Canada has made just one roster change for its third game of the Rugby World Cup against Japan’s Cherry Blossoms on Monday.
It’s the biggest match of the tournament for Canada (1-1). With a win, the Canucks (as they’re often referred to in New Zealand) will finish third in Pool A behind New Zealand (3-0) and France (2-1), thereby earning automatic qualification to Rugby World Cup 2015. Tonga (1-2) can steal third position should Canada fall to Japan (0-3).
The match will be televised on TSN beginning at 8:30 p.m. on Monday, PST.
The sole replacement is Matt Evans (Cowichan) for Castaway-Wanderers star Ciaran Hearn at wing (14).
CW, the historic Oak Bay club, will continue to lead the way with six ex and current players in the starting 15 as well as one more in the seven man reserve roster (Scott Franklin).
CW’s Hubert Buydens starts at looshead prop, with UVic’s Pat Riordan at hooker and James Bay’s (Capilano) Jason Marshall at tighthead prop.
Former B.C. clubs in brackets.
Returning at second row is London-Irish’s Jebb Sinclair (CW) at four, ASM Clermont-Auvergne’s Jamie Cudmore (Capilano) at five and Adam Kleeberger (UVic) at six, with Osprey’s Chauncey O’Toole (CW) at seven and Aaron Carpenter (James Bay) at eight.
At scrum half St. Michaels University grad and current UBC Old Boy Ravens B.C. player of the year Ed Fairhurst (CW) pairs with current CW fly half Ander Monro in organizing the backs. Ex-UVic player Phil MacKenzie is at wing (11) with Evans (14), while CW’s Ryan Smith (12) and Glasgow Warrior’s DTH van der Merwe (James Bay) pair at centre (13).
James Pritchard will carry the kicking duties as fullback.
