Canada Leak Four Tries in Thirteen Minutes in 38-14 Loss to Portugal
Canada scored first and last but Portugal scored 38 unanswered points in between. Canada were in the game at the half, down 12-7 but they fell asleep in the 3rd quarter as Portugal scored four tries between 42′ and 55′ and the game went from 12-7 to 38-7, from a competitive match to a blowout in 13 minutes. For the second week in a row the Canadian backline was a defensive liability, all Portugal’s tries were scored by the backs, two from the inside centre, two from the wing, one from the outside centre and one from the scrum half. Canada were missing their two top players Tyler Ardron and Lucas Rumball and it showed, coach Meehan’s record is now 1-1-9 and without Tyler Ardron in the lineup it’s 0-9.
Canada’s first try at 18′ was scored by Takoda McMullin following a strong run by Kyle Tremblay on the wing. Canada second try at 78′ was scored by Brock Gallagher following a chip and chase by Spencer Jones. Overall there were too many errors by Canada, knock-ons, lost lineouts, inaccurate box kicks, lackadaisical chases on the box kicks, poor outside defensive positioning and decision making. The scrum worked well, one of the few positives.
Canada face Zimbabwe next weekend, their final Nation’s Cup match for the summer. Zimbabwe lost to USA today 31-15, they were leading at the half 15-12 but USA added two tries and three penalties in the second half.
Meehan Names Match 23 for Portugal Clash: Ardron and Rumball Missing – Olmstead Gets Start
Stephen Meehan has named his squad for the Portugal match and the most notable change is the absence of Lucas Rumball and Tyler Ardron who are missing “due to prior commitments”, whatever that means. Meehan has only won one match since his term began and that game had Tyler Ardron and Evan Olmstead starting, his 1-1-8 record also has one draw now and that was with Tyler Ardron starting last week. He’s never won without Ardron in the roster. The good news is Evan Olmstead is back and starting at openside flanker, Olmstead is rumoured to be joining Nissa next season where Jamie Cudmore is coach.
Portugal are ranked 15th, they were 14th but dropped a spot after their 30-29 loss to USA last weekend. Portugal outscored USA four tries to three but had two red cards and a yellow card in the match and USA kicked three penalty goals. All four Portugal tries were by the winger Manuel Cardoso Pinto. Canada are ranked 23rd after their draw with Spain last weekend, they rose from 25th.
The absence of two top loose forwards has required some adjustment, Sion Parry is given the #8 role with Olmstead and Mason Flesch the flankers. The tight five remain the same from last weekend. Jason Higgins remains starting scrum half but Cooper Coats was injured on the last play of the match last weekend and isn’t in the roster, Peter Nelson moves from fullback to #10. Takoda McMullin comes off the bench to start at fullback. The wingers and centres remain the same from last week. On the bench Cody Nhanala comes in as the reserve loose forward, and Liam James as reserve back, the rest of the bench remains the same.
Players who haven’t been called into the roster yet include Bryce Worden, Foster Dewitt, Reegan O’Gorman in the forwards and Lockie Kratz, Henry Kirwan, Stephen Webb in the backs.
Last weekend against Spain there were a few problem areas, the defence in the midfield was a major problem as the Spanish centres made several key line breaks that ended up in tries. It will be interesting to see what changes Meehan has made in tactics as he hasn’t changed the lineup. Another issue was the reserve props gave up crucial scrum penalties late in the match that cost Canada, it’s another situation to monitor in this match. The box kick and chase wasn’t working for Canada without any specialist wingers, we’ll see if that improves in this match or if tactics change at all.
The game kicks off on Saturday at 6pm PT, broadcast on TSN for Canadian subscribers and on rugbypass.tv for those out of country.
from Rugby Canada
Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team opened the Nations Cup with a hard-fought draw against Spain last weekend in Edmonton, earning a two-place rise in the World Rugby Rankings. The Canadians will look to build on that momentum this Saturday when they take on Portugal at Clarke Stadium.
Canadian rugby fans can watch the match live on TSN2 and TSN+, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. PT / 7:00 p.m. MT / 9:00 p.m. ET.
Head Coach Stephen Meehan has named his squad for the second round of the Nations Cup, making four changes to the starting XV while adding uncapped back-row forward Cody Nhanala and uncapped back Liam James to the matchday 23.
“There were plenty of positives to take from the performance against Spain. Our set piece was strong, and the patience and composure we showed to score after long attacking phases reflected the progress this group is making,” said Head Coach Stephen Meehan. “To come back and earn a draw in the final minutes showed real resilience and belief, but we’re not satisfied with a draw, we want to be winning those games. With a number of players stepping into bigger roles, every match is helping build the experience and confidence we’ll need moving forward.”
Looking ahead to Portugal, Meehan expects a very different challenge.
“Portugal are a well-organised side with a clear identity. They’re strong in the kick chase, work hard to control field position, and are very effective through the middle of the field. We have a good understanding of how they want to play, so the challenge for us is to disrupt their game while continuing to execute ours. It’s a different test to Spain and another chance for this squad to show how quickly it can adapt to a new style of opposition.”
Lucas Rumball and Tyler Ardron will miss this weekend’s fixture due to prior commitments. Evan Olmstead moves into the starting lineup at openside flanker, Siôn Parry starts at No. 8, Peter Nelson slots into the flyhalf position and Takoda McMullin comes in at fullback.
Four players could make their Canadian debuts on Saturday. Daragh Doyle and Jacob Ince, who were included in last week’s matchday squad but did not come off the bench, will again have the opportunity to earn their first caps. They are joined by UBC Thunderbird and BC Bears vs Ontario Blues series stand-out Cody Nhanala, and fellow Thunderbird Liam James.
Canada last faced Portugal in 2025, falling 33-27 in a closely contested match. Portugal has since gone on to claim the 2026 Rugby Europe Championship title, setting the stage for another highly competitive encounter in Edmonton.
Tickets for the game between Canada and Portugal on Saturday July 11 are available for purchase here.
CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM’S MATCH DAY ROSTER VS PORTUGAL
1. Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / Old Glory DC (13 caps)
2. Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / US Carcassonne (30 caps)
3. Cole Keith (Sussex NB) – Belleisle Rovers RFC / Doncaster Knights (45 caps)
4. Piers Von Dadelszen (Vancouver, BC) – Meralomas / New England Free Jacks (14 caps)
5. Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / SL Benfica (14 caps)
6. Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Chicago Hounds (21 caps)
7. Evan Olmstead (Vancouver, BC) – Lindfield Rugby Club / SU Agen (35 caps)
8. Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC (17 caps)
9. Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Cork Constitution (28 caps)
10. Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC (36 caps)
11. Noah Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Peñarol Rugby (12 caps)
12. Josh McIndoe (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / UVIC Vikes (1 cap)
13. Spencer Jones (Cambridge, NZ) – Hamilton Old Boys (15 caps)
14. Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC (5 caps)
15. Takoda McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia / Bayside RFC (6 caps)
FINISHERS
16. Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Seattle Seawolves (14 caps)
17. Sam Miller (Mount Denson, NS) – Valley Rugby Union / Benfica SL (5 caps)
18. Kyle Steeves (Winnipeg, MB) – Winnipeg Wombats / Hunter Wildfires (6 caps)
19. Daragh Doyle (Quebec City, QC) – Clontarf FC (0 caps)
20. Cody Nhanala (Ottawa, Ontario) – University of British Columbia (0 caps)
21. Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC (13 caps)
22. Liam James (Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia / UBCOB Ravens (0 caps)
23. Jacob Ince (Oakville, ON) – Guelph Gryphons / Taranaki Rugby (0 caps)
May God have mercy on the boys
What does the coach expect when he puts guys on the wing with little experience there – people better suited to play elsewhere. The Portugal backs were simply to fast, fluid and mobile for our crew – time to change the lineup, sit Nelson, keep McMullin, play Webb and James: What do we have to lose? Those guys will be needed at World Cup time and need playing experience.
McMullin played 60 or so minutes without recording a succesful tackle. In a game with revolving door first-up defence, having a Fullback not make a single hit is…not good? He won’t learn how to do that in five days. Zimbabwe is the lowest ranked of the three teams, why not give some other players a shot? Not sure James, Jr. got a touch on the ball in his HIA-assesment-aided first cap. Surely Ince can’t have worse defensive vision that what was on display in the first two games? Kirwan is a specialist winger…what’s the harm in giving him a look? Gallagher scored a try, but I counted several errant passes, under no pressure from the ruck, as well as three separate times where he whinged at the referee instead of securing the ball at the breakdown. Now that they’re out of Edmonton, and don’t have to rely on the dozens of friends family for the local boys filling out the spare crowds, could Stephen Webb add to his 90-seconds of time on the field from his first cap?
Things to ponder!!
For years Gallagher has spent too much time whining and his passing from the base is iffy at best.
Crappy tackling; just like last week kicking away possession; too many turnovers, dumb errors; and, and, and, and, yet again, like the last 10 odd years, bloody knock-ons!! Basic rugby handling skills amongst numerous others are still and seriously lacking.
In my eyes there was a lack of fitness. Guys huffing and puffing trying to keep up with the play and support players making a break. Lack of fitness also helps explain the dropped balls and handling errors.
This is exactly the result that was to be expected based on the state of rugby in Canada, and the lineup we roll out there.
We continue to have no business in this tourney.
Brother, if it wasn’t us, it would’ve been the Netherlands!! Wooden Shoes, Wooden Head, Wouldn’t Listen! Am I right????
IMO, Ardron is Canada’s best player at the moment. What the team has lacked from many years now, are past players the likes of Hadley, de Goode, Ennis, Cardinal, Snow, Jackart, Charron, Evans, MacKinnon, Radu, Svoboda, etc etc; guys that had a little 50 grit sandpaper in their makeup and a slight nasty streak. Don’t really see that anymore. Do these type of players not exist across the country, and if they do, have they gone into other sports e.g. football?
Need to start beating the bushes and look for athletic types in other sports, but if they’re any good they’ll probably chase the coin; which is understood. BUT, if we don’t find the gritty type of player, Canada will always be small potatoes on the world scene.
We have one of those guys in Callum Botchar. He’s a simple player, a scrum first and everything else is a bonus type of player. We need more of those type of players.
The problem, in my view, is that Rugby Canada has become too focused on producing university, white collar players and not focused enough on the meat and potatoes, get-the-job done trades type players who bring a hard edge to the game.
Right now, we’re a soft team, and our identity reflects that. We’re simply not good enough. The coaching has been poor, the administration has been shit, and ultimately it all shows on the field.
Who honestly thinks we can beat Zimbabwe?
Agreed, spot on! We need more of the ‘blue collar’, tough in the trenches type but who also possess some athletic skills. We used to have them.
RC need to get back and down to brass tacks and get off the gin and tonic circuit, find us some tougher types with a bit of an edge and a dash of flair. Perhaps in this day and age and availability of bodies, that’s too much to ask for.
If you look at teams like Georgia or Romania, some of their players look and play like quasi thugs. As it stands now, we don’t stand a chance to beat countries like that let alone the big boys.
Old Bays, its tough to recruit men with grit (like the old guard), when the young men today are out catching Pokemon and playing Warhammer.
Young men are being taught that that old masculinity is toxic.
We have generation of soft men coming up and it is very visible on the pitch when you compare current teams, to teams of 20 years ago. I am speaking specifically in Canada. Rugby in Europe and the Southern Hemisphere seems to still have tough men.
This is a super Low-T comment, brother. Stop watching videos on Rumble, and give your head a shake.
How is the T in this thought, found on Rumlbe…….maybe Rugby Canada attaching its wagon to Australia and Wales (2 other countries falling down the world rankings) was a bad idea.
Perhaps better wagons could have been chosen
Bingo, we are being let down, from the top down.
Ardron is our best player for a reason: he developed the majority of his senior rugby outside Canada, competing and training in environments where the standard is relentlessly high. There is a lot of chatter here about being tough, physical, and having an edge, yep good qualities, but they’re meaningless if you have the skill level of a potato and can’t consistently execute the basics under pressure. At the top level (which this is far from btw), players must be able to identify space, finish a simple 3-on-2, deliver accurate passes, make good decisions under pressure, and make their tackles. Nothing ground breaking. But… I’m not seeing that. If we want to produce more players like Ardron, we need more players competing overseas against elite opposition every week not thinking the BC prem is going to give us the personnel to do that. Toughness doesn’t separate international players from the rest. The ability to execute fundamental skills under pressure does. We just lost by 24 points to a nation that didn’t qualify for rugby world cup until 2007 and is now ranked 8 places above us in the world rankings…Portugal’s top talent is for the most part developed in France’s pro system. In their starting XV, players such as Marques (Carcassonne), Vareiro (Provence), Madeira (Perpignan), Storti (Stade Français), Pinto (Colomiers), and Torgal (Narbonne) are all playing in France with additional French-based players on the bench. Their best players are getting exposed to professional or semi-pro rugby environments every week.
Fair comment. I can buy into much of what you say.
What I said above has been my rant for at least the last 10 years; the Canadian team can’t do the basic skills well; as I mentioned, the constant knock-ons (many with no pressure) and in scoring position at times, other assorted turn overs under so-so pressure, lax tackling etc. It really drives one totally nuts! It might have been boring, but in my day we used to practice 3-2’s, passing both ways, etc ad nauseum.
So that begs the question, what’s the problem? Is there a lack of athleticism? When I played, my club mates plus those opposing us, excelled at a variety of sports.
Is the feeder system weak due to a lack of players?
Is there a lack of good coaches? Phys-ed teachers used to be players and coached the school kids and directed them to their club(s). Is this a passing trait?
In the past, Canada had many tough, skilled players that never got a sniff of overseas action. Do these types not exist any more? I appreciate that overseas is the best way to learn (under pressure, etc). But, I’m not seeing a whole lot of that in the cards.
A lot of the current crop play in the MLR; that doesn’t seem to have raised our levels a whole lot.
Just spit-ballin’ stuff here but RC has to figure something out because I see Canadian rugby at the international level being like a hamster spinning his cage wheel and staying at the world’s 20 something level.
There are several factors here:
1. Overall participation in rugby at public schools has dropped significantly since covid, at least in the Vancouver area. Previously schools like Lord Byng, Mcgee and others would have strong teams. Now it has consolidated to effectively Tupper and St. George’s which results in fewer opportunities for athletes to play, and be identified for higher level teams.
2. The barrier to entry for BC age grade teams and RC age grade teams is financially prohibitive. It costs significant money for players to participate, and without help from clubs and other means players are not able to play. Luke Prest from Cowichan started a Gofundme to play for BC and RC U20.
3. Coaching development in this country and province is negligible. Yes, there are NCCP L1/2 courses offered at times, however tactical and player development resources are non existent. This results in worse coaching, and worse player development.
4. The MLR just released their all-star teams. Of the three teams there are four Canadians included. Of the four, only Mason Flesch played against Spain. The other three are Lucas Rumball (away), Brock Webster (away), Callum Botchar (not selected). Tyler Ardron flew back to France. If the best players don’t want to play, then how can we be surprised at the result?
It is a nuanced problem with several different factors at play. Until there’s a comprehensive strategy to address the above we should not be surprised at seeing similar results in the future.
In the old days rugby in BC and Canada was amateur as it was round the world. Now a days rugby is professional everywhere except Canada. I also believe the player pool was much larger in BC and Canada in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s than it is now.
the lack of evolution to professional level play in Canada and an increasingly smaller playing pool are probably the two biggest factors as to why Canada is dropping in ranking at the international level of play.