Preview | Canada vs Japan – 7th June 2014

It’s a sign of the times: faced with more depth than could be put into a single squad, Canadian coach Kieran Crowley’s first squad of 2014 is as impressive for who’s in as it is for who is out.With a year to go until the World Cup, a veritable who’s who of talent made themselves available for this past week’s training camp, which concluded Saturday with a very combative trial match at Klahanie Park. The BC Bears Invitational vs Canada Selects match also served as to recognized the BC Rugby Union’s 125th Anniversary and it was a fitting beginning to a big season for the B.C. program, with the Bears squad running out 27-26 winners.

But for all the off-field pomp of the event, this was very much about Crowley and his selectors making some tough decisions from as deep a training squad as Canadian men’s rugby has ever seen.

From more than a 15 or so contending backs, Crowley could only go only a dozen at best. (He would go with 11.)

From a similar gaggle of forwards, he’s only be about to go with a baker’s dozen or so. (He’s picked 15.)

And he still has to settle on a match-day 23.

So first, the surprising ‘outs’, of which there are four.

Line up Phil Mackenzie, Conor Trainor, Sean White and Brett Beukeboom. The latter two have been steadfast and electric for Crowley’s backlines over the past three seasons, but with Mackenzie, the Sale Sharks winger, still under an injury cloud, perhaps it’s not surprising he’s out, even if he had an impressive run on Saturday, playing on the left wing. But against a powerfully in-form Jeff Hassler – on top of being named to the RaboDirect Pro12 team of the season, the Okotoks, AB, winger bagged two impressive tries for the B.C. squad – it was always going to be a tall order for Mackenzie. Trainor, on the other hand, had a great year for the Canadian sevens squad but up against the clearly in-form Ciaran Hearn as well as stalwart DTH Van der Merwe for the outside centre spot, it was another tall order for the dynamic ball runner. Van der Merwe ( like Trainor, also a candidate to play on the wing) hasn’t played since shoulder surgery shelved him in February. But he’s declared himself match fit; we can tell which player Crowley and co. prefer.

As for Sean White, he’s being slid into the ‘good enough but not outstanding’ category. The look of dejection on his face on Saturday night after the team announcement said it all. Here’s a player who’s been a fine tourist for Crowley but obviously has been judged to have no more room to move, development-wise. Gordon McRorie played a very solid game for the Canada Selects squad on Saturday, showing a fine passing and kicking game to go along with a strong presence around the breakdown. It will be interesting to see how hard the Scottish-born Calgarian is able to push Phil Mack for the starting half back role.

As for Brett Beukeboom, he was sporting a hefty head gash after the match on Saturday, so it’s hard to see that not factoring in to his losing out to Jon Phelan for the reserve lock spot. (Of course, we may see Jebb Sinclair as a secondary option there as well.)

THE SELECTIONS

The half backs are clear: Mack as incumbent, McRorie as young pretender. Either Underwood or Braid at fly half – given how smooth Underwood was for much of the game, you’ve got to believe he’s the first choice but Braid showed in his second half performance what he’s capable of when plays on the gain line.

In the centres, you have to believe that Blevins and Hearn are the incumbent pair, but Pat Parfrey’s slick play will push Blevins and Van der Merwe’s played at outside centre to great effect before – but coming off injury, will he really be handed a starting spot?

Jeff Hassler looks set to play left wing – how could he not be, given how he’s playing – while Taylor Paris looks set for the right. James Pritchard will be full back, unless some other option is considered – Braid? Van der Merwe? – but given his kicking strengths, it’s hard to see him being left out.

It seems likely either Van der Merwe will prove to be unfit or Parfrey will sit out; there are, after all four centres for what is likely to be three spots. Harry Jones is also a factor, as he can cover pretty much anywhere in the back line.

Up front, the Buydens-Barkwill-Marshall trio looks likely to start. Aaron Carpenter is the other option at hooker, while at least one, possibly both of Ilnicki and Tiedemann will back up at prop. Tiedemann can play both sides of the scrum, and is have heaps more experience than Ilnicki, so he would seem to have the edge.

On paper, you’d expect Hotson and Cudmore in the second row, with Phelan backing up. John Moonlight is Canada’s best openside – a big thing when you’ve got Nanyak Dala breathing down your neck. But with Kleeberger’s ability to play anywhere in the back row, will he supplant Dala on the bench? Jebb Sinclair looks set to pack down at blind side – his best position – but he’s also played at lock so he could keep Phelan off the bench all together. Tyler Ardron looks set to captain the side from number eight

PROJECTED LINEUP V JAPAN:

Pritchard, Paris, Hearn, Blevins, Hassler, Underwood, Mack, Ardron (c), Moonlight, Sinclair, Cudmore, Hotson, Marshall, Barkwill, Buydens. Reserves: Carpenter, Tiedemann, Phelan, Dala, Kleeberger, McRorie, Braid, Van der Merwe