Canada: moving forward.

[Nielsch]

Yes most Canadians do not have enough exposure to Professional rugby. But that is starting to change, the younger kids coming up (like me) stream games or download them to watch later at a more convenient time. More bars are showing H Cup rugby as they usually have a game that kicks off around noon and is a good way to bring in early business on the weekends.

That being said though it is still tough to watch Rugby live as the times make for early mornings and that lack of watching with friends and beers. I think by the next RWC you are going to see Canadians with a lot more Rugby knowledge. It is so easy now to go on Youtube and watch 10 min highlights of International and Pro games. This mixed with the steady improvement of the Canadian team will lead to a stronger rugby population.

The loss to the Irish sucked, mostly because of all the drunk Irish in the stands chirping the Canadian team as the left. Most of which were not real Irish Rugby fans as they would have known that Ireland were favorites in the first place.

The TSN contact is great for us, but I am/was sick of watching TSN and Sportsnet at 1pm on a Wednesday afternoon and they have pool, poker, or darts on TV. That stuff is horrible. Put on some old Rugby, Soccer, Cricket or another sport that has low exposure in Canada. At least it can be somewhat interesting to watch.

I was in downtown Vancouver during the Canada - Ireland match. The only places that showed the match were a Subway, a Denny's and Fatburger. All the bars were showing hockey (Stanley Cup finals) and soccer (Whitecaps match). You have a long way to go.

 

[Dougydeluxe]

I was in downtown Vancouver during the Canada - Ireland match. The only places that showed the match were a Subway, a Denny's and Fatburger. All the bars were showing hockey (Stanley Cup finals) and soccer (Whitecaps match). You have a long way to go.

That was a prime sports evening, and Hockey will always beat out Rugby in Canada. That is just a fact.

 

[LittleGuy]

I was in downtown Vancouver during the Canada - Ireland match. The only places that showed the match were a Subway, a Denny's and Fatburger. All the bars were showing hockey (Stanley Cup finals) and soccer (Whitecaps match). You have a long way to go.

They show MLS at bars in BC? I can't remember seeing club soccer at a bar here in Ontario(unless it was on default), maybe if you asked for it. Dougydeluxe is right though, the Stanley Cup was probably dominant that evening, I guarentee if someone had asked for the rugby match more eyeballs would have drifted to that screen than the MLS game. Downtown types are hardly Rugby's core audience in Canada anyways,.

 

[Nielsch]

They show MLS at bars in BC? I can't remember seeing club soccer at a bar here in Ontario(unless it was on default), maybe if you asked for it. Dougydeluxe is right though, the Stanley Cup was probably dominant that evening, I guarentee if someone had asked for the rugby match more eyeballs would have drifted to that screen than the MLS game. Downtown types are hardly Rugby's core audience in Canada anyways,.

I was surprised by the popularity of soccer! I literally saw hundreds of people in Whitecaps jerseys, crowds chanting Whitecaps cheers whilst walking down the street, people willing to buy tickets for many $$ outside BC Place Stadium, bars filled with loud soccer fans, screens showing soccer and pubs having Whitecaps drinking specials. It felt like being in London (also, Topshop and Elizabeth on the money might have added to that feeling).

I did ran into someone wearing a Rugby Canada jersey at some bar later that night, and he talked to me because I was wearing my London Irish jersey. That same bar also showed Australian Football and rugby league (though mainly to cater to a large Australian public), and he told me they did show the Ireland - Canada match.

 

[LittleGuy]

I was surprised by the popularity of soccer! I literally saw hundreds of people in Whitecaps jerseys, crowds chanting Whitecaps cheers whilst walking down the street, people willing to buy tickets for many $$ outside BC Place Stadium, bars filled with loud soccer fans, screens showing soccer and pubs having Whitecaps drinking specials. It felt like being in London (also, Topshop and Elizabeth on the money might have added to that feeling).
I did ran into someone wearing a Rugby Canada jersey at some bar later that night, and he talked to me because I was wearing my London Irish jersey. That same bar also showed Australian Football and rugby league (though mainly to cater to a large Australian public), and he told me they did show the Ireland - Canada match.

I didn't realize that the game you were there for was a home game that explains why it was on downtown bars over the rugby match. MLS home games tend to draw in a passionate group of fans even Toronto has some left despite how bad the team has been. TV ratings for MLS soccer tend to be abysmal to nonexistent though, essentially it's a niche following, an enthusiastic one definately, but I know guys who go to TFC home games who can't even be bothered to watch the away games on the tube. I'm not really suprised at all that the rugby game was the third player behind those two events while you were in Vancouver though.

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

I didn't realize that the game you were there for was a home game that explains why it was on downtown bars over the rugby match. MLS home games tend to draw in a passionate group of fans even Toronto has some left despite how bad the team has been. TV ratings for MLS soccer tend to be abysmal to nonexistent though, essentially it's a niche following, an enthusiastic one definately, but I know guys who go to TFC home games who can't even be bothered to watch the away games on the tube. I'm not really suprised at all that the rugby game was the third player behind those two events while you were in Vancouver though.

Soccer has a wierd following in North America, there are a few diehards but the majority of people follow it casually. The only sports Canadians truly really care about are Ice Hockey, Curling and CFL Football. We rarely ever talk about the CFL here but CFL football is by far our most popular code of football in the country and the pro teams draw very large crowds. As well, it is really the only university sport that has any spectator following and money pumped into it.

 

[canadafan]

Can't stand soccer, as well as, baseball and basketball. I used to love NFL/CFL, but when I moved abraod, I lost all interest in those sports.

 

[canadafan]

I have heard that Cudmore will be playing for us this August I. The RWCQs.

 

[LittleGuy]

I have heard that Cudmore will be playing for us this August I. The RWCQs.

Excellent news, sounds like Mackenzie and DTH will be good to go as well, having our top three players back will be a massive boost, hopefully Trainor is coming along in the recovery front as well.

 

[canadafan]

My source also said that Trainor's leg is still in a cast, so doubt he will be back. But if those two are ready to go, we are still in good shape.

 

[LittleGuy]

My source also said that Trainor's leg is still in a cast, so doubt he will be back. But if those two are ready to go, we are still in good shape.

Yeah its a small blow but certainly not the end of the world....the backline could go like this then.....(or some combination slightly tweaked)

11. Evans
12. Mackenzie
13. Van De Merwe
14. Hassler(If healthy...if not, than Paris, Duke or Hearn)
15. Pritchard

 

[canadafan]

Yeah its a small blow but certainly not the end of the world....the backline could go like this then.....(or some combination slightly tweaked)

11. Evans
12. Mackenzie
13. Van De Merwe
14. Hassler(If healthy...if not, than Paris, Duke or Hearn)
15. Pritchard

Hassler is in Wales now, and I think he is already in training, so he should be fit.

I would go with:

10. Underwood
11. Evans
12. Mackenzie
13. DTH
14. Hassler
15. Pritchard

22. Blevins
23. Braid

Very tempted to switch Evans and Mackenzie actually. Feels weird that we could name a virtually professional back line!

 

[LittleGuy]

Hassler is in Wales now, and I think he is already in training, so he should be fit.

I would go with:

10. Underwood
11. Evans
12. Mackenzie
13. DTH
14. Hassler
15. Pritchard

22. Blevins
23. Braid

Very tempted to switch Evans and Mackenzie actually. Feels weird that we could name a virtually professional back line!

Looks like it will be solid with depth on the bench to spare as well....what would you say for the forwards(not including front row which essentially picks itself) if Cudmore plays? My picks would be Somthing like this

4. Tyler Hotson
5. Jamie Cudmore
6. Jebb Sinclair
7. Tyler Ardron
8. Aaron Carpenter

19. Beukeboom(or Phelan)
20. Moonlight or Dala(don't think Kleebs is ready to go yet, and would be very rusty anyway)

 

[canadafan]

For forwards, I would probably go with:

4. Sinclair
5. Cudmore
6. Ardron
7. Moonlight
8. Carpenter

19. Hotson
20. Dala

 

[CDN_Rugby]

For forwards, I would probably go with:

4. Sinclair
5. Cudmore
6. Ardron
7. Moonlight
8. Carpenter

19. Hotson
20. Dala

I'm not sure Sinclair is as effective in the second row as he is at 6,7, or 8. While Moonlight was fantastic I think Sinclair needs to start at 7 and Hotson goes along with Cudmore.

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

I'm not sure Sinclair is as effective in the second row as he is at 6,7, or 8. While Moonlight was fantastic I think Sinclair needs to start at 7 and Hotson goes along with Cudmore.

Definitely gotta have Sinclair in the back-row, we have enough quality lock forwards playing professionally with Hotson, Beukeboom, Phelan and Cudmore that I see no reason to start Sinclair in the 2nd row.

I am stoked for the qualifiers against the States. The fact that we are going to be able to field our strongest possible team gives me a real hope that we lay a serious beating on them.

My Team:

#1 - Hubert Buydens - Prairie Wolfpack
#2 - Ray Barkwill - Ontario Blues
#3 - Jason Marshall - Stade Rochelais (France)
#4 - Tyler Hotson - London Scottish (England)
#5 - Jamie Cudmore - ASM Clermont (France)
#6 - Jebb Sinclair - London Irish (England)
#7 - Tyler Ardon - Ospreys (Wales)
#8 - Aaron Carpenter - Cornish Pirates (England)
#9 - Sean White - BC Bears
#10 - Liam Underwood - Ontario Blues
#11 - Matt Evans - Cornish Pirates (England)
#12 - Phil Mackenzie - Sale Sharks (England)
#13 - DTH Van Der Merwe - Glasgow Warriors (Scotland)
#14 - Jeff Hassler - Ospreys (Wales)
#15 - James Pritchard - Bedford Blues (England)

I would say that is quite possibly the best Canadian First 15 I have ever seen.

As for 16 to 23 here are my choices:

#16 - Ryan Hamilton - BC Bears
#17 - Andrew Tiedemann - Prairie Wolfpack
#18 - Tom Doelzel or Doug Woolridge - Ontario Blues
#19 - Cam Pierce - Pau (France)
#20 - Nanyak Dala - Prairie Wolfpack
#21 - Phil Mack - BC Bears
#22 - Connor Braid - Doncaster Knights (England)
#23 - Taylor Paris - SU Agen (France)

Some assumptions I have made:

Conor Trainor is still going to be injured
Adam Kleeberger is nowhere near match fit
Is Connor Braid still playing for Doncaster with them having been relegated?
I have kept Ciaran Hearn out of the lineup although I would potentially bring him in to the Reserves for and replace Paris if we needed his boot

Some things I think Crowley needs to look at: Finding some prop forwards! I think we are sorted at Hooker as I really like Ray Barkwill and Ryan Hamilton but finding some more props is a must. Both Marshall and Buydens are football converts and I think if we are going to find the right sort of athletes for this we need to look to CIS football or CFL Combines.

We have become a Perennial backrow/loose forward factory and I see no problems in this area. Same thing in our backline, we are producing some quality backs, particularly in the wing department. Where we need to focus on now is developing a solid #10 and continue to work on our #9's and I would say a solid #12 that gets go-forward ball.

I like some of the young guys we have coming up in the U20 department and I think we have some guys that if they stick with the national program are going to really help us out in the future i.e. Shane O'Leary and Conor McCann. I see O'Leary as our future #10.

 

[psychic duck]

Why are people still putting Taylor Paris anywhere near the 23? Why?

I haven't seen an international player slice as many kicks as he does since Ceri Sweeney was in Wales side.

Sean Duke created a try and scored a try in his most recent match for Canada. All Paris has done is mess up a simple run in vs Fiji, fumble catches in the rain in Japan and constantly do crap kicks.

 

[canadafan]

I agree with PD, unless one of Hassler or Evans are injured he should not start and it is pointless having him on the bench. That being said, I am by no means giving up on him, if he had a good period of play in Agen I would consider starting him in November.

No idea about Braid, he has a UK passport so he should be able to find a club to sign him somewhere over there.

Tiedemann is only 24 by the way and is pretty good at tight head, just sucks at loose head.

Ilnicki is a tight head and is only 21 and DSD is a loose head and is 19, but they are both a ways away.

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

Why are people still putting Taylor Paris anywhere near the 23? Why?

I haven't seen an international player slice as many kicks as he does since Ceri Sweeney was in Wales side.

Sean Duke created a try and scored a try in his most recent match for Canada. All Paris has done is mess up a simple run in vs Fiji, fumble catches in the rain in Japan and constantly do crap kicks.

Psychic Duck, I totally forgot about Sean Duke so thanks for bringing this to my attention. I would actually start him in the 23 above Paris as he did play better then Paris did. I like Taylor Paris and think he offers a lot in open play but your right his kicking does suck!

 

[LittleGuy]

Have heard rumours of the Canada vs. U.S.A. winner in August playing the Moari at home than heading to Europe, Georgia seems to be really in the cards for November 16th. Spain and Belgium are other potential opponents. Than again these things change at a whim, hopefully we won't get stuck playing in front of 1,000 fans at a neutral site against Russia again.

On the August RWCQ's with the availablity looking good my confidence is improving....before June I would have said 60-40 Canada now I'm leaning about 75-25. Canada looked better in 4 of the 5 games both teams played this June even missing a pile of players, adding in intangibles of superior coaching and goal kicking I think we are favourites. Though I'm not counting out the States a big win in their home leg could be enough to push them through.