Team of the Week

What a difference a week makes! Canada improve dramatically and finally get a win, the Eagles started strong but faded badly in the second half, and Los Teros were just awful. It’s an all-Canadian backline with only a few others putting their name in the hat in our select XV.

1 – Djustice Sears-Duru (CAN) Not a perfect outing, but a good day for a massive talent. Put in two bone-crunching tackles and never came second best in the contact area. Putting real pressure on Hubert Buydens for a starting role.

2 – Zach Fenoglio (USA) Came on as a reserve for the Eagles and made a solid impact with his throwing and steady carrying. Hard to see Phil Thiel overtaking him for the World Cup now.

3 – Olive Kilifi (USA) Who expected that from the much-maligned Seattle prop? Has shed a good 12-13 kg since we last saw him and it showed, with some rampaging carries in an impressive performance.

4 – Cameron Dolan (USA) Continues to show his class and value even as a second row. Prominent in attack and defense, you have to wonder why Saints never gave him a chance.

5 – Jamie Cudmore (CAN) Stand-in captain was welcomed back to the lineup with thunderous applause. Only forty minutes but scored a try and reminded us why he’s so important to the Canadian team.

6 – Kyle Gilmour (CAN) Part of a mobile and aggressive loose forward trio for the Canucks. Put in a couple positive tackles and a presence in the lineout.

7 – Nanyak Dala (CAN) Redeemed himself after a poor outing against the Eagles in Ottawa. Harassed the Glasgow receivers, made numerous tackles, and his huge break up the middle set up the winning try.

8 – Richard Thorpe (CAN) Solid workmanlike match from the London Welsh veteran. Does all the little things and very rarely makes a mistake.

9 – Agustín Ormaechea (URU) Received a yellow card for a careless tackle off the ball early on, but redeemed himself with strong play from the base afterwards. A shame the rest of his team decided to take the night off completely…

10 – AJ MacGinty (USA) A few blips but the break to put Thretton Palamo was pure class, and a couple of those kicks were enormous. The Eagles are a different side with him in the lineup.

11 – DTH van der Merwe (CAN) Couldn’t have asked for a better day against his old teammates. Ran and tackled his lungs out, and his try was the icing on the cake.

12 – Connor Braid (CAN) A man-of-the-match performance for another who played against his old club. Excellent defense and a few line breaks to cement his spot in the midfield. Palamo had a tremendous first half for USA and just misses out.

13 – Ciaran Hearn (CAN) Solid defensive effort from the big Newfoundlander, his support line also played a key role in the Evans try. Looks odds-on favourite to start in the midfield during the tournament.

14 – Jeff Hassler (CAN) Leandro Leivas had some strong carries for Los Teros, but Hassler showed his class again in Halifax, particularly in defense with a couple smashing hits and one try-saver.

15 – Matt Evans (CAN) A big match for the Cornish Pirates standout. Scored a try and his quick hands put van der Merwe into the corner. Quickly becoming a key player in the Canadian backline.