RWC: Tonga - Canada (14-09-2011, 17:00)

[rusty_lock]

I'm just rapt. What a performance. We beat Tonga and Jonothan Kaplan. The crowd was great and it sounded like there was very strong Canadian support as well. I have to say I love the Kiwi commentators enthusiasm even when the skills on offer don't equal an All Black/Wallaby contest. Last world cup, listening to those pompous UK commentators (no offence to the fine and intelligent UK descended posters of TRF intended ) was enough to make you puke. DTH is all class, Carp's, Kleeb's and Sinclair were fantastic. Cudmore 23 tackles!!!! Damn I wish I had him in my fantasy pool. Munro, Pritchard and Fairhurst were great as well. I'm sure when I view it a 2nd time I can be a little more objective and critique things and point out errors that need correction but for today and maybe tomorrow I'm just a pretty proud Canadian rugby fan.
Well done boys

 

[LittleGuy]

Little Guy - How do you feel about the squad going to this years RWC are there any players you really look forward to playing with? Do you think wins over Tonga and Japan are a possibility?

Ed Fairhurst - I think that we have the strongest squad we've had for a while going into this World Cup and I think it's within the realm of possibility that we could upset Tonga and Japan.

........

You can question my rugby knowledge, but never question OUR ED!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dougydeluxe]

So pumped... bring on France!

 

[rusty_lock]

An interesting note when Canda's new rating comes out next monday morning it will be 73.74 and assuming Japan don't knock off the All Blacks tonight that will vault us into 12th position knocking hard on the door of Italy. Pretty heady stuff, I know. I realize this probably doesn't really reflect our position in world rugby completely accurately but a win against Japan by 15 or less,assuming Wales beats Samoa, and I calculate a rating of 75.38 were in 10th position. Almost mind numbing LOL!!
I know statistics are for losers but it is fun to play with the numbers.

 

[rusty_lock]

TSN is saying there were 138,000 viewers for the live version of the Canada Tonga game. Definately shows that there is great appetite for rugby on TV in Canada. Very impresive numbers considering the game was in the middle of the night for most of the country.

 

[Canucks]

That's really impressive. I really hope it can continue to expand. Far too many of our best athletes go and play other sports like American football and never to get to experience playing at a national level. While I also love that sport, I would much rather see a Jesse Lumsden at inside center or a Paris Jackson on the wing. In case anyone is unaware of who Jesse Lumsden is, lets give you stat 6'0" 216, 4.4 over 40 meters, pure power runner with a lot of skill. Such a good power runner that he's now on Canada's Bobsleigh team that finished 5th at the olympics.


Canadian rugby does seem on the rise. A lot of this has to do with Crowley's getting the team together. Looking at a lot of they player profiles, you would see quite a few players at some point playing club rugby with a team in BC (notably Castaway Wanderers.) Similar to what Canada tried to do with Pacific Pride ages ago. While the other provinces produce great players and have some small areas where rugby is dominant, the biggest hotbed in Canada goes to BC, notable Van Island, Metro Vancouver, and Fraser Valley areas.
I'm really excited that Canada may return to the top 10 but we still have to put out a decent showing against France and beat an undoubtedly motivated Japanese team. The match against the All Blacks..... well lets just say I hope it's a reasonable score.
Things also look great for the future. As I said before 16 of our 30 are 25 or younger at the start of the year. The only players from our current team might not make it to the next world cup are Fairhurst, Cudmore, Riordan, Smith and Pritchard. Guys like DTH, Sinclair, Otoole, Mackenzie, White, Trainor, Evans are only going to get better as they get more experience (Although it's hard to believe DTH can get better, just as 18 Halani Aulika at 269 pounds what it felt like to get run over by a full speed DTH.)


rusty_lock, you play with Langley RFC? I played quite a few games against Langley when I was back home and playing with the Brits out of Delta. Always entertaining.

 

[formerlyfastwing]

In case anyone is unaware of who Jesse Lumsden is, lets give you stat 6'0" 216, 4.4 over 40 meters, pure power runner with a lot of skill. Such a good power runner that he's now on Canada's Bobsleigh team that finished 5th at the olympics.

.

I see you where you are going but Jesse would not have been my choice.....there is a reason he is a bobsleder and no longer in the CFL, and it ain't his love of tight body stockings

 

[LittleGuy]

An interesting note when Canda's new rating comes out next monday morning it will be 73.74 and assuming Japan don't knock off the All Blacks tonight that will vault us into 12th position knocking hard on the door of Italy. Pretty heady stuff, I know. I realize this probably doesn't really reflect our position in world rugby completely accurately but a win against Japan by 15 or less,assuming Wales beats Samoa, and I calculate a rating of 75.38 were in 10th position. Almost mind numbing LOL!!
I know statistics are for losers but it is fun to play with the numbers.

It could be one of our highest rankings in a loooong time, and don't worry rusty I check out the rankings every monday even if it's to see how much Andorra and Luxembourg have moved LOL.

 

[Canucks]

I see you where you are going but Jesse would not have been my choice.....there is a reason he is a bobsleder and no longer in the CFL, and it ain't his love of tight body stockings

Ionno he's CIS all time rusher and an Olympian, a definite athletic specimen. Would have love to see him play rugby instead of football. He was a really good player until the shoulder injury that never quite healed. In rugby as in football, that as bad as blowing out a knee. He had to call it quites after the ankle because after that he couldn't cut it in open field running and just wasn't able to take contact like he used too.

 

[rusty_lock]

It could be one of our highest rankings in a loooong time, and don't worry rusty I check out the rankings every monday even if it's to see how much Andorra and Luxembourg have moved LOL.

I wore my Canada Jersey for a second day in row

#grinninglikeaCheshirecat

 

[rusty_lock]

rusty_lock, you play with Langley RFC? I played quite a few games against Langley when I was back home and playing with the Brits out of Delta. Always entertaining.

No don't play any more at all, although I get out to watch LRC. My playing days were back in the mid 80's through early 90's with Burnaby.

 

[rusty_lock]

TSN just tweeted that there were 225000 viewers for Canada/Tonga rerun. Apparently that was the 2nd highest rating for a specialty channel last night

 

[kovana]

Cheers Rusty.. Thats pretty good i guess.

You got a link?

 

[LittleGuy]

Cheers Rusty.. Thats pretty good i guess.

You got a link?

I know this game is getting pretty big coverage in Canadian media, 138,000 viewers in the middle of the night and 225,000 on a replay is pretty good especially for not a free to air station. I have had a lot of friends finally watch a game of rugby and they are loving it now, a classic encounter between two evenly matched teams will do that. Crowley has admitted that a couple of players will need rest in the France game, perhaps Smith will be omved to the bench and Trainor will play, as well wondering whether Evans will be available.

 

[rusty_lock]

I know this game is getting pretty big coverage in Canadian media, 138,000 viewers in the middle of the night and 225,000 on a replay is pretty good especially for not a free to air station. I have had a lot of friends finally watch a game of rugby and they are loving it now, a classic encounter between two evenly matched teams will do that. Crowley has admitted that a couple of players will need rest in the France game, perhaps Smith will be omved to the bench and Trainor will play, as well wondering whether Evans will be available.

If Evans is available I hope they only play him off the bench and save him, for the most part, for Japan. He has had a number of injury issues over the last year so throwing him into 80 minutes is probably not good for him or the team. The one good thing is that we have 9 day between France and Japan, while Japan only has 5 days between Tonga and us. I'll be praying the Tongans are at there most viscous, hard hitting selves. So we should be able to field a near full strength team against France. I hate the idea of tanking against France so we cam be fresh for Japan. We should be able to get good rest and have a fairly healthy team for what is really the most important game we have left. I would love to see Trainor start and Smith on the bench, I think he can play at this level and if we can at least achieve something close to parity from the set piece a Trainor VDM midfield combination should be dynamic.

Due to my cajoling I've had a number of friends watch the game also for the first time and they just loved it. One has planned a party for Sunday afternoon for folks to watch the replay (no spoilers allowed) on his 62" HDTV and since I'm the only enthusiast in the bunch I have to come and explain to all the newb's whats going on. Hopefully I'll be sober by then. Should be a lot of fun. LOL I'm not often considered an expert prognosticator in anything but with this bunch I will be. Supposed to about a dozen of us plus significant others for beer, bbq and rugby. It's almost unbelievable that this is happening in Canada. Thankfully Hockey season doesn't start until the end of pool play.

Remember to tweet #kleebergersbeard LOL

 

[kovana]

Just noticed TRF Ezequiel bagged himself a cool 13750 from this match..!

 

[CDN_Rugby]

I agree with keeping Evans on the bench too. That said, I really hope Crowley fields the best team possible, because you never know what can happen.

If I'm Crowley:
1) Buydens
2) Riordan
3) Franklin
4) Sinclair
5) Cudmore
6) Kleeberger
7) Dala
8) Carpenter

9) Fairhurst
10) Monro
11) Hearn
12) Trainor
13) DTH
14) Mackenzie
15) Pritchard

16) Hamilton
17) Marshall (needs a rest considering his work rate against Tonga. Bring him on between 50-60 to replace Buydens and push Franklin to loosehead)
18) Hotson
19) O'Toole (Let Dala show what he can do and bring O'Toole on early in the 2nd. If O'Toole's 100% fine, start him. If there's doubts about his fitness, bring in Kyne to the reserve bench)
20) White
21) Evans
22) Paris (Let's see what the kid's got)

Can't wait for the game! The lads' confidence has to be sky high at the moment, hopefully they can ride the wave.

 

[rusty_lock]

I agree with keeping Evans on the bench too. That said, I really hope Crowley fields the best team possible, because you never know what can happen.

If I'm Crowley:
1) Buydens
2) Riordan
3) Franklin
4) Sinclair
5) Cudmore
6) Kleeberger
7) Dala
8) Carpenter

9) Fairhurst
10) Monro
11) Hearn
12) Trainor
13) DTH
14) Mackenzie
15) Pritchard

16) Hamilton
17) Marshall (needs a rest considering his work rate against Tonga. Bring him on between 50-60 to replace Buydens and push Franklin to loosehead)
18) Hotson
19) O'Toole (Let Dala show what he can do and bring O'Toole on early in the 2nd. If O'Toole's 100% fine, start him. If there's doubts about his fitness, bring in Kyne to the reserve bench)
20) White
21) Evans
22) Paris (Let's see what the kid's got)

Can't wait for the game! The lads' confidence has to be sky high at the moment, hopefully they can ride the wave.

Well here it is. Canada's lineup for France. Unchanged from the team that beat Tonga. KC must be reading this thread and saw my wisdom going for it against France

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. Ciaran Hearn (Conception Bay South, NL, The Rock/CRC, Baymen RFC, Holy Spirit High School)
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. Nanyak Dala (Saskatoon, SK, Prairie Wolf Pack/CRC, Castaway Wanderers, Glenwood High School/University of Saskatchewan)
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)

I would expect him to be qucker with the substitutions this game. I expect to see Dala, Hotson, Trainor and Franklin between the 50 to 60 minute mark. If the score starts getting away from us watch him empty the bench and give Hirayama a good long run

 

[CDN_Rugby]

Boy am I glad that O'Toole's injury wasn't serious. If him, Kleeberger and Carpenter can continue their excellent form, France will be in for a shock. Ride the wave boys!

 

[ranger]

Are any of you Canadians familiar with Bowness High?