Canada in Madrid
Canada play the second match of their European tour when they meet Spain in Madrid on Saturday.
In their first match Canada beat Belgium 43-12 in Brussels, not a great result for perennial World Cup qualifiers against a team in what amounts to Europe’s third division.
The Canadian side to play Spain is dtronger than the one that played Belgium as players playing professionally in Europe have become available.
Prop Dan Pletch, locks Josh Jackson and Tyler Hotson and No.8 Aaron Carpenter come into the pack. This week Ander Monro starts at flyhalf while Phil Mackenzie and DTH van der Merwe, who plays on the wing for Glasgow Warriors and scores many tries, come into the centre. Points’ machine James Pritchard is at fullback and Ciaran Hearn on the wing.
Jamie Cudmore is still not available because of suspension.
Canada should not find Spain difficult. They won only one match in the Six Nations B, which was a vehicle for qualification for the World Cup. Spain qualified in 1999 but not again whereas Canada carry on qualifying. Canada would expect to be too big and strong up front for the largely amateur Leones and too fast behind.
Spain have three uncapped players – Bruno Angulo, Pierre Belzunce and Baptiste Sanchez.
Teams
Spain: 15 Ignacio Gutiérrez Muller, 14 Pierre Belzunce, 13 Martín Heredia, 12 Bruno Angulo, 11 Baptiste Sanchez, 10 Mathieu Gratton, 9 Santiago Fernández, 8 Federico Negrillo, 7 Gautier Gibouin, 6 Martín Aceña (captain), 5 Damien Elgoyhen, 4 Jesús Recuerda, 3 Jesús Moreno, 2 Mathieu Cidré, 1 Anthony Pradalie.
Replacements: 16 Sylvain González, 17 Rodrigo Martínez, 18 Mattin Auzqui, 19 David Barrera, 20 Matthew Cook, 21 Sebastien Rouet, 22 Diego Alvarez
Canada: 15 James Pritchard (Bedford Blues), 14 Taylor Paris (Ontario Blues), 13 DTH van der Merwe (Glasgow Warriors), 12 Phillip Mackenzie (Esher RFC), 11 Ciaran Hearn (The Rock), 10 Ander Monro (Ontario Blues), 9 Sean White (BC Bears),
8 Aaron Carpenter (Plymouth Albion), 7 Adam Kleeberger (Unattached), 6 Chauncey O’Toole (The Rock), 5 Tyler Hotson (Plymouth Albion), 4 Josh Jackson (Mont-de-Marsan), 3 Jason Marshall (BC Bears), 2 Pat Riordan (BC Bears), 1 Dan Pletch (Ontario Blues)
Replacements: 16 Tom Dolezel (Prairie Wolf Pack), 17 Kevin Tkachuk (Glasgow Warriors), 18 Jon Phelan (The Rock), 19 Jebb Sinclair (The Rock), 20 Sean Michael Stephen (Plymouth Albion), 21 Jamie Mackenzie (Ontario Blues), 22 Justin Mensah-Coker (Unattached)
Date: Saturday, 13 November 2010
Kick-off: 16.00
Venue: Estadio Nacional, Universidad Complutense, Madrid
Expected weather conditions: Clear with a high of 17°C, dropping to 7°C and a southwester of 14 km/h
Referee: Frank Himmer (Germany)
Assistant referees: João Mourinha (Portugal), Alfonso Mirat (Spain)
