Though Tyler Ardron has been named the 2015 Rugby World Cup captain for Canada, he has yet to don the cap since his injury during the Pacific Nations Cup this summer. Instead, it will be the fourth consecutive game that the honour will go to Jamie Cudmore, who has enjoyed fairly good success in the role. Whether that be because Canada has finally had the time needed as a team to get in-sync with one another, or a direct result of the veteran sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience. Nevertheless they are going to need it on Saturday at a sold out Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Canada have won two of their previous three matches after notching a 19-12 win over Glasgow Warriors and edging Georgia 16-15.
There is plenty of good news for Rugby Canada and their ardent supporters. For one, camp has gone well for them. Also, while there are a couple of worrisome injuries with Harry Jones (shoulder) and Jason Marshall (broken ribs), the boys are feeling strong and mentally prepared. There is also the fact that TSN Sports has held true to their promise to air the matches. Not just Canada’s matches, but pretty much the entire World Cup. It’s wonderful exposure to a Canadian audience who largely needs more of an international rugby education. TSN is even airing the opening ceremony tomorrow (check local listings) before the England v Fiji match.
The only trick is the time difference, which will have some tried and true pubs and bars opening in the early mornings in order to show our games. It was hoped that Real Sports in downtown Toronto, and a supporter of Rugby Canada, would open early on Saturday for the Toronto based #RedNation. However, they are remaining closed. The good news for Toronto area fans is that Scallywags Bar up at Yonge and St. Clair will definitely be airing most of the World Cup matches. There are also other pubs and bars throughout Canada who will offer the matches, as well as clubhouses. Failing that, though, most Canadians will have decent access right from their own living rooms.
There are a load of new caps and a lot of pride for them. Two of the new caps are older players, who have got to be excited about their debuts on Saturday; Ray Barkwill at hooker and Phil Mack on the bench at scrum half will get their very first caps. It’s a great moment of pride for all the newly capped players who make their debut. Furthermore, Nick Blevins has been on fire all summer and looks to be one of Canada’s very best hopes and scoring potentials.
Aaron Carpenter has been strong of late and will start in the number 8 position, where he is most effective. I am ever-amazed at the work rate of John Moonlight, who starts at flanker. Of course it’s brilliant that the big Jebb Sinclair will be on the bench, who can offer very effective relief when he’s needed.
It’s going to be a rough game, there is no doubt. Ireland have everything to play for and will be relentless on Canada. They have already stated that they do not plan to be complacent just because Canada are a second tier side. Head Coach Joe Schmidt knows Canada are hungry to prove a point, and that when things are going well for the team, and their emotions are in check, they can be trouble. Ireland have been incredibly strong and are in it to win it. They have won the last two Six Nations and plan to win the world cup full stop. So Canada have a job on their hands trying to get past Paul O’Connell’s big pack.
Through six international test matches, Canada are still looking for their first win against Ireland. Ireland have won five encounters, with a historic 27-27 draw happening in June 2000 in Ontario. Their last match-up was in June 2013 when Ireland won 40-14 in front of a sell out crowd of over 20,000 fans at BMO Field in Toronto. The two sides have met once at a previous World Cup: 1987, when Ireland won 46-19 in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Buydens, Barkwill, Beukeboom, Wooldridge and Gilmour round out our powerful forward pack. They’ve had all summer working hard together to gel the scrum, and with the help of the veteran players and shoring up with strong replacements, they have the ability to play some strong ball and hold strong lines of defence.
Gordon McRorie and Nathan Hirayama continue to build on their partnership as scrum half and fly half respectively. Hirayama has been playing especially well and isn’t afraid of anything. His good hands are particularly effective.
The backline is exciting as always with DTH Van Der Merwe, Jeff Hassler, Ciaran Hearn, Blevins and Matt Evans at fullback. These are fast guys and harbour great try potential with the way some of them have been playing.
As you will read over the next month, Canada have to get two wins to ensure a Rugby World Cup 2019 berth, so they will be working toward that. On the outside, they would love to be the Cinderella story of the tournament. A win on the second day in front of 70,000 fans against one of the highest ranked teams would provide exactly that for them. For Cudmore, captaining the side for the first time in a World Cup match, it would be the icing on the cake of a very successful career, and a great way to end the last few months where recovery from concussion was a challenge for him.
It is going to be a very exciting Autumn in the rugby world. Like never before the teams are jostling for position all over the ranking table. Where anyone comes out at the end of World Cup is anyone’s guess, and even the top five positions, largely held by the same seven teams over the past few years, are up for grabs.
Canada could, with a couple of good wins, pull themselves back up the rankings to a more comfortable spot as they were enjoying in recent years, rather than in 18th where they currently sit. It is going to be an edge-of-your-seat experience, and it all begins tomorrow evening at Twickenham with first the opening ceremony and then England versus Fiji. Canada will play Ireland less than 24 hours later.
Social media is chock full of players diaries and photos, and an abundance of information. Take a look.
@RugbyCanada @WorldRugby @rugbyworldcup @RugbyUnited @TSN_Sports
#GoCanadaGo #RedNation #RugbyUnited #RWC2015
Saturday’s game can be seen LIVE on TSN. Kickoff is at 9:30 am ET / 6:30 am PT.
Canada’s starting team to face Ireland – (Club), Hometown, Province
1. Hubert Buydens – (Unattached/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
2. Ray Barkwill – (Unattached/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
3. Doug Wooldridge – (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON
4. Brett Beukeboom – (Cornish Pirates) Lindsay, ON
5. Jamie Cudmore, Captain – (Clermont Auvergne) Squamish, BC
6. Kyle Gilmour – (Rotherham Titans/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
7. John Moonlight – (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Pickering, ON
8. Aaron Carpenter – (Cornish Pirates/Ontario Blues) Brantford, ON
9. Gordon McRorie – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
10. Nathan Hirayama – (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
11. DTH van der Merwe – (Scarlets) Victoria, BC
12. Nick Blevins – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
13. Ciaran Hearn – (Unattached/Atlantic Rock) Conception Bay South, NL
14. Jeff Hassler – (Ospreys) Okotoks, AB
15. Matt Evans – (Cornish Pirates) Maple Bay, BC
16. Benoit Piffero – (Unattached/Atlantic Rock) Montreal, QC
17. Djustice Sears-Duru – (Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
18. Andrew Tiedemann – (Unattached/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
19. Jebb Sinclair – (London Irish/Atlantic Rock) Fredericton, NB
20. Richard Thorpe – (London Welsh) Beckenham, England
21. Phil Mack – (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
22. Liam Underwood – (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON
23. Conor Trainor – (UBCOB Ravens/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
Unavailable for selection:
Tyler Ardron – (Ospreys) Lakefield, ON
Harry Jones – (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) West Vancouver, BC
Senior Men’s Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Kieran Crowley
Forwards Coach: Neil Barnes
Assistant Coach: Leo Crowley
Scrum Coach: Mike Shelley
Skills Coach: Graeme Moffat
Manager: Gareth Rees
Main Photo
