Canada to face the Lelos
Canada travel East for their match against Georgia in Tblisi. Both teams are qualified for the 2011 World Cup and are using every opportunity to prepare.
Canada are ranked 14th on the IRB rankings, Georgia 17th.
Last weekend Canada beat Spain 60-22 in Madrid but coach Kieran Crowley has made several changes for the match the Canadians believed was going to be their toughest on a tour which includes Belgium, Spain and Portugal.
Crowley said: “Georgia will have their best players – and they will be focusing on development heading into the World Cup year. You look at the schedule – they are the highest ranked team just behind us and we knew coming in the latter two games would be the harder ones.”
Georgia’s strength is in their burly pack and to counter this Crowley has gone for size, brining Kevin Tkachuk into the front row to start for the first time this year. Josh Jackson and Jebb Sinclair lock the scrum. The loose forwards are unchanged.
Conor Braid starts at flyhalf for the first time but a lot of attacking potential rests with the back three.
Crowley has opted for a five-two bench to keep the forward strength available.
Canada: 15 Ciaran Hearn, 14 Justin Mensah-Coker, 13 DTH van der Merwe, 12 Phillip Mackenzie, 11 James Pritchard, 10 Connor Braid, 9 Sean White, 8 Aaron Carpenter, 7 Adam Kleeberger, 6 Chauncey O’Toole, 5 Jebb Sinclair, 4 Josh Jackson, 3 Jason Marshall, 2 Pat Riordan, 1 Kevin Tkachuk
Replacements: 16 Tom Dolezel, 17 Andrew Tiedemann, 18 Jon Phelan, 19 Tyler Hotson, 20 Sean Michael Stephen, 21 Jamie Mackenzie, 22 Nick Blevins
Date: Saturday, 20 November 2010
Kick-off: 14.00 (lovcal time)
Venue: National Stadium, Tbilisi
Expected weather conditions: Perfect for rugby – clear with a high of 14°C, dropping to 2°C and no wind.
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
