RUGBY CANADA MAKE TWO CHANGES IN TEAM TO FACE WALES

Canada has named its team to face Wales on Friday night at Millennium Stadium - and it features only two changes from last Saturday’s 55-0 to Ireland.

Jebb Sinclair makes his first full start in a Canadian jersey after winning two caps off the bench in Portugal and Ireland. In the second row Mike Burak moves to the replacements bench in favour of Tyler Hotson, who came on against Ireland in the second half.

The rest of the Canadian lineup stays intact, though coach Kieran Crowley will be looking for an improvement over last Saturday’s outing.

“I think against Ireland we were on our back foot from nearly the beginning,” said Crowley - who indicated the officiating was frustrating for his young team in the first half, though he was quick to add, “it certainly wasn’t the cause of we played ultimately.”

Crowley says that the work rate displayed by Sinclair and Hotson following their insertion into the game against the Irish was the leading factor in making the changes.

There is also one change on the bench - as Dean Van Camp replaces Phil Mackenzie.

Wales have named a side with twelve changes from the team that lost to South Africa last weekend - but is positioning for a big game next weekend against New Zealand. Canada opened its European tour with a victory over Portugal 21-13 on November 1st, before falling to Ireland 55-0 in Limerick. It will finish its tour in Aberdeen, taking on Scotland.

Canada XV to face Wales
15. James Pritchard (Bedford RFC) 14. Ciaran Hearn (Baymen RFC) 13. Bryn Keys (Velox Valhallians) 12. Ryan Smith (Calgary Irish) 11. Justin Mensah-Coker (Plymouth Albion) 10. Ander Monro (Colorno, IT) 9. Ed Fairhurst (Cornish Pirates) 8. Aaron Carpenter (Brantford Harlequins) 7. Adam Kleeberger (University of Victoria Vikings) 6. Jebb Sinclair (Castaway Wanderers) 5. Josh Jackson (Stade Bordelais) 4. Tyler Hotson (Northern Suburbs) 3. Jon Thiel (Bayside Sharks) 2. Pat Riordan (c) (University of Victoria Vikings) 1.Kevin Tkachuk (Glasgow Warriors)

Replacements: 16. Mike Pletch (Velox Valhallians) 17. Frank Walsh (Vandals RFC) 18. Mike Burak (Cornish Pirates) 19. Sean Michael Stephen (Plymouth Albion) 20. Morgan Williams (James Bay Athletic Association) 21. Matt Evans (Hartpury College) 22. Dean Van Camp (Velox Valhallians)

Coach: Kieran Crowley
Asst Coach: John Tait
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Tyler Goodale
Managers: Rodger Swany, Des Lynch
Press Officer: Doug Crosse
Massage Therapist: Kim Mark Goldsworthy
Physiotherapists: Ben Suen, Darren Wharrie
Team Doctor: Dr. Lemoine
Video Analyst: Peter Huigenbos

Tags: Rugby Canada, Wales