcasts: RugbyPass TV, Star+, TSN+
Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-07-10 – Canada 34, Spain 57 (Ottawa)
2017-11-18 – Spain 27-37 Canada (Madrid)
2010-11-13 – Spain 22-60 Canada (Madrid)
