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Canada has opted for three changes to their starting lineup to face Chile in the fifth and final round of the Americas Rugby Championship this Saturday. Currently in 3rd spot on the tournament table, a bonus-point win in Santiago could elevate the team to 2nd spot depending on the result of the match in Montevideo between Uruguay and the USA. The match will also be the last with Interim Head Coach François Ratier at the helm, with Rugby Canada set to name a permanent replacement for Kieran Crowley ahead of the June test series.
Paul Ciulini has answered an SOS and moves straight into the second row after missing Sunday’s game in Rosario. Kyle Baillie moves to the blindside flank for his first official test start after playing lock against the Argentina XV, and Cam Pierce wins the same honour partnering Ciulini at lock. Lucas Rumball moves around to make his first appearance at no8, with Clay Panga now on the bench.
A late scratch from Sunday’s game, Gordon McRorie is fit to resume duties at scrumhalf, with the in-form Andrew Ferguson settling for a reserve spot. The only other change in the backline sees Truro, Nova Scotia, native Brett Johnson awarded his first test start in place of Duncan Maguire on the left wing.
Canada has faced Los Cóndores on two previous occasions, both coming in 2002 during the qualification rounds for the 2003 World Cup. Chile came up short in both meetings, losing by scores of 27-6 in Calgary and 29-11 in Santiago.
The match kicks off at 7pm local time, 5pm EST, with streaming details to be confirmed.
CANADA vs Chile
1 Hubert Buydens (capt.) 2 Ray Barkwill 3 Djustice Sears-Duru 4 Paul Ciulini 5 Cameron Pierce 6 Kyle Baillie 7 Alistair Clark 8 Lucas Rumball 9 Gordon McRorie 10 Patrick Parfrey 11 Brett Johnson 12 Nick Blevins 13 Phil Mackenzie 14 Dan Moor 15 Brock Staller
16 Eric Howard 17 Rob Brouwer 18 Ryan Kotlewski 19 Clay Panga 20 Mike Hamson 21 Andrew Ferguson 22 Gradyn Bowd 23 Duncan Maguire
