Canada vs. U.S.A. Pacific Nations Cup. 25/05/13

[LittleGuy]

Canada vs. U.S.A. Saturday, May 25th 2013 2:00 p.m. MDT( 4:00 p.m. EDT, 1:00 p.m. PDT), @ Ellersie Park Edmonton, Alberta.

TV: Streamed live by Rugby Canada on their home page rugbycanada.ca (Special Note* I am not 100% sure if this is a capped game, I will be treating it as such until I get confirmation otherwise)

Referee: Francisco Pastrana (Argentina)

The PNC kicks off in Edmonton this weekend with a match between Canada and the U.S.A. the 14th and 16th ranked teams respectively in the IRB world rankings. Lineups are yet to be announced but the United States have announced a 24 man travelling squad which looks to be a decent strength side though not a 100% side.

Canada Lineup

Starters

#1 – Hubert Buydens, (Saskatoon Wild Oats/ Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
#2 – Ray Barkwill, (Oakville Crusaders/ Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
#3 – Jason Marshall, (Atlantique Stade Rochelais/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
#4 – Brett Beukeboom, (Plymouth Albion RFC) Lindsay, ON
#5 – Tyler Hotson, (London Scottish FC) Vancouver, BC
#6 – Tyler Ardron, (Brantford Harlequins/ Ontario Blues) Lakefield, ON
#7 – John Moonlight, (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Pickering, ON
#8 – Aaron Carpenter, Captain, (Cornish Pirates) Brantford, ON
#9 – Sean White, (James Bay AA/Pacific Tyee) Victoria, BC
#10 – Harry Jones, (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
#11 – Taylor Paris, (Glasgow Warriors) Barrie, ON
#12 – Pat Parfrey, (Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock) St. John's, NL
#13 – Nick Blevins, (Calgary Hornets/ Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
#14 – Ciaran Hearn, (Castaway Wanderers/Atlantic Rock) Conception Bay, NL
#15 – Connor Braid, (Doncaster Knights/ Pacific Tyee) Victoria, BC

Bench

#16 – Ryan Hamilton, (Capilano RFC/Pacific Tyee) Vancouver, BC
#17 – Andrew Tiedemann, (FC Auch Gers/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
#18 – Doug Wooldridge, (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON
#19 – Jon Phelan, (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue/Atlantic Rock) Montreal, QC
#20 – Cameron Pierce, (Section Paloise) Coldstream, BC
#21 – Nanyak Dala, (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
#22 – Phil Mack, (UVIC Vikes/Pacific Tyee) Victoria, BC
#23 – Liam Underwood, (Queens University/Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON


USA Squad

Starters

# 1 - Shawn Pittman
# 2 - Zach Fenoglio
# 3 - Eric Fry
# 4 - Brian Doyle
# 5 - Lou Stanfill
# 6 - John Quill
# 7 - Peter Dahl
# 8 - Todd Clever (Captain)
# 9 - Robbie Shaw
# 10 - Toby L'Estrange
# 11 - James Paterson
# 12 - Andrew Suniula
# 13 - Troy Hall
# 14 - Luke Hume
# 15 - Adam Siddall

Bench

# 16 - Tom Coolican
# 17 - Phil Thiel
# 18 - Nick Wallace
# 19 - Graham Harriman
# 20 - Liam Murphy
# 21 - Chris Saint
# 22 - Seamus Kelly
# 23 - Blaine Scully

While Canada have named a 45 man roster for the entire summer which was disscussed in more detail here...http://www.therugbyforum.com/forum/...xtended-roster-for-PNC-Ireland-and-RWCQ-games

Of the 45 man Canadian roster, the two James' Cudmore, Pritchard(both club commitments) along with DTH Van De Merwe, Jebb Sinclair(I have no idea why) and Conor Trainor(injury) are all unavilable I also rate Kleeberger as highly unlikely.

I will confirm the lineups as soon as possible though the US one looks fairly easy to piece together.

 

[dudeabides]

So glad RugbyCanada will be streaming, even missing the European club players and having callups and a couple guys who were just playing 7s in the series, I'm definitely looking forward to this and the whole PNC 2013.

 

[Big Ewis]

shiiiiit nice, this is happening already ?! can't believe we're in June basically already...
Tournament should be exciting this year with the new additions !
Go Canada and USA !!!!

 

[psychic duck]

Prop: Mike MacDonald, Shawn Pittman, Eric Fry, Nick Wallace
Hooker: Tom Coolican, Zach Fenoglio, Phil Thiel
Lock: Brian Doyle, Graham Harriman, Lou Stanfill
Back-row: Todd Clever, Peter Dahl, Liam Murphy, John Quill
Scrumhalf: Robbie Shaw, Chris Saint
Fly-half: Toby L'Estrange, Adam Siddall
Center: Troy Hall, Seamus Kelly, Andrew Suniula
Back Three: Luke Hume, James Paterson, Blaine Scully

From this I would imagine the team will be something like:

1. Pittman
2. Coolican/Fenoglio/Thiel
3. Fry
4. Stanfill
5. Doyle
6. Quill
7. Dahl
8. Clever
9. Shaw
10. L'Estrange
11. Hume
12. Suniula
13. Hall/Kelly
14. Paterson
15. Scully

Players from strongest XV missing: 2 Biller (?), 4 Manoa, 6 LaValla, 9 Petri (injured), 13 Emerick (injured), 14 Ngwenya, 15 Wyles. So about 7 starters missing, 2 from injury. So not near strongest team, but strong enough to be worthy to be a capped game perhaps.

 

[racingmetro92]

Is Carlin Isles in the squad ?

 

[LittleGuy]

From this I would imagine the team will be something like:

1. Pittman
2. Coolican/Fenoglio/Thiel
3. Fry
4. Stanfill
5. Doyle
6. Quill
7. Dahl
8. Clever
9. Shaw
10. L'Estrange
11. Hume
12. Suniula
13. Hall/Kelly
14. Paterson
15. Scully

Players from strongest XV missing: 2 Biller (?), 4 Manoa, 6 LaValla, 9 Petri (injured), 13 Emerick (injured), 14 Ngwenya, 15 Wyles. So about 7 starters missing, 2 from injury. So not near strongest team, but strong enough to be worthy to be a capped game perhaps.

This is apparently still be talked about between Rugby Canada and the US, it could become a capped game as of now it isn't, I would think if Canada can field a similar strength team then it should be, leaving aside the injuries(which neither side can do anything about and which are always present), these are probably 70-75% strength lineups.

 

[LittleGuy]

The Canadian lineup has been named and has been added to the first post, it's s decent strength side with the forwards close to full strength, the backs are a younger group but all good prospects. I like the move of Braid to FB, while Jones slots in at FH. Crowley has shown a knack for getting the best possible players out on the field.

I also like Cam Pierce being on the bench I'm excited to see him get game action. Blevins is a good prospect at #13 while Parfrey(son of the legendary Atlantic Rock coach) joins him in the Centres. The wings look fairly reliable, Paris is usually solid, while Hearn is needed for some veteran presence and possibly goalkicking(I think Braid will mainly handle the duties).

 

[norcalbuff]

Rugbymag reporting it will be a capped game.

I'd expect to see Siddall in the starting XV.

Biller has a minor injury.

Petri is not injured to my knowledge and is supposed to play against Saracens next weekend. He may be unavailable with work commitments though.

 

[LittleGuy]

Rugbymag reporting it will be a capped game.

I'd expect to see Siddall in the starting XV.

Biller has a minor injury.

Petri is not injured to my knowledge and is supposed to play against Saracens next weekend. He may be unavailable with work commitments though.

This is good news, the lineups are fairly evenly matched, both sides missing some players but neither a terrible side or at a massive disadvantage. I'm looking forward to the game a little more now that it seems both sides are taking it with some seriousness.

 

[CDN_Rugby]

I'm fine with our forward selections, but that backline our B or C. Canada should still win I think, but it won't be easy. Canada to win by 7-10.

Does anyone know if Cudmore, despite being named to the squad, will actually play this summer? It would be great to have him available for the RWCQ and the Ireland test.

 

[LittleGuy]

I'm fine with our forward selections, but that backline our B or C. Canada should still win I think, but it won't be easy. Canada to win by 7-10.

Does anyone know if Cudmore, despite being named to the squad, will actually play this summer? It would be great to have him available for the RWCQ and the Ireland test.

He now has a fractured hand, I'm certain he isn't around for the PNC, Ireland looks outside shot, but most likely just the RWCQ's. I also have some updates on other players I'll edit into this post in a minute or two.

Agreed CDN, those are my thoughts, forwards are close to full strength but backs are a little weak, only White and Paris are potential starters regularly(with maybe Braid). The Centres in particular look like the weak point of the side.

Edit: Apparently Mackenzie will miss the first couple of weeks but is due back in the Ireland test. Sinclair and Pritchard will arrive some time for either for the Fiji or Tonga games. Hassler was hurt at the last 7's event but should be back any time soon, Duke is in a similar position and Hirayama misses this particular game due to work commitments. DTH had ankle surgery a while back and I'm not sure how long he's out for.

The United States lineup has been named I will edit it in.

 

[psychic duck]

Interesting to note that on the official IRB preview they imply that the European based pros are being rested by the coaches rather than unavailable due to the IRB themselves brainlessly scheduling the match outside the international window that leaves them no choice. Ngwenya is hardly being "rested" either, he's playing for the Barbarians tomorrow.

European-based stars Scott LaValla (Stade Francais), Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz) and Chris Wyles (Saracens) are being rested following a rigorous club season.

http://www.irb.com/pacificnationscup/news/newsid=2066952.html#onozawa+equal+record+pnc+opener

 

[dudeabides]

RugbyCanada said on twitter a few minutes ago:

Due to heavy wind/rain in #YEG, we may experience technical difficulties on our live stream

https://twitter.com/USARugby/status/338373828717719553

Do you guys know if the IRB stream is in the same boat, do they just air the same stream?

 

[LittleGuy]

Yeah I'm worried about the stream could be a bit of a debacle on our hands if they are saying that pre-match, though at least the warning is nice. If Japan can get a crew down to the games and have it shown on Canadian TV then our National union and networks have to get off thier butts. There are around 350 million potential viewers for this game in North America(let alone around the world). And one of the Canadian sports networks is only showing tape delayed Boxing this afternoon!!!

 

[norcalbuff]

The IRB would just be using the Canadian stream. Not a good look for potential advertisers/sponsors.

 

[CDN_Rugby]

Once again RC drops the ball with the live feed... seems to be a theme here...

The moral of the story is that if it's not on TSN you can't expect quality.

 

[LittleGuy]

The IRB would just be using the Canadian stream. Not a good look for potential advertisers/sponsors.

Kickoff is around 5-10 minutes away this isn't looking good. I don't have an active stream on either site.

 

[norcalbuff]

Stream is up. Venue leaves a bit to be desired...

 

[LittleGuy]

Rugby Canada have announced on twitter that they will now not be showing the game live but will have an archive!!! FFS, at least thats better than nothing, I might as well have stayed outside and kept tying.

Edit: Irb is working!!!

 

[dudeabides]

You can hear the music if you turn your speakers all the way up and the stream's volume.