[Pacific Nations Cup] Canada vs. Japan. 07/06/14

[Draggs]

Hopefully with Hassler doing well with the Osprey as well as Paris with Agen and our 7s side doing so well, more of our guys will pick up pro contacts. Moonlight, Trainor and Mack really should be pros. I can see Douglas getting signed too, he is young and is already doing well.

Hassler is ****ing solid. Really settling in nicely, getting more and more dangerous ball in hand, hope Ospreys keep him around (I think they will). Getting to be a fan favourite from what I've seen. Ardron needs more time, he has been messed around a bit between injuries on the blindside and second row.

One of many...

 

[rusty_lock]

Any chance it'll be on TSN? A quick google didn't turn up much. Should be a good game, really hope we get the win to start off the year.

And wow two years seems a long time to not have any matches in BC.

TSN is confirmed to be broadcasting both home internationals this year. I don't know anything about the USA match, hopefully they might want to rebroadcast the US coverage.

TSN has just announced 3 new national channels and with the absence of National broadcasting rights for hockey they are going to fill these new channels with content that is not commonly broadcast in Canada. Rugby has not been specifically mentioned in any of the press releases from TSN but it stands to reason if they are looking for content to fill 5 nationally broadcast channels, rugby and lacrosse would be at the top of their list for potential domestic competitions not now seen on TV.

If RC could secure a deal of some sort with TSN for the rights to broadcast the CRC the holy grail of professional domestic rugby might not be the pipe dream we have long imagined.

 

[LittleGuy]

Interesting to note the ticket sales, Rusty. On the other side of the country even the Scotland tickets aren't exactly flying out the window as the Maori game did last November and to a lesser degree the Ireland test. I think last I checked the seats were about 30% sold, I think part of this is actually a consequence of putting the tickets on sale waaaayyyyy too early. I bought mine in December and instead of a blitz on advertising the game in a month or two there has simply been a trickle over nearly half a year.

I'm sure things will pick up for both games in the next couple of weeks once people finalize plans and figure out whether they can attend. Chu came out and said a repeat of a November home game was extremely unlikely, so it looks like these will be the only two chances to see Canada at home all year.

Hopefully we can get a crowd at least similar to the Fiji game in Ottawa last year for Japan out in B.C. it's a more known opponent than Russia(and possibly Georgia) and I would take an informed guess there are more Japanese expats/visitors from Japan in BC than those aforementioned countries who were the last tw teams to play on the west coast.

My guess on the Scottish number is that it will be somewhere in between the Italy game in 2012 and the Ireland game last year, maybe 17,000ish(I;ve been dead wrong before!!!)

Edit: Just looked at what had happened to Mackenzie and there was a mention on his twitter a few weeks ago about him finishing rehab for the day, so it looks like he's been out with a knock. If he's not available I'm guessing Hearn(who the selectors are really high on) and maybe Trainor. Scholz has also taken a knock and is iffy to be available for June, Blevins might be a bench option but I hope not a starter for the Scotland game.

Still could look like a decent set of backs if those guys aren't ready to go....

#9 Mack
#10 Jones
#11 Paris
#12 Trainor
#13 Hearn
#14 Hassler
#15 Pritchard

#20 J. Mackenzie or White
#21 Underwood or Hirayama
#22 Blevins
#23 Situational choice (Any one of the other backs could slot in here, Hearn can play FB in an emergency as can some of the FH kids this could also be a spot used for an outside the box guy against Japan or Eagles)

 

[jonny24]

TSN is confirmed to be broadcasting both home internationals this year. I don't know anything about the USA match, hopefully they might want to rebroadcast the US coverage.

TSN has just announced 3 new national channels and with the absence of National broadcasting rights for hockey they are going to fill these new channels with content that is not commonly broadcast in Canada. Rugby has not been specifically mentioned in any of the press releases from TSN but it stands to reason if they are looking for content to fill 5 nationally broadcast channels, rugby and lacrosse would be at the top of their list for potential domestic competitions not now seen on TV.

If RC could secure a deal of some sort with TSN for the rights to broadcast the CRC the holy grail of professional domestic rugby might not be the pipe dream we have long imagined.

That's some good news, with how much they're looking to fill their hockey void there could be some great opportunities. (Kind of a silver lining, as I really don't like the new Rogers deal... all the Canadian TV money going down to support struggling US Teams ).

The $40 million CFL deal I think is also encouraging. We love our contact sports, and if TSN can back the growth of one, it would make sense to try another. If they're smart they could really use it to their advantage by getting in on the ground floor. But that's enough dreaming out of me for this thread

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

On the whole Jeff Hassler thing, I've been calling him SuperJeff all season, but nobody else will join in. Can we try and get this off the ground as a nickname use whenever he makes a positive contribution (And I mean whenever), please?

 

[LittleGuy]

On the whole Jeff Hassler thing, I've been calling him SuperJeff all season, but nobody else will join in. Can we try and get this off the ground as a nickname use whenever he makes a positive contribution (And I mean whenever), please?

I like the "Don't hassle the Hassler" moniker myself, I love how it rolls off of my tongue. What a revelation he's been. Duck and I were excited when he wen to Osprey's and though he would do well but Pro12 #14 of the year was unexpected.

Agree with Draggs on Ardron, at the Pro 12 level he's so far been nothing special but not too bad either, considering his age his game should only get better over the next couple of years.

 

[CDN_Rugby]

My guess for our starting line up would be:

1. Buydens
2. Carpenter
3. Marshall
4. Cudmore
5. Hotson
6. Sinclair
7. Moonlight
8. Ardron

9. Mack
10. Underwood
11. Paris
12. Mackenzie (?) (is he injured, he never features for Sale anymore)
13. Trainor
14. Hassler
15. Pritchard.

I'm a bit late to the party but I don't think I would disagree with that forward pack that much. Carpenter, while still a damn good player, just doesn't have the petrol to play in the backrow anymore with the emergence of Ardron and Moonlight as bonafide starters. Throw in Sinclair, Dala, and the fact that Kleeberger is still hanging around and it's even more difficult for him. If he doesn't start or come off the bench to slot in at hooker this summer I will be disappointed. With the RWC coming up and with our lack of depth at hooker he NEEDS to play there.

In the forwards...

1) Buydens (will his contact with Manawatu affect his release?)
2) Carpenter
3) Marshall
4) Cudmore (given how he is already in Canada and seems to have indicated he is playing this summer, I've penciled him in)
5) Hotson (Gotta get Sinclair out of the engine room)
6) Ardron
7) Moonlight
8) Sinclair

Backs...

9) Mack (how can't it be?)
10) Underwood
11) Paris (has had quite the showing with Agen this year)
12) Jones
13) Trainor
14) Hassler
15) Pritchard

And can anyone confirm that DTH and Evans are out due to injury 100%? Assuming that there aren't anymore injuries, I think we could take down Japan and the U.S. and take Scotland to the wire.

 

[LittleGuy]

Agree with you on Carpenter CDN_Rugby, we need to fix up Hooker stocks and clear the loosies backlog. Hamilton seems to be doing well in his schooling and was injury prone anyways. Piffero wasn't too impressive in November(he kind of seemed like a lazy player and penalty prone) and didn't get much game action in Federale 1 this year either, I hear he had a good Aerospace career going which takes a lot of his time and there was that guy playing for Ealing (I think it was Townsend?) who might be a reserve option or someone off the CRC/CDI stocks but I doubt there are any world beaters there or they already would have been called up.

DTH is 100% out, without a shadow of a doubt, he might not even be available for the November tests.

Evans has travelled to BC, so maybe his recovery has been quicker than expected, he also might just be visiting Canada in the off season. Maybe he backs up Pritchard off the bench if he's not in game shape after the long lay off.

Scholz I think said he was doubtful, he was likely going to be a depth player for the PNC games anyway so not a massive loss.

The one odd one is Mackenzie I know he picked up a bit of a knock with Sale, but I hadn't heard any details of the injury or whether he is playing for us.

We grabbed UnderArmour as a kit sponsor today and they will be unveiling the new kit soon (maybe we can actually keep this one for more than 2 or 3 games!!!!)


My best case lineup (without DTH, and assuming Mackenzie and Evans are out as well).

1. Buydens
2. Carpenter
3. Marshall
4. Cudmore
5. Hotson
6. Ardron
7. Moonlight
8. Sinclair

9. Mack
10. Underwood(or Jones, this is still such a weak point heading into 2015)
11. Paris
12. Trainor
13. Hearn
14. Hassler
15. Pritchard


16. Barkwill
17. Wooldridge
18. Dolezel (maybe even Sears-Duru or one of the other guys in the Japan game)
19. Buekeboom
20. Dala/Kleeberger
21. J. Mackenzie/White
22. Jones or Hirayama
23. Blevins (This one I'm not so sure about I'd prefer to have a specialist FB, but maybe Hirayama or Hearn can fill in there in an emergency and this can be used as a general outside back sub)

 

[rusty_lock]

That's a good lineup LG. My only difference would be Jones starting at 10 with Underwood to the bench with Hirayama as fullback cover and Blevins out of the Game day lineup. If Mackenzie is available he slots in at 12 and Trainor to 13.

A little bird has told me that "Cuddles" will definitely be available for both Japan and Scotland.

Ticket sales still lagging it appears.

 

[LittleGuy]

Great news on Cudmore, a huge boost heading into the Scotland game. Shame to hear about the ticket sales for Japan are they still installing the temporary seating or is that a moot point at this time?

Think the Scotland sales have picked up a bit in the last week or so, people are probably just now finding out whether they are available that weekend. I would be kind of surpised of it was a sell out, and my guess is somewhere in between the crowd for Italy in 2012 and Ireland last year. Than again Rugby Canada might be planning some kind of an advert blitz in the next couple of weeks, and ticket sales for the Maori game really took off with a week or two left.

 

[LittleGuy]

Aside from DTH it dosen't look like many players will be missing this year, it seems as though Evans might even be ready to go at least of the bench, and it might just be DTH(and maybe Scholz) that are out of action.

Agree with the analysis on the two previous big crowds Duck, and it should be noted that Canada was well in those games till around the 60 minute mark and really fel off at the end when the lack of depth from the weakened lineups really showed. The bench for the Maori game was the weakest bench I've seen Canada field in my lifetime.

Speaking of this earlier sales are picking up for Canada vs. Scotland, now up to 50% sold, they were just over 25% a few weeks ago. A sellout probably not impossible with three weeks to go especially if they can get people excited with a win over Japan

 

[canadafan]

Our Camp roster, no O'Leary or Evans, but DTH is listed.

Tyler Ardron – (Ospreys/Ontario Blues) Lakefield, ON
Ray Barkwill – (Niagara Wasps RFC/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
Brett Beukeboom – (Plymouth Albion) Lindsay, ON
Nick Blevins – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
Connor Braid – (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Hubert Buydens – (Manawatu Turbos/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
Aaron Carpenter – (Cornish Pirates RFC) Brantford, ON
Admir Cejvanovic – (Burnaby Lake RC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
Jamie Cudmore – (ASM Clermont Auvergne) Squamish, BC
Nanyak Dala – (Castaway Wanderers/Saskatoon Wild Oats) Saskatoon, SK
Justin Douglas – (Abbotsford RFC) Abbotsford, BC
Sean Duke – (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
Mike Fuailefau – (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Garret Garbe – (UBCOC Ravens) Vancouver, BC
Kyle Gilmour – (Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
Micha Govorchin – (Burnaby Lake RC/BC Bears) North Delta, BC
Jeff Hassler – (Ospreys/Prairie Wolf Pack) Okotoks, AB
Ciaran Hearn – (Castaway Wanderers/Atlantic Rock) Conception Bay South, NL
Sawyer Herron – (UVIC Vikes/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
Nathan Hirayama – (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears) Richmond, BC
Tyler Hotson – (London Scottish RFC) Vancouver, BC
Jake Ilnicki – (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) Williams Lake, BC
Harry Jones – (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
Pat Kay – (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears) Duncan, BC
Adam Kleeberger – (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) White Rock, BC
Anthony Luca – (Burnaby Lake RC/BC Bears) Pitt Meadows, BC
Phil Mack – (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Scott Mackay – (Burnaby Lake RC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
Phil Mackenzie – (Sale Sharks) Oakville, ON
Ryan March – (Abbotsford RFC/BC Bears) Abbotsford, BC
Jason Marshall – (Atlantique Stade Rochelais) Vancouver, BC
Gordon McRorie – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
John Moonlight – (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Pickering, ON
Callum Morrison – (UBCOC Ravens/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Chauncey O'Toole – (Brigand Ravens/Atlantic Rock) Belleisle, NB
Patrick Parfrey – (Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock) St. Johns, NL
Taylor Paris – (SU Agen Lot-et-Garonne) Barrie, ON
Jon Phelan – (Castaway Wanderers/Atlantic Rock) Montreal, QC
Cam Pierce – (Kelowna Crows RFC) Cold Stream, BC
Beniot Pifferio – (St Anne de Bellevue/Burnaby Lake RFC) Montreal, QC
James Pitblado – (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
James Pritchard – (Bedford Blues) Parkes, NSW, Australia
Mike Scholz – (Castaway Wanderers/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
Jebb Sinclair – (London Irish/Atlantic Rock) Fredericton, NB
Andrew Tiedemann – (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
Conor Trainor – (UBCOB Ravens/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
Liam Underwood – (Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON
DTH van der Merwe – (Glasgow Warriors) Regina, SK
Sean White – (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Doug Wooldridge – (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON

 

[LittleGuy]

Wow huge list, I'm guessing some of those guys will only see action in the Canada Selects vs. BC Bears game let alone the tests.

Odd that DTH is listed, he just had Shoulder surgery and Glasgow Warriors listed him out until October and he hasn't been playing for them so I can't see him being ready(Maybe he can participate in the camp at a non-contact or rehab level?).

O'Leary transferred to Connacht, I'm guessing he dosen't want to put his Ireland eligibility at risk, I doubt we'll see him for a while in Canadian colours.

I didn't notice Jamie Mackenzie in the list either, so I'm guessing White will be the backup Scrum half.

Edit: Sears-Duru didn't make the cut either.

 

[canadafan]

O'Leary won't be an option until after the WC now. DSD is a surprise omission, perhaps he is injured or away at a try out for a club in Europe? With McRorie in, I can see Mackenzie being dropped, but would have preferred White to have been dropped instead.

 

[LittleGuy]

O'Leary won't be an option until after the WC now. DSD is a surprise omission, perhaps he is injured or away at a try out for a club in Europe? With McRorie in, I can see Mackenzie being dropped, but would have preferred White to have been dropped instead.

On twitter J. Mackenzie said he was coming to camp, it might just be a Rugby Canada mistake, which wouldn't surprise me, it was a long list not too shocking someone would be missed.

Edit: Dissapointing to hear about O'Leary, we are going to go into the 2015 RWC much weaker at FH than we were in 2011. Jones and Underwood are slowly growing but will almost certainly be nowhere near the level Monro was at. Evans at FH seemed to be dropped a couple of years ago and Hirayama plays 15's way too much like 7's.

 

[canadafan]

Hopefully it means that White was dropped.

 

[Beerfalo]

If DTH is running with the boys do you think Crowley might use him as a coach? He's injured but he has a hell of a lot of experience that he could pass onto our backs that aren't named Pritchard.

 

[LittleGuy]

Speaking of coaching Geraint John has just stepped down as 7's coach!!! Pretty shocking news after such a great campaign, Crowley will pull double duty as the 7's guy in an interim role.

WOW.


Edit: Some more details coming in, apparently he is heading to OZ for a position there.....http://www.rugbycanada.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=3817&leagueID=0&page=80210

 

[Dougydeluxe]

Does anyone know when the new Under Armor Kits will be released?

Will they be out by the Japan game?

 

[Beerfalo]

They are supposed to be revealed next month according to Rugby Canada website so I assume they'll make an appearance at the Japan game or maybe at the BC vs Canada selects game at the end of the month. That would be a good event to reveal them at. I love how Rugby Canada has the kit on presale without showing it. Judging from tweets from the national team they all seem to like it so that's good news.