Canada Defeat the Netherlands 37-25: HT 13-13
from Canadian Press
Canada scored 24 second-half points en route to a 37-25 win over the Netherlands on Saturday in an international rugby test match.
The 28th-ranked Dutch kept it tight in the first half with the game tied 13-13 at the break under bright sunshine.
But the 22nd-ranked Canadian men kept coming and took control in the second half until the Dutch scored two late tries.
Ross Braude, Lindsey Stevens, Lucas Rumball and Josh Larsen scored tries for Canada. Cooper Coats kicked four conversions and three penalties.
Daily Limmen, Jessy Wagemaker and Dirk Wierenga had tries for the Dutch. Peter Lydon booted two conversions and two penalties.
It was the first-ever meeting between the two sides.
“Full credit to the Dutch in the first half,” said Canadian coach Kingsley Jones. “Their kicking game was excellent.”
“I thought it was a good test match. It’s a great advert for emerging nations We’re really pleased. It’s been a great day for us,” he added. “I think it was a positive day for everyone including the Netherlands.”
Canada faces No. 24 Namibia next Saturday, also at the National Rugby Center. The two teams were to have met at the 2019 World Cup in Japan but the game in Kamaishi was called off due to Typhoon Hagibis.
The European games are the first for the full Canadian senior side since July when it beat No. 26 Belgium 45-0 in Halifax and lost 57-34 to No. 16 Spain in Ottawa.
Jones took a developmental side to Brazil last month for the Americas Rugby Trophy where Canada ‘A’ lost 36-25 to Chile XV and beat Brazil ‘A’ 31-14.
The Netherlands finished last in the Rugby Europe Championship, which served as a World Cup qualifier. The Dutch finished sixth at 1-9-0 with the lone win by way over disqualification over Russia.
The Dutch served notice in the fourth minute, winning a scrum penalty against prop Liam Murray. Another Canadian penalty for offside two minutes later allowed the Netherlands to kick for goal but Lydon was wide.
Canada regrouped and pulled ahead 3-0 on a 10th-minute Coats penalty when the Dutch were dinged for offside. Lydon tied it up four minutes later with a long-range penalty.
While the Dutch scrum was solid, the Canadians began to make inroads in open play, hammering away at the Dutch defence. But Lydon converted another penalty for a 6-3 lead in the 20th minute.
The Canadian backs broke through in the 23rd minute with a line break by Coats setting up a try under the posts by Braude and a 10-6 lead.
The Dutch hurt their cause with handling errors when they did win possession. Another Coats penalty upped the lead to 13-6 in the 33rd minute.
The Dutch backs answered in the 35th minute, slicing through the Canadian defence with Limmen touching down in the corner. Lydon’s conversion tied it at 13-13.
Canada kicked for the corner after a Dutch penalty late in the half. But the attack ended in a knock-on at the Dutch try-line.
There was some bad blood in the second half with French referee Benoit Rousselet sending a Dutch player to the sin-bin in the 50th minute.
The Canadians quickly took advantage with Stevens, on the back of two Dutch penalties, scoring at the back of a driving maul for a 20-13 lead. Another try-scoring opportunity minutes later ended in an errant Canadian pass.
A Rumball try in the 61st minute padded the lead with the Canadian scrum, minutes later, winning a penalty in front of its own posts to extinguish a Dutch threat. Larsen then bulled his way over in the 71st as the Canadian forwards battered the Dutch.
Wagemaker ended Canada’s 21-point run with a converted try off a driving mail in the 75th minute. Coats continued his perfect kicking day with a 78th-minute penalty before Wierenga scored in the corner with time running out.
Callum Botchar and Matthew Klimchuk, both products of Rugby Canadas Pacific Pride academy, came on in the second half for their first 15s cap.
Saturday’s game marked a return for wing Andrew Coe, who last played for the 15s team at the 2019 World Cup. The 26-year-old, part of Canadas sevens squad at the Tokyo Olympics, helped Rugby New York win the MLR championship this season.
Rumball and Ben LeSage served as Canada co-captains.
The two coaches are no strangers. Kingsley Jones and Dutch coach Lyn Jones both played for Wales and worked together at the Dragons, a Welsh club side. Both previously coached Russia.
The third-ranked Canadian women also played Saturday, beaten 36-0 in the bronze-medal match at the Rugby World Cup some 18,000 kilometres away in Auckland, New Zealand.
from Rugby Canada
Canadas Mens Rugby Team scored 24 unanswered points during a dominant start to the second half of a 37-25 victory over the Netherlands. The game was a first-ever test match between the two nations, presented by DHL, played before a capacity crowd at the National Rugby Center Amsterdam.
Ross Braude, Lindsey Stevens, Lucas Rumball and Josh Larsen got over the line to score tries for Canada in the match. Cooper Coats was a perfect seven for seven to add 17 points to the Canadian scoreline.
The match started slowly, with both teams testing each other with numerous kicks. Coats and Robert Povey were steady under the high ball for Canada. Coats gave Canada the lead in the 10th minute with a penalty, but by the 20th minute Peter Lydon, on debut, had answered with two penalties for the Netherlands giving them the 6-3 lead.
Canada quickly put together their best sequence of the first half following the second penalty, claiming the re-start and putting together the phases. A line break from Coats led to an offload to Ross Braude who sprinted clear and touched down between the posts for the first try of the match.
The Netherlands was tackling well in the first half as the Canadian forwards, led by Vikilani, Rowland and Rumball, hammered away. Coats added another penalty for Canada, but the Netherlands responded with a great counter-attack try finished off by Daily Limmen. The sideline conversion by Lydon had the teams head to the break tied at 13.
Canada started the second half with initiative and a focus to keep the ball in hand. A huge lineout drive led to a Netherlands penalty that was kicked to the corner in the 49th minute. Canada executed a beautiful shift ball at the ensuing lineout that was driven over the line and touched down by Lindsey Stevens.
The pressure remained on the Netherlands for the next ten minutes and Canada was eventually rewarded with another try in the 61st minute as Rumball finished off another multiple phase attack. The Canadian scrum responded to some Dutch pressure in the 67th minute as the Netherlands chose the scrum option from a penalty in front of the Canadian posts, only to be whistled for a scrum penalty which allowed Canada to kick clear.
Canada drove back into the Netherlands territory and showcased their physical dominance through more multiple phases that led to Josh Larsen touching down Canadas fourth try in the 71st minute. Andrew Quattrin featured prominently in the build-up after coming on as an impact substitute. Coats added a penalty shortly after, giving the Canadians a formidable 37-13 lead with just over 5 minutes to play.
The Netherlands showed their mettle by scoring two late tries through Wagemaker and Wierenga to make the final scoreline more respectable at 37-25.
Josiah Morra received his first 15s cap with his start on the wing, while Conor Young, Callum Botchar, and Matt Klimchuk all earned their first caps when they came on as replacements in the second half.
Canadian head coach Kingsley Jones offered, Full credit to the Dutch. Their kicking game was exceptional in the first half, but Im so pleased with our teams ability to implement adaptations to start the second half. Jones explained, We felt there were areas close to the breakdown to exploit and once we narrowed the Dutch defence it opened up area out wide for us to attack. Overall, I felt it was a great spectacle of emerging nations rugby and were pleased with the result, especially getting more valuable test match experience for our young team which included four more debutants today.
The Netherlands showed why they are considered a rising force in the rugby world, with this test being the first of two huge games for Dutch rugby this weekend. Their U20 team play Spain tomorrow in the final of the Rugby Europe U20 Championship, having dispatched Germany and Portugal in previous rounds.
Were pleased to score three tries, stated Netherlands head coach Lyn Jones. But fair play to Canada we came off second best in the contact areas.
Canada now re-focus on their final November International versus Namibia, also in Amsterdam, Netherlands on Saturday November 19 at 2:30 p.m. local time (5:30 a.m. PT/8:30 a.m. ET). The test will be a long-awaited opportunity for the nations to meet, as their last scheduled match at the 2019 RWC was cancelled due to weather. Canadian fans can watch Canadas Mens Rugby Team take on Namibia LIVE on TSN.ca (https://www.tsn.ca/live) and the TSN App (under WATCH).
CANADA 37
TRIES: Braude, Stevens, Rumball, Larsen
CONS: Coats 4/4
PENS: Coats 3/3
NETHERLANDS 25
TRIES: Limmen, Wagemaker, Wierenga
CONS: Lydon 2/3
PENS: Lydon 2/3
*Jones Selects Canada Team to Face Netherlands on Saturday at 5:30am PT – Live Streamed on TSN*
Kingsley Jones has made his selection for the Netherlands game. He’s gone with Rob Povey as the #10. Povey played #10 in the Canada ‘A’ win over Brazil but he usually plays fullback in the MLR. Neither O’Leary or Bowd will see action in this match.
Lindsey Stevens gets the start at hooker with Liam Murray and Tyler Rowland as starting props. Corey Thomas is moved from his usual loose forward role to second row and teams up with Josh Larsen. Siaki Vikilani starts at #8 with Lucas Rumball and Kyle Baillie as flankers.
Ross Braude starts at scrum half, the centres are Josh Thiel and Ben Lesage. Outside backs are Josiah Morra, Andrew Coe and Cooper Coats.
Matt Klimchuk and Callum Botchar will get their first caps when they come off the bench.
Nine players from the tour group were not selected for this match:
Props – Kyle Steeves, Foster Dewitt
Second Row – Conor Keys, Piers Von Dadelszen
Loose forwards – Luke Campbell, Owain Ruttan
Backs – Gradyn Bowd, Shane O’Leary, Kainoa Lloyd
The Netherlands are not to be taken lightly, they have a South African flyhalf, Willie Du Plessis, who plays for Stade Montois in the French Pro D2. They have Irishman, Peter Lydon, a flyhalf/fullback who plays for Rouen in the Pro D2. There’s Leroy van Dam, a winger, who played for the New Zealand U20 team in 2013. They have some skill in the backs. Also of note, their U20 team defeated Portugal and made the Rugby Europe final for the first time in their history, they’ll face Spain in the final.
Currently Canada are ranked #22 and the Netherlands are ranked #28. The game will be streamed by TSN at 5:30am PT.
from Rugby Canada
Head Coach Kingsley Jones has named the match day roster for Canadas Mens Rugby Teams test match, presented by DHL, against the Netherlands.
Canada will take on the Dutch in Amsterdam, Netherlands on Saturday November 12 at 2:30 p.m. local time (5:30 a.m. PT/8:30 a.m. ET) at the National Rugby Center Amsterdam.
Markham, Ontario native Andrew Coe will start on the wing in his return to international 15s rugby. Coe, who represented Canada at the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo, last played for Canadas 15s program at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. The 26-year-old played with Rugby New York during the 2022 MLR season. Coe started on the wing for New York in the MLR championship match, defeating the Seattle Seawolves 30-15.
Lucas Rumball and Ben LeSage will captain a side that includes a mixture of veterans and new, young talent as Canada continues to build towards the next Rugby World Cup qualification period starting in 2025.
Were all looking forward to Saturdays match against the Netherlands, said Jones. Both on and off the field you can see how eager the group is to get back to test match rugby. The entire squad has had a solid week of preparation, and its great to see some new faces amongst our replacements who will be hoping to make their debut.
He added: These two matches are critical for the long-term development of our players. As a program, we must continue to build depth across all positions to ensure we are prepared for the next World Cup cycle. I am pleased with the direction we are headed as a team and with the young, up-and-coming talent who have started to push for more playing time at the international level.
Jones roster includes Canadas Mens Sevens Team players Josiah Morra, Brock Webster and David Richard. The trio joined the squad earlier this week after competing for Canada at the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series stop in Hong Kong on November 4-5.
Callum Botchar and Matthew Klimchuk will begin the game on the bench and are set to earn their first international caps. A graduate of Rugby Canadas Pacific Pride Academy, Botchar is also part of Canadas Mens Sevens Team for the 2022-23 season. Klimchuk, from Regina, Saskatchewan and a player with the Pacific Pride, earned a spot in the match day roster after impressive performances in last months Americas Rugby Trophy development competition against Brazil and Chile.
WHERE TO WATCH
Canadian fans can watch Canadas Mens Rugby Team take on the Netherlands LIVE on TSN.ca (https://www.tsn.ca/live) and the TSN App (under WATCH), at 5:30 a.m. PT/8:30 a.m. ET. on Saturday. Game links will be live approximately 15 minutes before kickoff.
NOVEMBER INTERNATIONALS SCHEDULE
Netherlands vs. Canada November 12 at 2:30 p.m. local time – 5:30 a.m. PT/8:30 a.m. ET.
Namibia vs. Canada November 19 at 2:30 p.m. local time – 5:30 a.m. PT/8:30 a.m. ET.
CANADAS MENS RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER vs THE NETHERLANDS
1. Liam Murray (Langley, BC) Dallas Jackals
2. Lindsey Stevens (Sydney, Australia) Eastern Suburbs R.U.F.C.
3. Tyler Rowland (Mississauga, ON) Toronto Arrows
4. Corey Thomas (Broome, Australia) Unattached
5. Josh Larsen (Nanaimo, BC) New England Free Jacks
6. Kyle Baillie (Summerside, PEI) Halifax Tars
7. Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) Toronto Arrows
8. Siaki Vikilani (Burnaby, BC) Toronto Arrows
9. Ross Braude (Pretoria, South Africa) Toronto Arrows
10. Robert Povey (Oxford, UK) Houston Sabercats
11. Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) Canada Sevens
12. Josh Thiel (Victoria, BC) James Bay AA / Canada Sevens
13. Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) Calgary Canucks
14. Andrew Coe (Markham, ON) Rugby NY
15. Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) Halifax Tars / Canada Sevens
FINISHERS
16. Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) New England Free Jacks
17. Djustice Sears-Duru (Oakville, ON) Unattached
18. Conor Young (Yamba, Australia) New England Free Jacks
19. Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) Canada Sevens
20. Matthew Klimchuk (Regina, SK) Regina Rogues / UVIC
21. Jason Higgins (Cork, Ireland) San Diego Legion
22. David Richard (Milton, ON) Mississauga Blues / Canada Sevens
23. Brock Webster (Uxbridge, ON) Oshawa Vikings / Canada Sevens