RUGBY CANADA ANNOUNCES TEAM FOR IRISH TEST

Canada has named its team to face Ireland - the second of its four test match series in Europe this November.

After a tour opening 21-13 win over Portugal in Lisbon this past Saturday, Kieran Crowley and his coaching staff have zoned in on the mix they will need to handle a large and explosive Irish side who are playing their first test under the new Experimental Law Variations.

The last time Canada played Ireland was in 2000 in Toronto - a match that saw Ireland escape with a 27-27 draw on the power of then rookie fly-half Ronan O’Gara. Canada and Ireland have only played three times at the test level - the other two victories over the Canadians. A 1987 World Cup pool victory 46-19 and then a 33-11 win ten years later at Lansdowne Road.

With a mind to bring a challenge to the Irish at Thomond Park on Saturday the arrival of a number of Canada’s pro players from the UK and France - has bolstered the side with physicality and experience.

The front row is heavy with experience with Glasgow Warriors prop Kevin Tkachuk in for his 41st cap, while hooker Pat Riordan is in for his 18th start of his career and will captain the side. In at tight-head is veteran Jon Thiel - who scrums down for his 34th test appearance. Most recently Thiel played for a Canada squad against the French Barbarians this past June.

In the second row the big men of the Canadian forwards unit are getting the call with Cornish Pirate Mike Burak getting his 22nd cap, and Begles Bordeaux lock Josh Jackson winning his 19th start.

In the back row Plymouth Albion’s Sean Michael Stephen will look to wreak havoc on the Irish from the blind side flanker position - his 12th start in a Canada jersey at the test level. He will work with the highly mobile Adam Kleeberger who hits his 10th start.

At No. 8 - Brantford’s Aaron Carpenter continues to impress after a busy afternoon against the Portuguese.  He will be making his 19th start for Canada.

Pirates scrum-half Ed Fairhurst takes the no. 9 jersey from its interim holder - the newly un-retired Morgan Williams, who had a solid 80 minutes against Los Lobos. Fairhurst will combine with Colorno’s Ander Monro - who came out of the game against Portugal with a lower leg strain but is now fully on mended. It is Monro’s 9th Canada appearance.

In the centre’s Ryan Smith will play in his 39th test - the most in the Canadian backline. Simth will partner with Bryn Keys who win his third cap.

On the wing the lanky and fast Justin Mensah Coker will make his for his 11th start. On the opposite wing Newfoundland’s Ciarn Hearn wins his first start - making his progression in the 2008 remarkable with his debut in sevens - and his ascension for the Canada East squad in the North America Four.

The replacements bench offers a variety of cover - with 12 times capped Mike Pletch covering either a prop or hooker requirement, while uncapped Frank Walsh of Newfoundland is looking to be the second new cap of the day and third in a week from that eastern province after flanker Andrew Fagan started against Portugal last Saturday. Tyler Hotson will provide second row cover, while Jebb Sinclair of Fredericton, New Brunswick, will look to add another test appearance to his resume after covering two replacements last week against Los Lobos. He replaced Fagan for a blood substitution, setting up Adam Kleeberger for a try during his ten minutes on the pitch, and then replaced Stu Ault in the second row with twenty minutes to go.

Morgan Williams will be the cover at scrum-half - looking to get his cap count to an impressive 53. Uncapped Matt Evans - a 20 year old fly-half who plays at England’s Hartpury College, impressed in a Canada A selection against Gloucester RFC this past August. Coverage for the wing comes in the form of Phil Mackenzie - who won his first international cap last weekend against Portugal.

In naming the side Coach Kieran Crowley understands the significance of this autumn test series and how it will test a team that he has been molding for only eight months. The former Taranki coach and coach of the World Champion U19 New Zealand team in 2007 has been slowly crafting this team together - and says despite having to bring some new faces into the second week of the camp, it has been a relatively seamless process.

“The new guys have been great - getting stuck right in - and understanding what we are trying to achieve,” said Crowley from the team’s hotel in Limerick, Ireland. “It is a big test of this team - that is why they are called tests - and we have to see if the systems we are putting in place will stand up to what Ireland has to offer.”

He has enjoyed how close the team has grown since it has arrived in Portugal over a week ago. Team culture is a big part of any side he has been involved with - and he uses a variety of ways to impart that bonding which he feels is essential to the long term goals he has for Canada as preparations begin for the 2011 World Cup in his native New Zealand.

“You need to care about the people you play with on a rugby field, and feel that need to be there for each other,” Crowley said. “It’s not enough to just turn up and put the jersey on, you have to believe in the guys in that locker room - and know they will be there for you when things get tough. These guys aren’t there yet - but I sense they are getting close.”

Canada plays Ireland at Thomond Park - this Saturday - 5:15 local start - 12:15 EST - 9 :15 PST. The match is available on Setanta Sports Premium service (check local establishments in your area - or via Setanta Broadband or the Rugby Zone on Mediazone.com .

Canada XV to face Ireland
15. James Pritchard (Bedford Blues)
14. Ciaran Hearn (Castaway Wanderers)
13. Bryn Keys (Velox Valhallians)
12. Ryan Smith (Calgary Irish)
11. Justin Mensah-Coker (Plymouth Albion)
10. Ander Monro (Colorno, Italy)
9. Ed Fairhurst (Cornish Pirates)
8. Aaron Carpenter (Brantford Harlequins)
7. Adam Kleeberger (University of Victoria Vikings)
6. Sean Michael Stephen (Plymouth Albion)
5. Josh Jackson (Bordeaux Begles)
4. Mike Burak (Cornish Pirates)
3. Jon Thiel (Bayside Sharks)
2. Pat Riordan (University of Victoria Vikings)
1. Kevin Tkachuk (Glasgow Warriors)

Replacements:
16. Mike Pletch (Velox Valhallians) 17. Frank Walsh (Vandals RFC) 18. Tyler Hotson (Eastern Suburbs,(Aus) 19. Jebb Sinclair (Castaway Wanderers) 20. Morgan Williams (James Bay Athletic Association) 21. Matt Evans (Hartpury College) 22. Phil Mackenzie (University of Victoria Vikings)

Coach: Kieran Crowley
Asst Coach: John Tait
Forwards Coach: Kevin Wirachowski
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Tyler Goodale
Managers: Rodger Swany, Des Lynch
Press Officer: Doug Crosse
Massage Therapist: Sandra Bosich
Physiotherapists: Carrie Smith, Darren Wharrie
Team Doctor: Dr. John Ho
Video Analyst: Peter Huigenbos

Tags: Ireland, Rugby Canada