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2014 Canadian Rugby Championship and General Canadian Rugby Chat.

Yeah not sure what happened with that penalty, either way it's a massacre, looking like the final is 53-5. Not sure where the Rock go from here, they are better at home, so maybe they can at least keep things closer that was always going to be a difficult West Coast swing but they played like a U-17 team.

Things a ot closer between the Blues and Bears, Ontario with an 11-3 lead with the 1st half nearly over.

The Blues are running rampant!!! Two tries in a few minutes and are up 30-3 with the Bonus point!!!!!
 
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Blues over the Bears with a final score of 30-20. Bears started the comeback but did so way too late and Ontario walks away from their Western swing with 10 points. Impressive wins by the Blues and they are well on their way to winning a 4th MacTier Cup in a row....
 
Yeah bit of a letdown in the final ten minutes guys started to coast a little and perhaps fatigue was creeping in, Wolf Pack are technically first in the standings through tiebreakers I think but have played an extra game. It's basically between the Blues and Pack now, the Prairie boys will have to win in Ontario I would think. Bears are mathematically alive but all the breaks would have to go their way.

Standings.......

1. Wolf Pack, 3 Wins, 1 Loss, 2 Bonus Points, 14 points + 70 differential
2. Blues, 3 Wins, 2 Bonus Points, 14 Points + 44 differential
3. Bears, 2 Wins, 2 Losses, 1 Bonus Point, 9 Points + 1 differential
4. Rock, 3 Losses, - 113 differential
 
Watched the game today

Thought Smith, Olmstead and most of the rock had strong games.

Rock were useless.
 
canadafan said:
Watched the game today

Thought Smith, Olmstead and most of the rock had strong games.

Rock were useless.
Click to expand...

I assume you men The Pack since you do go on to say Rock were useless :p

I was browsing Rugby Canada last night and came across this article http://www.rugbycanada.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=3817&leagueID=0&page=81893 and I have to say I am super impressed and jealous of the Dog River Howlers. Everything I've read about them make them seem like such an awesome group.
 
According to some rumours I've heard, Canada's U18 national squad will visit Bucharest again in November to play a series of tests against the Little Oaks (it also happened last year, when 3 tests were played). I think these matches are a great idea because the youngsters get to play against an opponent with a very different style of rugby.
 
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http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports...n+Rugby+Championship+play/10183159/story.html

Here's an article from the Calgary Herald about the Wolf Pack game yesterday. Apparently Crowley was in attendance scouting both teams and I'm sure the Wolf Pack guys left a great impression on him as he decides who's making Canada A next month. The Rock were fielding a real young team apparently, having 5 players eligible for Canada U20 team on their roster. The article also says Nanyak Dala could be ready to go when the Wolf Pack head out for their Eastern roadtrip. He'd be a huge boost to team as he's still one of the best Flankers Canada has.

I wonder who Crowley is eyeing up for Canada A. Barkwill is obviously going to be the starting Hooker and I think Smith(Prop) and Olmstead(Lock) are making good arguments for themselves to join Barkwill in the forwards. Not sure how he'll go with Backs but Gordie has to be a lock down, most likely as Scrummie, though it would be interesting to test him out as Fly-Half(assuming the Wolf Pack keep testing him out there). Kyne and Graham Turner are other players I think that are likely to get good looks at from the WP.
 
Wilson Ross could get a look for the Blues. Sean White looked good yesterday at SH for the Bears, he might be in the picture for Canada "A' or possibly back into the 7's side. Dolezel and Wooldridge are always front row possible as well. Wooldridge had been playing well in 2013 till he went off hurt against the Maori.
 
Some guy posted this http://raysrugby.com/arc-picking-canadas-team/ on reddit. I have no idea who the guy is but I'd say it's a pretty probable roster minus the addition of Underwood. I wouldn't be surprised if it's mostly correct, though I think Graham Turner deserves a spot. It does suck that Gold Coast 7's is a scheduling conflict with the ARC as Scholz and Hearn would have been great additions.

As for The Rock, the only player who might realistically make it is Patrick Parfey. Unless someone is REALLY impressive in their next 3 games I think the ARC roster will be almost exclusive to the Wolf Pack, Bears and Blues. It does suck that Eastern Canada seems to be really hurting right now.

Might as well post the potential roster from the article for discussion purposes.

Possible 26 man squad:

Props: Tom Dolezel (Blues), Noah Barker (Bears), Doug Wooldridge (Blues), James Smith (Pack)

Hookers: Ray Barkwill (Blues), Casey Reed (Pack)

Locks: Callum Morrison (Bears), Evan Olmstead (Pack), Aaron Flagg (New Plymouth)

Back row: Kyle Gilmour (Pack), Alistair Clark (Blues), Jeremy Kyne (Pack), Admir Cejvanovic (Bears), Seb Pearson (Blues)

Scrumhalf: Gordon McRorie (Pack), Andrew Ferguson (Blues), Sean White (Bears)

Flyhalf: Liam Underwood (Blues), Patrick Parfrey (Rock)

Centre: Nick Blevins (Pack), Mike Fuailefau (Bears), Conor Trainor (Bears)

Outside backs: Jordan Wilson-Ross (Blues), Jake Webster (Blues), Justin Douglas (Bears), Pat Kay (Bears)
 
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Yeah, I saw that, the only change I could see happening would be Turner making it on the wing. Also, is Underwood even playing right now? I heard that O'Leary is trying to make Ireland right now too, so we are really thin at FH if Underwood can't go.
 
Last I heard was Underwood was still hurt. I mean why else would he not be on the Blues? Hopefully a FH solution presents itself this Fall. I really don't want to go to England relying on Jones or *shudder* Hirayama.
 
Jones was brilliant against the States but average in other June games. There is also Braid who is certainly a step up from Hirayama at 15's. Braid isn't anything spectacular there but is at least a "game manager" someone I wouldn't be on the bridge about if he started against Italy and Romania in 2015, but for France and Ireland think we need someone with a little more flair.
 
If Hirayama is our starting FH in the RWC 2015, I am not sure I could watch the games.

I actually like Braid at 10, think he is much better there than at 15 or 12.
 
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Braid would probably be an alright choice at FH but I'd much rather have him at 12 instead of Blevins. Unless Blevins really redeems himself over the next couple months I don't want him touching the RWC roster.
 
My Canada starting XV for November (assuming all are healthy):

1. Buydens (our best loosehead by a country mile)
2. Carpenter (leader on the pitch)
3. Marshall (best tighthead, but not by much)
4. Cudmore (need his grit)
5. Hotson (no other option here at the moment)
6. Sinclair (Solid at this position)
7. Moonlight (best 7 at the moment)
8. Ardron (better ball runner at 8 than Sinclair)

9. McRorie (handles a game well)
10. Braid (manages a game well here, ane is better at kicking for field position than Jones)
11. Paris (come into his own)
12. DTH (think he would be good here)
13. Hearn (has come along way over the past two years, think this could be a good centre combo for us)
14. Hassler (best winger we have at the moment)
15. Pritchard (need his leadership and goal kicking, still playing well)

16. Barkwill (best used as a super sub)
17. Tiedemann (better be getting a lot of game time at Plymouth)
18. Ilnicki (being in AUS will do wonders for him, could be challenging for Marshall's spot soon)
19. Phelan (Hopefully he will have bulked up a bit while overseas, still young for a lock)
20. Dala (With other back row options starting, we can have a specialist 7 on the bench)
21. Mack (has a better x factor than McRorie, but doesn't manage a game as well IMO)
22. Jones (Could go with many guys here TBH)
23. Trainor (centre wing cover)
 
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Similar to what I posted above, but a look at our WC squad:

Canada

Props: some good depth here with 4 now playing pro: Buydens and Tiedemann at LH and Marshall and Ilnicki at TH. Dolozel, Wooldridge and James Smith also bring more depth domestically.

Hooker: Carpenter will start and Barkwill will be the super sub. Both Reed and Harrison are good domestically with no one else standing out.

Lock: Cudmore should be there for sure, which also shows the lack of depth we have here. Hotson and Buekeboom are both underwhelming right now. If Phelan can bulk up and if Pierce can hit the next level our depth issue here would be solved, for a while. Also a serious lack of any other prospects right now.

Backrow: Great starters (Sinclair, Moonlight, Ardron) with Dala as a sub, but after that it gets very thin. Kleeberger is done, broken down, while our future prospects are years away from filling these gaps. Olmstead is a prospect at 6 and Heaton is too.

Scrumhalf: Solid depth here with Mack and McRorie. Ferguson and Mackenzie are solid depth players as well.

Flyhalf: I would go with Braid over Jones everyday of the week. But there isn't much depth here. If O'Leary chooses us, a lot of the depth issues will be solved. Underwood has the ability but not the size to play at international level.

Centres: with Mackenzie, DTH, Hearn, Blevins, Scholz we have a lot of depth here and more coming up.

Wing: Two excellent wingers starting at professional clubs and some more depth here in Canada.

Fullback: Pritchard is all class, but he is getting on in years. Hopefully Kay or Fitzpatrick can step up and bring in some depth. O'Hallahan has the ability and skill to be an excellent FB, but he might be too small to survive at the international level.

Bolters: I think one of Reed and Harrison from the Wolf Pack will make the squad, it will be interesting to see who Moff goes with on the eastern road trip. If memory serves me Harrison's line out throwing has been better. James Smith at tighthead is another one to look out for. Olmstead is too short for lock, which is a shame, but he is an excellent player and I can see him being a bolter for 6. In the backs, Ferguson will almost for sure be a bolter, but in the rest of the backline not so sure if there is space except at FB where O'Hallahan could be a serious prospect.

My predicted game day roster for the next World Cup:

1. Buydens (best in Canada at his position)
2. Carpenter (leader of the team, has to be there somewhere)
3. Marshall (just best in Canada at his position)
4. Cudmore (need his grit)
5. Phelan (playing pro should help him reach the next level and is a serious line out man)
6. Sinclair (need his grit)
7. Moonlight (becoming a better and better 7, plus there is no one else)
8. Ardron (better at the base of the scrum than Sinclair)

9. McRorie (most stable at this position then Mack)
10. Braid (think he controls the game better than Jones, being pro should help him a lot)
11. Paris (just gets better and better)
12. DTH (think a move here is in order)
13. Hearn (has earned this spot through hard work)
14. Hassler (excellent winger always makes the yards)
15. Pritchard (still class)

16. Barkwill (super sub)
17. Tiedemann (hopefully pro will help him reach the next level, still very young for a prop)
18. Ilnicki (thank god he found a club to pay him)
19. Hotson (experience, that's it)
20. Dala (super sub)
21. Mack (super sub)
22. Jones (many can go here: Blevins, Mackenzie, but went with FH cover)
23. Trainor (can cover wing or centres)
 
I'd rather have Matt Evans instead of Harry Jones or Nick Blevins. I'd also consider Phil Mackenzie over Conor Trainor but I'm happy with either. Maybe even Olmstead over Dala. Other than that I agree with pretty much all your choices for the AI's and RWC and think the team can handle the Italians and Romanians.

2016 could be a rough year for Canada though. I think this will be the last year for Barkwill, Cudmore and Pritchard and maybe even Carpenter. That leaves some big holes to fill. Reed and Harrison are good and I'm sure a couple more hookers will make names for themselves in the near future. Replacements for Pritchard and Cudmore are more worrisome. None of our locks bring what Cudmore has over his time with Canada and Pritchard is the best player we've ever had and you can't just replace that.

We are only a couple players deep for each position though the increase in funding for 7's rugby should help produce more backs and back row for us. Front row and second row are more difficult as they can't really go the 7's route. We do need a route for Canadians to get better training and competition, especially for forwards. Maybe Rugby Canada should use their connections with Crowley to try and form a club in New Zealand kinda how Argentina did in South Africa?
 

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