Canada Lose to Spain 57-34: Questions Renew on Program Leadership Changes
It wasn’t pretty and the result renewed questions on when Canada are going to make changes to the leadership of the men’s program. The team look demoralized and the intensity of a test match was missing, especially in the first 40 when Canada absorbed a 40-13 pounding.
One of the fan comments on the Rugby Canada facebook page summed it up: “Absolute disaster of a game. What the hell is going on in defence!? Couldnt come up any slower if they tried, follow thru at speed boys for Christ Sakes and stop walking around the breakdowns.. Communication looks non existent and pick up the bloody pace and show some energy. Your playing international rugby not a regular Saturday club game which I will say I seen much better effort. And throw in some dam counter rucks, very poor display and not the Canada come to know over the years!”
Even from the opening kickoff it was noticeable how much time and space Spain were afforded. It even looked as if it surprised the Spanish players at the beginning before they realized this was the opposition on the day and they took full advantage of that to run in six tries. Canada responded with two penalties and a try for Lindsey Stevens.
Spain ran in three more tries in the first 20 minutes of the second half, Canada answered with a try by Lucas Rumball. It was 57-20 at 60 minutes. Canada brought on the subs and were able to close out with two tries in the last 10 minutes with Kainoa Lloyd notching one on a strong individual effort and then the forwards crossing the line on a lineout and maul.
That’s the end of the summer tests for Canada. The men’s XVs program is in a low spot, missing out on the World Cup for the first time in history and not even making the repechage tournament this time. The leadership at Rugby Canada seem unconcerned, they’ve hired a new CEO whose first job is to decide where he wants to live, there’s no indication he’s even waded into the rugby issues Canada are facing.
Meanwhile USA and Chile are vying for the Americas #2 spot at the World Cup, USA narrowly defeated Chile 22-21 yesterday with the return match set for next weekend in Glendale, Colorado. The losing team will go to the repechage tournament.
*Canada Names Team to Face Spain: Josh Larsen and Tyler Rowland Out Due to Injury*
Kingsley Jones has made a few changes, some based on injury. Josh Larsen is injured so Corey Thomas is moved from #8 to lock. Luke Campbell comes off the bench to start at #8. Cole Keith comes back into the starting loosehead position with Djustice Sears-Duru moving to the bench. Tyler Rowland is listed as unavailable due to injury. Liam Murray continues as reserve tighthead and Lindsey Stevens as reserve hooker.
Michael Smith is moved to the bench and Matt Oworu gets the start at blindside flanker. Lucas Rumball is moved from blindside to openside flanker.
The scrum half position is rotated with Braude moving to the starting role and Higgins to the bench. The backline from 10 to 15 remains the same. Fatoric and Bowd remain the backline reserves.
The one surprise is the insertion of Oxford University second row, Piers von Dadelszen, directly into the match 23. He wasn’t originally mentioned in the 30 player list. A number of players who were on that original list won’t see game time, Donald Carson, Doug Fraser, Callum Botchar, Jack McRogers, Isaac Olson, Rob Povey.
The match kicks off on Sunday at 1pm PT, viewing is on TSN 1.
from Rugby Canada
As rugby returns to the nations capital and preparations continue for Canadas Senior Mens 15s clash with Spain, Head Coach Kingsley Jones has confirmed his match day roster for this weekends test match, presented by DHL.
?In what will be the first international test match to be hosted at TD Place in Ottawa, ON, Canada takes on No. 15-ranked Spain on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, 1:00 p.m. Pacific. Fans can buy tickets for the match now by clicking here.
Following last weekends resounding 45-0 victory over Belgium at the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, NS, Jones has made several changes to his lineup. In for the first start of his career is crossover athlete with Canadas Senior Mens Sevens program, Matthew Oworu, also of Rugby Canadas Academy Pacific Pride, who came on as a second-half replacement against Belgium to earn his first cap.
Meanwhile, prop Cole Keith comes into the pack, as does Luke Campbell at No. 8 with Corey Thomas moving into the second row. Ross Braude starts at scrum half, while Conor Keys will take to the field just a few miles from his hometown, Stittsville, ON. Lucas Rumball will captain the side. Tyler Rowland and Josh Larsen are unavailable for selection due to injury.
This weekends match against Spain marks the culmination of our two-week camp and we expect it to be a very competitive, hard-fought contest, said Jones. They are ranked No. 15 in the world and our aim is to get back in the top 20, so this is an opportunity for us to test ourselves against an extremely competent opponent.
He added: Weve prepared well this week and with the support of the home Ottawa crowd behind us, were going into the game with confidence that we can perform and get the result were after, which would secure us crucial world ranking points.
WHERE TO WATCH
Fans in Canada can watch Canadas Senior Mens 15s team take on Spain LIVE on TSN 1, TSN.ca and the TSN App.
CANADAS SENIOR MENS 15s MATCH DAY ROSTER vs SPAIN
1. Cole Keith (Apohaqui, NB) Belleisle Rovers
2. Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) Aurora Barbarians
3. Jake Ilnicki (Williams Lake, BC) Old Glory FC
4. Corey Thomas (Broome, Australia) LA Giltinis
5. Conor Keys (Stittsville, ON) Barrhaven Scottish
6. Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) Pacific Pride
7. Lucas Rumball (Markham, ON) Toronto Arrows
8. Luke Campbell (Victoria, BC) Old Glory FC
9. Ross Braude (Pretoria, South Africa) Toronto Arrows
10. Peter Nelson (Dungannon, UK) Aurillac
11. Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga, ON) San Diego Legion
12. Quinn Ngawati (Victoria, BC) Rugby United New York
13. Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) LA Giltinis
14. Brock Webster (Uxbridge, ON) Oshawa Vikings
15. Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) Halifax Tars
REPLACEMENTS
16. Lindsey Stevens (Sydney, Australia) – LA Giltinis
17. Liam Murray (Langley, BC) – Dallas Jackals
18. Djustice Sears-Duru (Oakville, ON) LA Giltinis
19. Piers von Dadelszen (Vancouver, BC) Oxford University
20. Michael Smith (White Rock, BC) San Diego Legion
21. Jason Higgins (Cork, Ireland) San Diego Legion
22. Dawson Fatoric (Ottawa, ON) Pacific Pride
23. Gradyn Bowd (Red Deer, AB) Castaway Wanderers
*Canada v Spain Look Ahead: Canada 2-0 Historical Record vs Spain*
Canada have never hosted Spain, they have played them twice, both times in Madrid. Canada won the most recent match in 2017, 37-27. At the time Canada were ranked 23rd and Spain were ranked 20th. The only other match was in 2010, when Canada won 60-22. At that time Canada were ranked 14th and Spain were ranked 23rd.
This weekend Spain are ranked 15th and Canada are ranked 21st. The players who could possibly be in this weekend’s roster, who were also in the 2017 match, are Josh Larsen, Djustice Sears-Duru, Cole Keith and Kainoa Lloyd.
The match kicks off at 1pm PT on Sunday and is live on TSN 1. The 33 man travelling roster for Spain is listed below (wiki).
November 18 2017
Canada 37 – Spain 27 in Madrid
Josh Larsen starting second row, Djustice Sears-Duru, Cole Keith reserve props, Kainoa Lloyd reserve back
Canada were ranked 23, Spain were ranked 20
November 13 2010
Canada 60 – Spain 22 in Madrid
Canada were ranked 14th, Spain were ranked 23
Spain 33 Man Travelling Roster [edited July 6th 2022]
Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Vicente del Hoyo Hooker 15 February 1996 (age 26) 16 Spain Ciencias Sevilla
Santiago Ovejero Hooker 11 December 1997 (age 24) 8 Spain Alcobendas
Bittor Aboitiz Prop 5 October 1988 (age 33) 7 France La Seyne
Thierry Futeu Prop 23 June 1995 (age 27) 17 France Carcassonne
Fernando López (c) Prop 14 March 1986 (age 36) 60 France Berre
Lucas Santamaría Prop 28 April 2001 (age 21) 0 France Saint Jean de Luz
Jon Zabala Prop 27 November 1996 (age 25) 22 France Béziers
Gorbei Allende Lock 10 April 2001 (age 21) 0 France Biarritz
Manuel Mora Lock 8 March 1985 (age 37) 35 Spain Ciencias Sevilla
Víctor Sánchez Lock 20 June 1987 (age 35) 34 Spain Castilla y León Iberians
Alejandro Suárez Lock 12 December 1995 (age 26) 0 Spain La Vila
Imanol Urraza Lock 5 April 2002 (age 20) 0 Spain Barcelona
Ekain Imaz Lock (BR) 7 December 2002 (age 19) 0 France Biarritz
Héctor Matamoros Lock (BR) 26 March 2002 (age 20) 0 Unattached
Matthew Foulds Back row 27 April 1991 (age 31) 19 England Tonbridge Juddians
Michael Hogg Back row 10 July 1994 (age 27) 10 Spain Barcelona
Ignacio Piñeiro Back row 4 January 2003 (age 19) 0 Unattached
Marc Sánchez Back row 21 August 1999 (age 22) 0 Spain Castilla y León Iberians
Afaese Tauli Back row 29 April 1990 (age 32) 20 Spain Santboiana
Ike Irusta Scrum-half 13 January 2001 (age 21) 0 Spain Cisneros
Facundo Munilla Scrum-half 16 May 1995 (age 27) 26 Spain Castilla y León Iberians
Tomás Munilla Scrum-half 3 August 1998 (age 23) 15 France Béziers
Bautista Güemes Fly-half 12 May 1990 (age 32) 11 Spain Barcelona
Manuel Ordas Fly-half 21 February 1998 (age 24) 9 Unattached
Gonzalo Vinuesa Fly-half 15 May 2001 (age 21) 5 Spain Cisneros
Alejandro Alonso Centre 21 July 1998 (age 23) 3 Spain Castilla y León Iberians
Daniel Barranco Centre 12 January 1999 (age 23) 1 Spain Barcelona
Álvar Gimeno Centre 15 December 1997 (age 24) 31 Spain Castilla y León Iberians
Jordi Jorba Wing 8 May 1997 (age 25) 34 Spain Ciencias Sevilla
Gauthier Minguillon Wing 3 March 1994 (age 28) 16 France Aurillac
John-Wessell Bell Fullback 18 January 1990 (age 32) 7 Spain Castilla y León Iberians
Alberto Carmona Fullback 11 May 2004 (age 18) 0 France Toulon
Iñaki Mateu Fullback 17 March 1997 (age 25) 4 Italy Viadana
Pedro de la Lastra (VRAC / Iberians)