Hubert Buydens returns from an award-winning season with Manawatu to lead Canada on their four match November tour that starts at Sixways in Worcester. The slimmed-down loosehead prop has been enjoying his rugby in Kiwi-land, and with regular captain Tyler Ardron due to miss the first two stops on the trip, Kieran Crowley has opted to hand Buydens the reins, a role he first filled comfortably in Canada’s victory over Portugal a year ago.
As this first match falls outside the official IRB test window, Canada will be without most of their top professionals but do have four Championship-level forwards to face their divisional colleagues. Andrew Tiedemann, Tyler Hotson, Brett Beukeboom, and Jon Phelan will all be familiar with the opposition, and even be up against some club mates. An interesting back row sees three openside flankers shoehorned in to provide plenty of pace on the ball, with John Moonlight operating at no8 for the first time in national colours.
Patrick Parfrey becomes the 4th player to wear the Canadian no10 jersey in the past 12 months, with predecessors Harry Jones, Nathan Hirayama, and Liam Underwood all currently on the disabled list. Matt Evans is also injured and Connor Braid, who had been expected to start, was recalled by Glasgow this weekend but has graciously been released to provide cover on the bench. The flyhalf spot is easily the most contentious on Canada’s roster, and it’s hoped that Braid’s second stint in professional rugby puts him in position to take on the role in a more convincing fashion.
The RFU XV contains a mix of players scattered across the 12 teams in the league. There are no fully capped players present, though several are age-grade internationals and no8 Mark Bright was a member of England’s Commonwealth Games 7s team. Powerful second row James Percival leads with side after a decade of Premiership experience with Northampton, Harlequins, and now Worcester.
It’s a well-rounded side that while thrown together should fit together fairly comfortably on a limited game plan. The starting pack looks quite mobile, but there is some serious beef on the bench with three big lumps over 120kg. James Phillips and Ryan Burrows are both bruising carriers who will take some stopping once they come on as impact subs.
This won’t be a gimme for Canada, but it should be a victory. For the domestic players it will be a chance to impress the collection of coaches and scouts who will be watching. Budding professionals like Gordon McRorie and Conor Trainor will be under the microscope, and a strong performance could see them signed up sooner rather than later. It’s a good warm-up match on a tour that heats up as it moves along. Expect it to be an entertaining and competitive match, with Canada coming out on top by around 12 points.
RFU CHAMPIONSHIP XV vs CANADA
Sunday, November 2, 15:15 GMT, Worcester
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistants: Phil Watters (RFU) & Jonathan Healy (RFU)
TMO: Geoff Warren (RFU)
