Canada XV Defeat Vancouver Highlanders 38-23: Match Video
Canada went ahead 26-6 at the half behind a dominant scrum. They pushed the lead to 38-9 after 60 minutes before the Highlanders kicked into gear for the final 20 minutes, scoring two tries for a final 38-23 scoreline.
Canada’s starting front row of Conor Young, Dewald Kotze and Cali Martinez set the tone for the match with a dominating performance against their Highlander counterparts. Canada started their first string which included the loose forward trio of Mason Flesch, Ethan Fryer and Lucas Rumball. In the backs Andrew Coe and Jason Higgins were standouts.
For the Highlanders Joe Locke at openside flanker was a standout and Melani Nanai at outside centre put in a strong performance as he has all season. Sion Griffiths subbed into the backline and had an impact scoring two tries in the last 20 minutes.
3’ – CAN try – Andrew Coe (Peter Nelson convert) – 7-0 CAN
13’ – VAN penalty – Mike Moloney – 7-3 CAN
17’ – CAN try – Lucas Rumball (Peter Nelson convert) – 14-3 CAN
20’ – CAN try – Rhys James (Peter Nelson convert) – 21-3 CAN
25’ – VAN penalty – Mike Moloney – 21-6 CAN
30’ – CAN try – Jason Higgins – 26-6 CAN
44’ – CAN try – Cooper Coats – 31-6
47’ – VAN penalty – Mike Moloney – 31-9
63’ – CAN try – Josiah Morra (Cooper Coats convert) – 38-9
68’ – VAN try – Sion Griffiths (Nick Blain convert) – 38-16
77’ – VAN try – Sion Griffiths (Nick Blain convert) – 38-23
Match Video
Highlanders Announce Roster for Canada XV Match on Saturday
There are only a few changes to the Highlanders starting XV from the team that defeated a Brazil XV two weeks ago. Kaden Duguid has moved to the Canada XV side and is replaced by Reid Davis in the second row. In the front row Cole Kelly moves from tighthead to loosehead prop and Payton Teneycke comes off the bench to start at tighthead.
The Canada XV side hasn’t been announced at the time of writing but the McMullin brothers, Callum Botchar and Matt Klimchuk are other Highlanders who may suit up for the Canada XV side.
One surprise is the absence of Josh and Jake Thiel from the Highlanders side. James Biss gets the start at #10 as he did against Brazil but this time there isn’t a dedicated #10 backup on the bench, in a pinch both Guiseppe du Toit and Mike Moloney have experience at flyhalf.
On the bench there are a few returning names, Don Carson, Ollie Nott, Sion Griffiths return after missing the Brazil match.
Kickoff is at 3:45 pm on Saturday at Klahanie Park, we’ll post the Canada XV roster when it’s made available.
Highlanders Roster (vs Brazil / vs Canada XV)
1 Conor O’Flaherty / Cole Kelly
2 Jacob Bossi
3 Cole Kelly / Payton Teneycke
4 Karl Hunger
5 Kaden Duguid / Reid Davis
6 Sabu Shubitidze
7 Joe Locke
8 Relmu Wilson-Valdes
9 Reid Watkins
10 James Biss
11 Nico Leonard
12 Guiseppe du Toit
13 Melani Nanai
14 D’Shawn Bowen
15 Mike Moloney
16 Conall Henchy
17 Theo Espagnol
18 Payton Teneycke / Conor O’Flaherty
19 Caden Wilson
20 Callum Botchar / Thomas Davidson
21 Thomas Davidson / Don Carson
22 Alastair Marshall / Ollie Nott
23 Josh Thiel / Alastair Marshall
24 Nick Blain / Sam Reimer
25 Noah Bain / Nick Blain
26 Sam Reimer / Sion Griffiths
27 Noah Bain
Canada Roster
