Full Match – Canada vs Uruguay 2001

Canada’s second match of the 2001 Pan Am Championship was against Uruguay at Mohawk Sports Park in Hamilton, Ontario. It was a Wednesday evening match played on May 23, just four days after the Canadians had beaten the USA in Kingston. The Maple Leafs would face Argentina just three days later in Markham with Los Teros to play the USA.

David Clark opted to rest most of his top players and fielded an inexperienced side that contained five new caps. Front rowers Dale Burleigh and Boris Stoikos, second row Ron Johnstone, and scrumhalf Marco Di Girolamo were in the starting lineup. Colin Yukes made his debut as a replacement lock.

Duane Major was making just his second test start at loosehead prop with flanker Jeff Tomlinson getting his first start five years after his test debut. Al Charron led the young side with regulars Mike Schmid, Bob Ross, Kyle Nichols, and Scott Stewart also adding vital experience.

Los Teros were also fielding a more experienced side but were also short of full strength having lost by only 5 points to Argentina in their first game. Scrumhalf Agustín Urrestarazu was making his debut with second row Fernando Auespberg winning his second cap.

Uruguay’s bench numbered only six players due to injuries and a late change saw flanker Nicolás Grille taking the spot of center Joaquín de Freitas, leaving Martín Mendaro as the only backs replacement. All six subs would be used while Canada would employ four of their seven subs.

CANADA
1 Duane Major, 2 Dale Burleigh, 3 Boris Stoikos, 4 Ed Knaggs, 5 Ron Johnstone, 6 Al Charron (capt.), 7 Jeff Tomlinson, 8 Mike Schmid, 9 Marco Di Girolamo, 10 Bob Ross, 11 Jeff Williams, 12 Kyle Nichols, 13 Colin Robertson, 14 Fred Asselin, 15 Scott Stewart

Replacements: 16 Pat Dunkley, 17 Kevin Wirachowski, 18 Colin Yukes, 19 John Tait, 20 Ryan Banks, 21 Ed Fairhurst, 22 Mark Irvine

URUGUAY
1 Eduardo Berruti, 2 Diego Lamelas, 3 Guillermo Storace, 4 Agustín Ponce de Leon, 5 Fernando Auespberg, 6 Nicolás Brignoni, 7 Sebastián Mosquera, 8 Juan Carlos Bado, 9 Agustín Urrestarazu, 10 Bernardo Amarillo, 11 Emiliano Ibarra, 12 Hilario Canessa, 13 Pedro Vecino (capt.), 14 Bernardo Sáenz, 15 Juan Menchaca

Replacements: 16 Francisco de los Santos, 17 Rodrigo Sánchez, 18 Juan Machado, 19 Juan Alzueta, 20 Nicolás Grille, 21 Martín Mendaro

Referee: Santiago Borsani (Argentina)
Assistants: Ian Hyde-Lay (Canada) & Steve Scott (Canada)

Attendance: 1,200