RWC: Canada - Japan (27-09-2011, 17:00)

[LittleGuy]

just so you all know, I spoke to the Aunt of Adam Kleeberger yesterday......when Canada wins I expect the proper credit.

I'll share it with you since Our Glorious and Beautful Demigod was the one who told me that wins over Japan and Tonga were possible!!!

 

[LittleGuy]

Japan have named their lineup for the contest

Japan:

1. Hisateru Hirashima
2. Shota Horie
3. Nozomu Fujita
4. Luke Thompson
5. Toshizumi Kitagawa
6. Sione Talikavili Vatuvei
7. Michael Leitch
8. Takashi Kikutani (c)
9. Fumiaki Tanaka
10. James Arlidge
11. Hirotoki Onozawa
12. Ryan Nicholas
13. Alisi Tupuailai
14. Kosuke Endo
15. Shaun Webb

Replacements:

16. Yusuke Aoki
17. Kensuke Hatakeyama
18. Hitoshi Ono
19. Toetuu Taufa
20. Atsushi Hiwasa
21. Murray Williams
22. Bryce Robins

 

[CDN_Rugby]

Looks like Crowley took our advice and dropped Hearn for Evans. Interesting to see Kyne in the lineup, I would have thought Dala's speed would be an asset. Regardless, a Canadian first XV can't look a lot stronger than this.

Canadian side to face Japan
1. Hubert Buydens (Saskatoon, SK, Prairie Wolf Pack/CRC, Saskatoon Wild Oats, Walter Murray/University of Saskatchewan)
2. Pat Riordan (captain) (Surrey, BC, BC Bears/CRC, Burnaby Lake, Tamanawis Secondary/University of Victoria)
3. Jason Marshall (North Vancouver, BC, BC Bears/CRC, Capilano, Carson Graham Secondary/Simon Fraser University)
4. Jebb Sinclair (Fredericton, NB, London Irish/PRO, Fredericton Loyalists, Fredericton High School)
5. Jamie Cudmore (Squamish, BC, ASM Clermont Auvergne/PRO, Howe Sound Secondary)
6. Adam Kleeberger (White Rock, BC, BC Bears/CRC, University of Victoria Vikes, Semiahmoo Secondary School/University of Victoria)
7. Chauncey O'Toole (Belleisle, NB, Ospreys/PRO, Belleisle Rovers, Belleisle Regional High School)
8. Aaron Carpenter (Brantford, ON, Plymouth Albion/PRO, Brantford Harlequins, Brantford Collegiate Institute/McMaster University)
9. Ed Fairhurst (Vancouver, BC, UBC Old Boys Ravens, St. Michael's University School/University of Victoria)
10. Ander Monro (vice captain) (Victoria, BC, Ontario Blues/CRC, Castaway Wanderers, Glenalmond College/Edinburgh University)
11. Phil Mackenzie (Oakville, ON, Esher/PRO, Oakville Crusaders, Appleby College/University of Victoria)
12. Ryan Smith (Calgary, AB, Prairie Wolf Pack/CRC, Calgary Irish, Mayfield Secondary/University of Guelph)
13. DTH van der Merwe (Victoria, BC, Glasgow Warriors/PRO, James Bay, Dr. Martin LeBoldus)
14. Matt Evans (Duncan, BC, Unattached, Cowichan RFC, Shawnigan Lake School/Hartpury College)
15. James Pritchard (Parkes, Australia, Bedford Blues/PRO, Randwick, Red Bend Catholic College)

Reserves
16. Ryan Hamilton (West Vancouver, BC, BC Bears/CRC, Capilano, Rockridge Secondary/University of Victoria)
17. Scott Franklin (Regina, SK, Prairie Wolf Pack/CRC, Castaway Wanderers, Athol Murray College of Notre Dame/Camosun College)
18. Tyler Hotson (Vancouver, BC, Plymouth/PRO, UBC Old Boys Ravens, St. George's School/University of British Columbia)
19. Jeremy Kyne (Edmonton, AB, Prairie Wolf Pack/CRC, Leprechaun Tigers RFC, Tawa College)
20. Sean White (Victoria, BC, BC Bears/CRC, James Bay, Oak Bay High School)
21. Nathan Hirayama (Richmond, BC, BC Bears/CRC, University of Victoria Vikes, Hugh McRoberts Secondary/University of Victoria)
22. Conor Trainor (Vancouver, BC, BC Bears/CRC, UBC Old Boys, St. George's School/University of Western Ontario)

(http://www.rugbycanada.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=3817&leagueID=0&page=55651)

 

[CDN_Rugby]

Granted I don't really know a lot about the Japanese squad, but considering their injury troubles and the quality of this Canadian side, I'm going to predict Canada wins by 10+

Expecting big games by Evans, DTH, and O'Toole

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR][TD] Canada [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] Japan [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] James Pritchard [/TD][TD] 15 [/TD][TD] Shaun Webb [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Matt Evans [/TD][TD] 14 [/TD][TD] Kosuke Endo [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] DTH Van Der Merwe [/TD][TD] 13 [/TD][TD] Alisi Tupuailai [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Ryan Smith [/TD][TD] 12 [/TD][TD] Ryan Nicholas [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Phil Mackenzie [/TD][TD] 11 [/TD][TD] Hirotoki Onozawa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Ander Monro [/TD][TD] 10 [/TD][TD] James Arlidge [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Ed Fairhurst [/TD][TD] 9 [/TD][TD] Fumiaki Tanaka [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Aaron Carpenter [/TD][TD] 8 [/TD][TD] Takashi Kikutani [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Chauncey O'Toole [/TD][TD] 7 [/TD][TD] Michael Leitch [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Adam Kleeburger [/TD][TD] 6 [/TD][TD] Sione Talikavili Vatuvei [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Jamie Cudmore [/TD][TD] 5 [/TD][TD] Toshizumi Kitagawa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Jebb Sinclair [/TD][TD] 4 [/TD][TD] Luke Thompson [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Jason Marshall [/TD][TD] 3 [/TD][TD] Nozomu Fujita [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Pat Riordan [/TD][TD] 2 [/TD][TD] Shota Horie [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Hubert Buydens [/TD][TD] 1 [/TD][TD] Hisateru Hirashima [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Ryan Hamilton [/TD][TD] 16 [/TD][TD] Yusuke Aoki [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Scott Franklin [/TD][TD] 17 [/TD][TD] Kensuke Hatakeyama [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Tyler Hotson [/TD][TD] 18 [/TD][TD] Hotishi Ono [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Jeremy Kyne [/TD][TD] 19 [/TD][TD] Toetuu Taufa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Sean White [/TD][TD] 20 [/TD][TD] Atsushi Hisawa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Nathan Hirayama [/TD][TD] 21 [/TD][TD] Murray Williams [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Conor Trainor [/TD][TD] 22 [/TD][TD] Bryce Robins [/TD][/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[LittleGuy]

I am really pumped to see Evans back in the squad, seems to have been a bit of a consensus pick. I think (and most of you I beleive have shared similar views) that Hearn hasn't been a liability but he also hasn't created anything in the previous two games.

I'm guessing Kyne has been brought in as a big ball carrier, perhaps Crowley thinks a fresh Kyne can hit a tired and beat up Japanese defence hard with some bruising runs late in the game. I haven't seen a lot of Kyne, just the game against Belgium and one or two CRC games so I'm not as familiar with him as the rest of the 30 man squad.

Looks like DTH healed well I know on twitter he was mentioning that things were progressing smoothly and I agree CDN_Rugby this is pretty much the strongest line up Canada can field(especially the first XV).

Edit: So as long as Kyne gets into the game the only players yet to see action will be Scholz, Paris, Walsh, Mackenzie(Jamie), Tieddeman, and Erichsen. I wonder if Crowley will give any of these boys a run out in the AB's game, especially off the bench.

 

[CDN_Rugby]

Edit: So as long as Kyne gets into the game the only players yet to see action will be Scholz, Paris, Walsh, Mackenzie(Jamie), Tieddeman, and Erichsen. I wonder if Crowley will give any of these boys a run out in the AB's game, especially off the bench.

Certainly not a bad idea to let those guys see some action in the last game. Young guys like Scholz, Paris, Jamie Mackenzie, and Tiedemann could sure use the experience of lining up against the All Blacks. And for old timers like Walsh and Erichsen it would be a fitting end to their (brief) international careers. I say start the best possible XV against the AB's and use those guys on the reserve bench.

But first thing's first, crush Japan tomorrow!

 

[rusty_lock]

Looks like the bookies heavily favour Canada. TAB has Canada paying 1.35 and Japan 3.00. I sure hope they are right, I certainly don't see it that way though. Honestly, IMO it could go either way.

 

[Darwin]

Looks like the bookies heavily favour Canada. TAB has Canada paying 1.35 and Japan 3.00. I sure hope they are right, I certainly don't see it that way though. Honestly, IMO it could go either way.

I agree, I expect it will be a very close match. I don't think we have seen the best of Japan this RWC, barring a 20-minute burst versus France. One of the key matchups is in the loose-forwards. I've been incredible impressed with Canada's loose-forward trio, while Leitch has been outstanding for Japan. I expect Canada will have the edge in the loose, and will probably get plenty of turnover ball to play with. The midfield battle should be interesting too. Hoping for a Japan upset, but I'm predicting Canada to take it by 5 points.

 

[Shaggy]

I agree, I expect it will be a very close match. I don't think we have seen the best of Japan this RWC, barring a 20-minute burst versus France. One of the key matchups is in the loose-forwards. I've been incredible impressed with Canada's loose-forward trio, while Leitch has been outstanding for Japan. I expect Canada will have the edge in the loose, and will probably get plenty of turnover ball to play with. The midfield battle should be interesting too. Hoping for a Japan upset, but I'm predicting Canada to take it by 5 points.

Yeah, as a Canadian support for this match (sorry, got to support the ABs in the next match), i'm a little bit worried about the Japanese ... I think that they haven't been quite clicked together as a cohesive unit yet, and i'm hoping that they don't do it against Canada

... I think the inclusion of Kyne on the bench, is an inspired choice ... the inclusion of an Edmonton based Kiwi has to be a good thing, right?

 

[Canucks]

Watching the highlights of the last time we played Japan at the world cup, all I can say is wow Canada got screwed.

 

[LittleGuy]

Watching the highlights of the last time we played Japan at the world cup, all I can say is wow Canada got screwed.

To be fair to Japan they tried hard but Canada played like ****, and Morgan Williams had a total brain cramp at the end. So glad we have moved beyond what the commentators described as 1970's rugby that we played in 2007.

 

[Canucks]

To be fair to Japan they tried hard but Canada played like ****, and Morgan Williams had a total brain cramp at the end. So glad we have moved beyond what the commentators described as 1970's rugby that we played in 2007.

a lot have change since then. Canada used to lack a certain swagger except for Cudmore and Williams. And players like DTH have come a long way since then.

 

[Canucks]

Oh god not kaplan again.

 

[LittleGuy]

Oh god not kaplan again.

Looks like Kaplan will be relying on the TMO to officiate this contest

 

[Canucks]

what did I say about DTH. Good set up by Smith.


Edit: DTH again. godd try.

 

[poopiepeople]

good work, DTH runs one in.

 

[LittleGuy]

what did I say about DTH. Good set up by Smith.

DTH!!!!! Yeah great move by Smith eariler, well deserved by Canada there for the lead

 

[Toko_11]

Did Canada improve or did Tonga and japan get worse ??

WoW nice game

 

[Canucks]

Damn. Good push back by Japan. Canada has got to be sharper on the breakdown as Japan seems to want that quick ball.