Canucks hang tough against Namibia

Canada hung on in the face of a late second-half charge by Namibia to record a 17-13 win in their international encounter at Parc Eirias, in Colwyn Bay, Wales, on Friday.

The teams scored one try each – both in the second half – in a game littered with mistakes and penalties.

The Namibian scrum had a huge advantage, while the Canadians looked to use their fleet-footed backs more often.

The game did not lack for physicality or intent, but the poor quality of their execution showed why they are ranked 17 (Canada) and 22nd (Namibia).

Despite their high error count, the victory sets Canada up well for their final two November matches.

The Canucks' try came via flank Nanyak Dala, while scrumhalf Gordon McRorie sent over four penalty goals for the team.

Namibia set up a nervy finish in North Wales when captain Jacques Burger crashed over with five minutes remaining.

However, Canada hung on for the win.

Canada, who were forced into a late change when Ospreys finisher Jeff Hassler pulled out with an injury, were looking to bounce back from last Sunday's narrow loss to the Championship XV. Their opponents meanwhile entered the game very confident following an impressive 58-20 victory over Germany in Windhoek.

Jordon Wilson-Ross was Hassler's replacement while the experienced James Pritchard came on to the bench for Canada's second match of November's tour.

Namibia were forced into a change themselves ten minutes into the action, as Exeter Chiefs fullback Chrysander Botha was carried off, being replaced by Johann Tromp. This came after scrumhalf McRorie had opened the scoring with a penalty, following an encouraging passage for Canada in Namibia's red zone.

Botha's injury meant there was a extended stoppage which led to both sets of players having to keep warm before play resumed at Parc Eirias on Friday.

When it did, McRorie was on-target once again off the tee to double Canada's advantage as they enjoyed most of the possession and territory in the game.

They almost capitalized on their start on 20 minutes when an outstanding run and offload from flank Dala on the 10-metre line saw him find centre Ciaran Hearn, who took Canada to within fifteen metres. Unfortunately the recycled ball was dropped.

Soon after, Namibia enjoyed rare territory and when Canada had hands in a ruck on the right side, flyhalf Theuns Kotzé comfortably reduced the arrears to 3-6.

Despite that three-pointer Canada displayed calmness and composure with ball in hand as Sean Duke and Conor Trainor linked up well on more than one occasion to give Canada and McRorie an opportunity to push his side 9-3 in front. He obliged.

However, again the Namibians struck back when Kotzé landed his second penalty of the game before flank Rohan Kitshoff was shown a yellow card as the teams went into the break on a delicately poised 9-6 scoreline after a bruising first 40 minutes.

The early stages of the second stanza saw Canada kick on as Wilson-Ross' slick run led to phase play which resulted in McRorie landed his fourth penalty.

Kotzé could not do what McRorie successful managed soon after and it came back to cost Namibia when Wilson-Ross was again involved before many pick and drives from Canada's forwards created space on the far touchline for Dala to dive over.

The missed conversion from McRorie preceded Braid being unsuccessful on 66 minutes, as Canada were stuck on a 17-6 lead when boss Kieran Crowley sent on Sean White, Brett Buekeboom and Aaron Carpenter for the aforementioned scrumhalf, Hotson and Barkwill, hoping fresh legs would boost his outfit.

Unfortunately for Canada it was the Namibians who found an extra gear as time ticked on and when captain Burger went over on the short side of their line-out, Kotzé's conversion meant there was just four points in the game late on.

Braid struck the upright late on in a frantic closing spell that saw Namibia press but Canada held on to pick up a hard-earned victory on their tour.

The scorers:

For Canada:

Try: Dala

Pens: McRorie 4

For Namibia:

Try: Burger

Con: Kotze

Pens: Kotze 2

Yellow card: Rohan Kitshoff (Namibia, 37 – foul play, spear tackle)

Teams:

Canada: 15 DTH van der Merwe, 14 Jordan WilsonRoss, 13 Conor Trainor, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 11 Sean Duke, 10 Connor Braid, 9 Gordon McRorie, 8 John Moonlight, 7 Nanyak Dala, 6 Kyle Gilmour, 5 Jebb Sinclair, 4 Tyler Hotson, 3 Jason Marshall, 2 Ray Barkwill, 1 Hubert Buydens.

Replacements: 16 Doug Wooldridge, 17 Aaron Carpenter, 18 Jake Ilnicki, 19 Brett Buekeboom, 20 Aaron Carpenter, 21 Sean White, 22 Patrick Parfrey, 23 Nick Blevins.

Namibia: 15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Darryl de la Harpe, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 David Philander, 10 Theuns Kotzé, 9 Eneill Buitendag, 8 PJ van Lill, 7 Jacques Burger (captain), 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 Tjiuee Uanive, 4 Morné Blom, 3 André Schlechter, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld,1 Johnnie Redelinghuys.

Replacements: 16 Rathony Becker, 17 Franklin Bertholini, 18 Casper Viviers, 19 Stefan Neustädt, 20 Thomasua Forbes, 21 Ryan de la Harpe, 22 Shawn Kaizemi, 23 Johann Tromp.

Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Neil Paterson (Scotland), Martyn Lewis (Wales)

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