Canada faces U.S.A. tonight (Oct. 15) as the 2013 Americas Rugby Championship continues at Westhills Stadium in Langford.
Kick off for Argentina and Uruguay is 6 p.m., followed by Canada vs. U.S.A. at 8 p.m.
The Canadians won the opening match on Friday 17-10 over Uruguay. The South American visitors presented a much stiffer test for the home team compared to last year, when Canada burst ahead early and controlled the game for a 28-10 win.
A much different looking Canadian team nearly drew the the game 10-10 until centre Mike Scholz played the hero, dotting down a last-minute try on a pass from fly half Jack Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick scored an early try on a successful individual play, as his chip-and-chase was nearly interrupted but was dropped by an Uruguayan.
"We have a lot to work on," said Canadian coach Kieran Crowley. "Uruguay certainly competed very well, we weren’t accurate enough in our skill level but In the last five minutes we woke up and scored...
"We need to work on ball security to start, the placement of it, the clean up. We certainly need to work on our skill level. We just turned over too many balls, we have to do better."
Canada dominated last year's ARC game against the U.S.A. 23-3, and though the Canadians are coming off a pair of Rugby World Cup qualifying wins in August, both teams are leading with their top domestic squads, free of professionals.
Some of the changes for Canada to tonight's (Oct. 15) starting lineup feature locally produced and longtime Victoria-based athletes. Former UVic Vikes prop Andrew Tiedemann will not dress due to injury. Instead, Adam Kleeberger, another Vikes alum turned Castaway Wanderers player, will act as the captain while wearing No. 8 in back of the scrum.
Taking Tiedemann's spot at hooker is Ray Barkwill (Castaway Wanderers), part of this year's Canadian Rugby Championship winning Ontario Blues team, who draws in for his first start of the ARC after subbing on Friday. Oak Bay's Sean White (James Bay AA/B.C. Bears) will start at scrum half and Vancouver's Conor Trainor at wing.
Former James Bay forward Callum Morrison of Oak Bay drops to the bench after starting on Friday.1
Canada is second in the 2013 ARC standings with four points, one back of Argentina’s five. Argentina opened the tourney with a 27-9 win over U.S.A.
Canada’s roster to Face USA:
1- Doug Wooldridge, (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON2- Ray Barkwill, (Niagara Wasps RFC/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON3- Ryan March, (Abbotsford RFC/BC Bears) Abbotsford 4- Henry (Hank) McQueen, (Balmy Beach/Ontario Blues) Vancouver 5- Kyle Baille, (Castaway Wanderers/The Rock) Charlottetown, PEI6- Kyle Gilmour, (St. Albert Rugby Club/Prairie Wolf Pack) Edmonton, AB7- Alistair Clark, (Baystreet RFC/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON8- Adam Kleeberger, (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) White Rock, BC - Captain9- Sean White, (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria 10- Guiseppe Du Toit, (UVic Vikes) Maple Ridge 11- Jordan Wilson-Ross, (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Alliston, ON12- Mike Scholz, (Castaway Wanderers/Ontario Blues) London, ON13- Conor Trainor, (UBCOB Ravens/BC Bears) Vancouver 14- Duncan Maguire, (St. Albert Rugby Club/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB15- Jack Fitzpatrick, (Dublin University Football Club) Dublin, Ireland
16- Micha Gorvorchin, (Burnaby Lake RC/BC Bears) New Westminster 17- Djustice Sears-Duru, (Castaway Wanderers/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON18- Jake Illnicki, (Williams Lake Rustlers/Auckland Colts) Williams Lake 19- Callum Morrison, (UBCOC Ravens/BC Bears) Victoria 20- Matt Heaton, (SABRFC/The Rock) Godmanchester, QC21- Jamie Mackenzie, (UVIC Vikes/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON22- Adam McQueen, (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Canmore, AB23- Joe Dolesau, (Burnaby Lake RC/BC Bears) Burnaby
