U.S.A. vs. Canada. RWCQ 1st leg, 17/08/13

[LittleGuy]

U.S.A. vs. Canada. RWCQ 1st leg, 17/08/13, @ Blackbaud Stadium, Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America. 6:30 p.m. EDT. ( 3:30 p.m. PDT)

Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)

TV Coverage: Canada, TSN2 (live) U.S.A., Universal Sports (live)

I believe the game will be carried on Universal Sports in the United States, and will be simulcast on TSN2 live in Canada...I stand to be corrected though. A good crowd is also expected to take in the game as there was in 2009, lets just hope the rugby is way better than that leg four years ago.

Time to get this fired up boys and back to the rugby!!! The 15th ranked(Canada) and 18th(U.S.A.) ranked countries in the IRB will play the first leg of their Rugby World Cup qualification, total points, home and away series in gorgeous(and possibly hot as hell) South Carolina. The America's #1 spot and a position in the European pool(errrr Pool D) for 2015 is on the line!!!! The loser of the series will be forced to take on Los Teros in November for America's #2 spot and a position in Pool B.

Lineups will be posted when available, though rumours are both teams will be at virtual full strength with only one or two first choicers missing from each side.

Canada

Starters

1- Andrew Tiedemann, (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
2- Ryan Hamilton, (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
3- Jason Marshall, (Atlantique Stade Rochelais/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
4- Jebb Sinclair, (London Irish) Fredericton, NB
5- Jamie Cudmore, (ASM Clermont Auvergne) Squamish, BC
6- Tyler Ardron, (Ospreys/Ontario Blues) Lakefield, ON
7- John Moonlight, (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Pickering, ON
8- Aaron Carpenter, Captain, (Cornish Pirates) Brantford, ON
9- Phil Mack, (Uvic Vikes/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
10- Harry Jones, (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) West Vancouver, BC
11- DTH Van Der Merwe, (Glasgow Warriors) Regina, SK
12- Nick Blevins, (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
13- Ciaran Hearn, (Castaway Wanderers/Atlantic Rock) Conception Bay, NL
14- Matt Evans, (Cornish Pirates) Maple Bay, BC
15- James Pritchard, (Bedford Blues) Parkes, NSW, Australia

Bench

16- Ray Barkwill, (Niagara Wasps RFC/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
17- Tom Dolezel, (London St. George's/Ontario Blues) London, ON
18- Doug Wooldridge, (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON
19- Tyler Hotson, (London Scottish) Vancouver, BC
20- Nanyak Dala, (Castaway Wanderers RFC/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
21- Sean White, (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
22- Nathan Hirayama, (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears) Richmond, BC
23- Phil Mackenzie, (Sale Sharks) Oakville, ON



U.S.A.

Starters

1. Shawn Pittman
2. Chris Biller
3. Eric Fry
4. Lou Stanfill
5. Samu Manoa
6. Scott LaValla
7. Peter Dahl
8. Todd Clever (C)
9. Mike Petri
10. Toby L'Estrange
11. Blaine Scully
12. Andrew Suniula
13. Seamus Kelly
14. Taku Ngwenya
15. Chris Wyles

Reserves

16. Zach Fenoglio
17. ***i Lamositele
18. Phil Thiel
19. Brian Doyle
20. Cam Dolan
21. Robbie Shaw
22. Folau Niua
23. Roland Suniula

 

[dudeabides]

Actually it's South Carolina, not North but I can't wait for it, just trying to find someone else to take a free ticket. My friend had to cancel and it's hard to sell a ticket when it's not sold out so I've got a free one if anybody's interested. Talk about a long shot.

 

[LittleGuy]

Actually it's South Carolina, not North but I can't wait for it, just trying to find someone else willing to drive that far and I'd give them a free ticket... heh, not that they're expensive or even sold out last time I checked.

MY apologies, this will be fixed....I should have remembered that as someone who knows a bit about the civil war...brain fart time.

 

[dudeabides]

No problemo, I always liked North Carolina better anyway.. uh oh if any gamecock types see that. I actually have found people that would drive with me but didn't want to see the match, can you believe that? Just because I drive through a town called Savannah on the way. I am sure the US team is taking the qualifiers very seriously, well hopefully... but it kind of seems like the more important tests are getting overshadowed by their test against the New Zealand Maori in Philadelphia. That's just imo from reading the usual sites I go to for USA rugby information and news, including the official one.

 

[Feicarsinn]

MY apologies, this will be fixed....I should have remembered that as someone who knows a bit about the civil war...brain fart time.

Goddammit Little Guy. It's crap like this that has Canadian rugby where it is.

 

[LittleGuy]

Goddammit Little Guy. It's crap like this that has Canadian rugby where it is.

In the spirit of Rugby Canada, I'll have to do a ****ty online stream of me posting the 2nd leg thread, it will cut out constantly, the camera will wildly flicker over and show my cat licking his nuts, the audio will cut out constantly.

Edit: @ Dude, I went down to the part of the States as a young kid, though was in Virginia for longer than the carolinas. Went to Jamestown, the Atlantic fleet naval base(as they were returning from the gulf war.) I enjoyed it nice people and great scenery.

 

[AmericanSinBin]

There is a good amount of buzz going on about this game. I believe several NC club team members and as far up as D.C are planning on making the game. American Sin Bin and World Rugby Shop will be there attending all the events surrounding the game. Each year US rugby gets a little more popular and the stadium a little more filled. Hopefully it will be a great game! Excited to watch rugby in the States live and not have to travel to Vegas.

 

[Jaguares]

Canada is still better than USA? Or is there a possibility that the Eagles win this match?


Regards

 

[AmericanSinBin]

Yes, Canada is better, but is should be a good game. USA won't just roll over and give it to them, playing the states gives the extra drive to win. And crazier things have happened then a number 19 team beating a 16 team.

 

[yarmolinsky]

Can't wait =)) The game is doomed to be passionate))

 

[canadafan]

Will be interesting to see just how important Buydens was to our scrum dominance over the U.S. Other than him, we should be fielding our first choice line up.

 

[LittleGuy]

Cudmore confirmed he'll be joining the side Thursday on twitter today...big boost for the scrum and the team in general.

 

[canadafan]

Cudmore confirmed he'll be joining the side Thursday on twitter today...big boost for the scrum and the team in general.

So he does want to play in the next world cup!

 

[LittleGuy]

So he does want to play in the next world cup!

I have a feeling it will be him and Pritchard's career finale, great way to go out.

 

[canadafan]

I have a feeling it will be him and Pritchard's career finale, great way to go out.

No offense, but that isn't exactly a 'bold statement' to make.

 

[LittleGuy]

No offense, but that isn't exactly a 'bold statement' to make.

Wasn't meant to be bold, though many think Pritchard is already done for including some in the "rugby know" in Canadian circles(was going to post about that but too tired and not in the mood tonight)...I disagree with them.

 

[canadafan]

Wasn't meant to be bold, though many think Pritchard is already done for including some in the "rugby know" in Canadian circles(was going to post about that but too tired and not in the mood tonight)...I disagree with them.

Who's talking smack about Pritchard?

 

[Jaguares]

The loser will play against Uruguay?

 

[CDN_Rugby]

Wasn't meant to be bold, though many think Pritchard is already done for including some in the "rugby know" in Canadian circles(was going to post about that but too tired and not in the mood tonight)...I disagree with them.

I'd disagree with them too, but I see where they are coming from as Trainor, Evans, Mackenzie, Hassler, Paris, and DTH all offer more attacking flare. People forget that Pritchard was never included in the squad because he could read a defence like Christian Cullen- he's been included because he doesn't make mistakes and is as good a kicker as anyone in rugby. And as a team that needs to capitalise on the mistakes of others, his kicking is needed more than we care to imagine.

Given that he still does that at his age (33?) and there is nobody who appears ready to inherit his boot (O'Leary? McCann? Braid?) I see him sticking around until someone literally gives him the boot (pun intended). Until then, he has to stay.

 

[CDN_Rugby]

The loser will play against Uruguay?

Yes.