2017 Canadian Rugby Championship XV

With three Canadian Rugby Championship fixtures in the space of a week it makes sense to diverge from the usual ‘Team of the Week’ practice and instead just name a select XV for the tournament as a whole. This also means that the first round of matches that were separate from the Calgary event must also be taken into account.

In general there was an absence of exceptional individuals in this year’s competition. The Bears lifted the MacTier Cup on the back of superior team preparation and execution rather than boasting a star-laden roster. Ontario featured the most ‘name’ players in their lineup but didn’t quite click in the final.

It’s important to note that despite this the Blues very nearly won anyway. A forward pass denied them a sensational win against the Bears in the mid-week match and a single point separated the two in the final, a match that saw Ontario score five tries to BC’s three. This is simply to point out that the difference between title winners and runners-up this season was razor-thin, and as such expecting one side or another to dominate selections is unreasonable.

With regards to individual positions there were relatively few names who would have shown the selectors something they didn’t already know. Dominant forwards of any kind were hard to pick out with the exception of only a couple matches. While this can partially be attributed to the ridiculous demands of the fixture list and simple attrition, this should be at least somewhat concerning and it could well be that a number of players from the upcoming u20 Trophy tournament force their way into Canada ‘A’ consideration for the Americas Pacific Challenge in October.

1 – Anthony Luca (Bears) The captain of the Cup-winning side. Figuratively and literally the cornerstone of their success. Rarely found difficulty at the set piece and gave all that could have been asked of him in the loose. Rounsefell Cup finalist, test debutante, and now CRC champion. It’s been a pretty good year for the Burnaby Lake stalwart.

2 – Eric Howard (Blues) When it comes to tight five selection set piece play should be priority one. In this department, however, none of the candidates were bulletproof. In the loose the nod goes to the Canada squad member who can simply do things athletically that others can’t, his huge line break in the final a perfect example. Admittedly Howard also took a dumb yellow card in the same game, but the same could again be leveled against the rest of the field.

3 – Tom Dolezel (Blues) Had Jake Ilnicki been available in Calgary this likely would have been a routine choice. As things went the next best will do just fine. Big Tom was tested by Luca in the final but otherwise proved his mettle at the scrum yet again. In the loose he picks his spots and always makes the gainline.

4 – Riley Fahlman (Wolf Pack) Who? That’s probably the question many are asking, with very few outside of Saskatchewan or Burnaby, where he spent time this past season, aware of who he was. While a comprehensive analysis might have revealed a preferable candidate, no other second row put forth a compelling case so we’ve opted for a true big man in the engine room. For his size he proved surprisingly agile both at the lineout and with ball in hand, even putting in a couple deft offloads. In his first exposure to this level of rugby Fahlman ticked a few boxes and at 25 has plenty of room for improvement.

5 – Mike Sheppard (Blues) Were he a couple inches taller and a few pounds heavier he might already have a few test caps to his name. As it is he’s one of the hardest working forwards on the regional circuit with a well rounded game. Solid in the lineout, a reliable ball carrier, and a committed defender. When the rest of his side was being run off the park in the first half against the Bears last Wednesday, Sheppard was still scrapping for every inch.

6 – Travis Larsen (Bears) A substitute in the first match against the Wolf Pack and not even on the roster against the Rock, Larsen responded with two fine performances against the Blues to close out the tourney on a high. His man-of-the-match effort in the final was arguably the best by any forward in the eight games played and has likely put him into strong contention for a spot on the plane to Uruguay in October.

7 – Moe Abdelmonem (Rock) Canada is full of decent workhorse type flankers, most of whom are ‘6.5’ types – not quite fast enough for 7 and a little small for 6. Abdelmonem is a pure openside, short in stature but strongly built and an absolute nightmare in the contact area. His second-half effort against the Bears turned the game around and gave his team every opportunity to fight for a draw. Still very raw, he would benefit greatly from time in a full-time high performance environment.

8 – Jeremy Kyne (Wolf Pack) A major weak spot across the tournament as a whole. Outgoing Canadian coach Mark Anscombe complained about a lack of big men to choose from and Kyne showed just what a dominant ball carrier can do for a side. With Clay Panga away in Ireland another veteran New Zealander was asked to step up and Kyne delivered, producing a rampaging performance against the Rock in the bronze match.

9 – Andrew Ferguson (Blues) BC fans won’t agree and it’s a fair argument that Phil Mack’s mere presence in the Bears lineup created space outside and kept the team on an even keel. In terms of pure impact, however, the nod has to go to Ferguson. The way the match changed when he came on at halftime against BC with a 31-0 score against was undeniable. He will rue a couple missed kicks in the final but it was Ferguson who kept Ontario in reach with his heads-up play that led directly to three tries. Must be given a chance to start in October.

10 – Shawn Windsor (Blues) One who has perhaps flown under the radar over the years with international stars catching the headlines, the Stoney Creek standout stepped into the limelight in Calgary with some impressive displays. Mixed his play well, attacking the line and using his short passing game to put runners into space. Kicks well from hand and made good decisions without the benefit of a bullocking midfielder option to break the gainline.

11 – Brett Johnson (Rock) Spent much of the time at his favored fullback position but with other strong candidates there we’ll take him on the wing where he is just as dangerous. Tore up the ground every time he got the ball in space, beating defenders at will with pace and footwork. Courageous in defense with his try-saver on Cam Hall one of the tackles of the tournament. Another who is screaming for more opportunities at international level.

12 – Guiseppe du Toit (Bears) Still only 22 but seems to have been around for ages, he took a big step forward in the CRC. Led the tourney in scoring despite having some issues with accuracy at times. Played well at both 10 and 12, showing the ability to take the ball into traffic and also drop it onto the toe either to dab over the line or heave it into the corner. Not the finished article yet but is starting to make good on his undoubted potential.

13 – Mike Nieuwenhuysen (Bears) Midfield was a question mark and there was no clear winner here. Teammate Doug Fraser was excellent defensively while others had moments but were unconvincing. We’ve chosen Nieuwenhuysen for doing the job well wherever he was asked, playing both centre positions and on the wing. Another raw talent, he brings obvious size and power but also a good eye for the gap. His inside line to break clear for a try in the final was picture-perfect.

14 – Kainoa Lloyd (Blues) We could have opted for Dan Moor here but the tournament’s top try scorer merits inclusion. Needs to work on his catch-pass game if he hopes to challenge the likes of Taylor Paris and Jeff Hassler for a test spot – his try-scoring pass that wasn’t against BC will be etched in his memory. As a pure finisher, however, there are few in the Canadian game who compare to Lloyd’s combination of pace a tackle-busting ability.

15 – Aaron McLelland (Bears) Rory McDonell certainly made a case with the Blues but we’ve opted for the electric McLelland, sadly missing from the final after thrilling the crowds in earlier matches. The only player who can stand with Johnson in terms of one-on-one ability. Already on Canada’s radar for sevens selection, they’ll have to wait patiently as the New Zealander doesn’t qualify on residency for another two years having just arrived in Canada in August of last year.