Canada names team for Fiji rugby match in last outing before Rugby World Cup

Coach Kieran Crowley (Wikipedia photo)

LONDON – Coach Kieran Crowley, continuing to use his entire squad in advance of the Rugby World Cup, has made 13 changes for Canada’s final tournament warmup game against Fiji on Sunday.

Captain Jamie Cudmore, in the second row, and winger Phil Mackenzie are the only holdovers from the team that beat 13th-ranked Georgia 16-15 on Wednesday.

Fiji is ranked ninth in the world, compared to No. 18 for Canada.

“Fiji is our last game before the World Cup so some other players will get an opportunity,” Crowley said in a statement. “We just need to keep building on our performances from the last couple of games.”

Canada has had a busy schedule of late, defeating the Glasgow Warriors 19-12 last Saturday in Halifax before flying to England.

The Canadian men open the World Cup on Sept. 19 against No. 2 Ireland in Cardiff.

Jason Marshall, in his first appearance after an injury layoff, joins Hubert Buydens and hooker Benoit Piffero in the front row against the Pacific Islanders.

Cudmore starts alongside Evan Olmstead at lock with Kyle Gilmour, Nanyak Dala and Richard Thorpe in the back row.

Gordon McRorie starts at scrum half with Liam Underwood at fly half. Mackenzie and DTH Van Der Merwe play on the wings with Connor Braid and Conor Trainor at centre and Harry Jones at fullback.

Jake Ilnicki, originally named as a non-travelling reserve, features on the bench to help cover injuries in the front row.

Canada is 3-7 all-time against Fiji.

Canada

Hubert Buydens, Castaway Wanderers, Saskatoon; Benoit Piffero, Atlantic Rock, Montreal; Jason Marshall, Agen (France), North Vancouver; Evan Olmstead, Parramatta Two Blues (Australia), Vancouver; Jamie Cudmore (capt.), Clermont Auvergne (France), Squamish, B.C.; Kyle Gilmour, Rotherham Titans (England), St. Albert, Alta.; Nanyak Dala, Castaway Wanderers, Saskatoon; Richard Thorpe, London Welsh (England), Beckenham, England; Gordon McRorie, Calgary Hornets, Calgary; Liam Underwood, Balmy Beach RFC, Toronto; Phil Mackenzie, Sale Sharks (England), Oakville, Ont.; Connor Braid, B.C. Bears), Victoria; Conor Trainor, UBCOB Ravens, Vancouver; DTH van der Merwe, Scarlets (Wales), Victoria; Harry Jones, Capilano RFC, North Vancouver.

Reserves

Djustice Sears-Duru, Oakville Crusaders, Oakville, Ont.; Aaron Carpenter, Cornish Pirates (England), Brantford, Ont.; Jake Ilnicki, Castaway Wanderers, Williams Lake, B.C.; Jebb Sinclair, London Irish, (England), Fredericton; John Moonlight, James Bay AA, Pickering, Ont.; Phil Mack, James Bay AA, Victoria; Ciaran Hearn, Castaway Wanderers, Conception Bay, N.L.; Nick Blevins, Calgary Hornets, Calgary.