If they did it in hockey, of all things, can they do it in rugby as well?
The German national rugby team need look no further for inspiration than their nation’s unlikely 4-3 victory on ice against Canada in the semifinals of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Sure, it was only Canada’s third-tier hockey team, but it still registered as a stunner.
Germany and Canada, both 1-1 after opening victories, meet today at Marseille, France, in a crucial match of the last-chance qualifier for the 2019 rugby World Cup in Japan (7 a.m. PT on TSN).
“It’s Cup rugby and we are expecting a tough battle for the full 80 minutes,” Canadian head coach Kingsley Jones said in a statement.
Canada has added four new starters to the lineup that ran over Kenya 65-19 last week in its opener, although the same 23 players will dress.
Drawing in to start are Mike Sheppard, Lucas Rumball, Matt Tierney and former Castaway Wanderers standout Ciaran Hearn, who had so many brilliant days at Windsor Park in Oak Bay. They will replace Matt Heaton, Nick Blevins, former University of Victoria Vikes star Brett Beukeboom and former UVic and Castaway Wanderers player Jake Ilnicki.
Hearn and Sheppard came off the bench to play key roles against Kenya, with second-row player Sheppard of Brampton, Ont., scoring his first career Test try and backfielder Hearn sending Matt Evans of Duncan on his way for a long try.
Seemingly ageless scrum-half Phil Mack of Victoria will again captain Canada.
Two-thirds of the Canadian starting front line is out of the Castaway Wanders, with former CW stalwarts Hubert Buydens and Ray Barkwill tasked with standing up against the big and grinding German forward. Kyle Baillie of Westshore RFC will start in the second row and will be key in helping with Canada’s job up front.
“Germany showed last weekend that they are an excellent side with a big pack,” Jones said.
“In order to be successful [today], we need to match the physical challenge that we know they’re going to bring.”
Mack concurred: “[Germany] have a big and physical pack and we know we have to front up in that department.”
While the storyline going in is all about forward play, both teams’ backs can be dangerous and will be factors. That was attested to by the three tries scored against Kenya by DTH van der Merwe of Victoria, along with Shawnigan Lake School graduate Evans’ breathless run down the right side for a try after being set up by Hearn.
Jones is wary of Germany’s backfield: “They are marshalled very well by their experienced half backs, and have an excellent coaching team.”
Germany’s greatest asset, in fact, might be its head coach. The Germans, the lowest seed in the tournament, shocked Hong Kong 26-9 in their opener thanks to masterful tactical manoeuvring by former England national team defence coach Mike Ford, a former head coach of big-name pro teams in England and France.
Ford was given the job in September of readying the mostly amateur German team for the World Cup qualifier.
Jones, meanwhile, led 22 Canadian players through their paces at Westhills Stadium in Langford in the months leading up to the last-chance qualifier. They have been joined in Marseille by Canada’s 12 pro players based overseas, including van der Merwe, Evans, Beukeboom, Tierney, Evan Olmstead and Tyler Ardron.
“We have had an excellent training week and are lucky to have access to a wider group of healthy players for selections,” Jones said.
“I have been pleased with the humility, hard work and attention to detail by the entire staff and players ahead of a big challenge this weekend.”
The winner of the four-team, last-chance tournament in Marseille will earn the 20th and final berth into the 2019 World Cup and will join New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and Namibia in Pool B next year in venues throughout Japan.
Hong Kong meets Kenya in today’s other game. Canada closes out next Friday against Hong Kong.
SCRUM NOTES: The old club team for Hearn, Buydens, Ilnicki and Barkwill is sitting pretty in the B.C. Premiership standings at 5-0. CW puts its undefeated record on the line against Mack’s old James Bay Athletic Association crew (2-3) today at 2:30 p.m. at Windsor Park in the latest edition of the CW-JBAA rivalry dubbed the 100 Year War. … There is another Island derby today in the Premiership with Baillie’s Westshore RFC (2-2) hosting the UVic Vikes (2-4) at 2:30 p.m. at Juan de Fuca.
