Something old and something new from the Island will be featured as sa国际传媒鈥檚 final hope of getting to the 2019 rugby World Cup begins in the wee hours Sunday at 4 a.m. PT (on TSN) against Kenya in the last-chance qualifier in Marseille, France.
World Cup veteran Matt Evans of Duncan returns from a long stint of injury and is among the 34 players head coach Kingsley Jones has named to the Canadian roster for the last-chance qualifier, which continues Nov. 17 against Germany and Nov. 23 against Hong Kong. The winner of the tournament in Marseille will earn the 20th and final berth into the World Cup and will join New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and Namibia in Pool B next year in venues all over Japan.
Among the roster newcomers Jones specifically cited for mention are Luke Campbell of Victoria and Doug Fraser of Ladysmith as this group attempts to avoid being the first Canadian team not to qualify for the World Cup after having played in all previous editions.
The dynamic Island back-fielder Evans, a Cornish Pirates pro, has missed over a year of rugby due to injury and his presence is a huge boon to sa国际传媒.
鈥淚t was a tight call for Matt Evans [to be ready for selection],鈥� said Jones.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been an unfortunate 12 months for Matt with the knee and hamstring. But he has the experience. And this is about experience and the need to stand up under pressure.鈥�
Evans showed his worth last week by scoring two tries in sa国际传媒鈥檚 26-20 exhibition win over Oxford at Iffley Road while fellow Shawnigan Lake School graduate Giuseppe du Toit, a UVic Vikes product, and Campbell scored the other Canadian tries.
Jones cited Campbell, UVic Vikes鈥� graduate Fraser and UBC鈥檚 Theo Sauder as among those with less experience, but who could get their chance in the qualifier.
鈥淭hey have really come up and have put their hands up [for selection],鈥� said Jones, before the team broke training camp in Langford, and headed to England for exhibitions against Oxford and Coventry en route to Marseille.
An undersized but sturdy Canadian forward at the veteran end of the scale, 38-year-old Castaway Wanderers alumnus Ray Barkwill, is also earning high praise from Jones: 鈥淩ay gets better with every game and is playing some of his best rugby.鈥�
Campbell, Fraser, Sauder and Barkwill are among the 22 players from the Langford training group who have been joined by sa国际传媒鈥檚 12 overseas pros, including Evans and all-time Canadian try-leader DTH van der Merwe of Victoria. From veterans and pros to the relative newcomers, there is not a Canadian player among the 34 who doesn鈥檛 realize the importance of the next three weeks, and especially of getting off to a good start against Kenya, before finishing with Germany and Hong Kong.
鈥淸This] will be the biggest recent chapter in Rugby sa国际传媒 history, for better or worse, and we aim to make it for the better,鈥� said Campbell, the emerging Oak Bay High graduate, from James Bay Athletic Association.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very exciting because with qualification, I believe, will be a bright future for Canadian rugby. At the same time, it鈥檚 a huge challenge ahead of us in the tournament, with a lot riding on it.鈥�
The seemingly-ageless backfield maestro Phil Mack of Victoria, 33, will captain sa国际传媒.
鈥淚 try to lead by example. We have so much veteran knowledge and skill on this team that it鈥檚 a shared effort,鈥� said the Oak Bay, UVic Vikes and James Bay alumnus.
There are options as Jones decides on his starting XV, and the additional seven who will dress and look to make an impact off the bench, in the three games of the last-chance World Cup qualifier.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a critical period and a big challenge for us but I believe we are heading in the right direction,鈥� said Jones.
