New-look Canada to face Samoa

Kieran Crowley has made wholesale changes to the Canadian side that lost to Tonga in Burnaby on Friday, retaining only three of the starting side that will face Samoa. John Moonlight, Matt Evans, and captain Tyler Ardron are the only survivors as the tournament heads to Toronto on Wednesday evening.

Djustice Sears-Duru makes his run-on debut at loosehead prop alongside familiar Ontario Blues teammates Ray Barkwill and Doug Wooldridge. Tyler Hotson is recalled at lock, where he partners new cap Evan Olmstead. Kyle Gilmour starts on the blindside in place of Richard Thorpe, the latter one of five forwards included on the bench.

Sevens experts Phil Mack and Nathan Hirayama will start together in a test match for only the second time, and will have a new midfield outside them in Nick Blevins and Conor Trainor. Matt Evans moves to the left wing, allowing for veteran fullback James Pritchard to win his 60th cap, while Phil Mackenzie starts on the right.

Canada have never beaten Samoa, having played the Manu four times since 1999. Their last meeting was in November of last year, a 23-13 loss in Vannes.

CANADA
1 Djustice Sears-Duru 2 Ray Barkwill 3 Doug Wooldridge 4 Tyler Hotson 5 Evan Olmstead 6 Kyle Gilmour 7 John Moonlight 8 Tyler Ardron (capt.) 9 Phil Mack 10 Nathan Hirayama 11 Matt Evans 12 Nick Blevins 13 Conor Trainor 14 Phil Mackenzie 15 James Pritchard

16 Benoît Pifféro 17 Hubert Buydens 18 Andrew Tiedemann 19 Callum Morrison 20 Thyssen de Goede 21 Richard Thorpe 22 Gordon McRorie 23 Harry Jones