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The full-dress rehearsals end today for the Langford-based Canadian men鈥檚 rugby team. It is about to get real very soon when the curtain lifts on the 2015 World Cup.
The world No. 18 Canadians play their final tune-up before the World Cup when they meet the fleet-footed and ninth-ranked Fijians at the Stoop in Twickenham, London.
sa国际传媒 is looking to build on Wednesday鈥檚 16-15 victory over No. 13 Georgia in Esher, which was fuelled by standout performances by University of Victoria Vikes products Andrew Tiedemann, Nathan Hira-yama and Phil Mackenzie. The result ended a seven-game Canadian Test losing streak and came after a 19-12 non-Test victory over Glasgow Warriors last weekend in Halifax.
鈥淲e just need to keep building on our performances from the last couple of games,鈥� said Canadian head coach Kieran Crowley of Mill Bay, a native of New Zealand and 1987 World Cup champion with the All Blacks.
There are widespread roster changes for today.
鈥淔iji is our last game before the World Cup, so some other players will get an opportunity,鈥� Crowley said in a statement.
Island-associated Canadian starters today include Hubert Buydens and Nanyak Dala of the Castaway Wanderers of Oak Bay and overseas pros Connor Braid and DTH van der Merwe from Victoria. Jake Ilnicki and Ciaran Hearn of Castaway Wanderers and John Moonlight and Phil Mack of James Bay are dressing as reserves, but likely to see plenty of action as Crowley will sub freely. Veteran Jamie Cudmore of Squamish will captain.
This is the 11th Test meeting between Fiji and sa国际传媒 with the South Pacific islanders 鈥� more famous in sevens and an Olympic medal threat next year in Rio 鈥� holding a 7-3 all-time advantage.
sa国际传媒 opens the World Cup against No. 2 Ireland on Sept. 19 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. sa国际传媒鈥檚 other Group D matches are on Sept. 26 against Italy in Leeds, Oct. 1 against 2011 runner-up France in Milton Keynes and Oct. 6 against Romania in Leicester.
