Canada is going with veteran know-how for tonight’s Pacific Nations Cup rugby game against Tonga at Churchill Park in Lautoka, Fiji (8 p.m. PT on TSN2).
Drawing in are captain Tyler Ardron and Victoria legends Phil Mack and DTH van der Merwe. The trio sat out the 38-13 loss last weekend to world No. 9 Fiji as the host’s combination of speed and size overwhelmed the Langford-based Canadian team in Suva.
“I think there’s a lot of improvements from our side in the space of a week, which we’re pleased with,” said Canadian head coach Kingsley Jones.
“I think our set piece has progressed and our scrum at times was good. There’s lots of learning technically still to do to keep growing. We knew we were up against a very good side [in the last game against Fiji] and some of the best individual players in the world. It was a great opportunity for our players to measure themselves against those guys. We want to measure ourselves against good teams. We feel we’re making gains each week and we look forward to Tonga now.”
Not that the Tongans, ranked No. 15 in the world, will be much easier than the Fijians. Canada is ranked No. 21.
The Pacific Nations Cup is to prepare the rim countries for the 2019 World Cup this fall in Japan. The Canadians opened with a 47-19 loss to the world No. 13 U.S. Eagles in the PNC opener two weeks ago in Denver, Colorado.
Fiji finishes up against Samoa while the U.S. and No. 11 Japan, both 2-0, meet in the game to decide the PNC championship Saturday in Suva.
Of the 31 players on the Canadian PNC roster, 23 have made the trip across the Pacific from Langford.
“This is good preparation [for the World Cup],” said Jones.
Canada also has pre-World Cup matches lined up against Irish provincial power Leinster on Aug. 24 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont., against the B.C. all-stars Aug. 30 at Westhills Stadium in Langford and against the U.S. on Sept. 7 at B.C. Place.
All of Canada’s overseas and Major League Rugby pros, and Langford-centralized players, are together through to the end of the World Cup.
