Island sports fans can witness history in the making today at Westhills Stadium in Langford when sa国际传媒 goes after its 100th Test victory in rugby.
sa国际传媒 is 99-140-5 in Test matches since recording began in 1932.
University of Victoria players or alumni will play important roles as sa国际传媒 meets Chile at 5 p.m. with five Vikes 鈥� Conor Keys, Liam Chisholm, Ollie Nott, Gradyn Bowd and Guiseppe Du Toit 鈥� getting starting nods from Canadian coach Mark Anscombe.
Nott from Qualicum Beach, Du Toit from Shawnigan Lake and Keys from Stittsville, Ont., are making their Test debuts.
sa国际传媒 is ranked No. 18 in the world and Chile No. 30.
But Canadian captain Gordon McRorie is taking nothing for granted in this 2017 Americas Championship matchup in Langford, despite the fact that sa国际传媒 buried the Chileans 64-13 under a nine-try avalanche in last year鈥檚 Americas Test between the two sides in Santiago. That was the second-most tries sa国际传媒 has ever scored in a Test match and the third-most points it has recorded in a Test.
鈥淟ike all South American teams, Chile takes great pride in their set pieces, so we expect them to be tough in the scrums and line-outs,鈥� said McRorie.
Both Anscombe and McRorie are more concerned about their own Canuck side.
鈥淚 would like us to implement the plan we have set in place,鈥� said Anscombe.
That is not something he thought his charges did well in last weekend鈥檚 20-6 Americas Championship opening loss to Argentina XV at Westhills Stadium.
McRorie also touched on not abandoning the pre-game plan when under pressure.
鈥淲e have to stick to our game plan more effectively,鈥� said the Calgary-based native of Scotland.
There were too many breakdowns last week in the Argentine zone.
鈥淚f you don鈥檛 finish, you will lose. We need to be more clinical,鈥� said McRorie.
Chile opened the tournament with a 17-3 loss to host Brazil in 30-degree temperatures last Saturday in Sao Paulo.
The U.S. defeated Uruguay 29-23 in the other Americas Championship opener last weekend.
Today鈥檚 other games have Brazil playing the U.S. in Austin, Texas, and Argentina XV hosting Uruguay in Bahia Blanca.
sa国际传媒鈥檚 next Americas fixture, following today at Westhills against Chile, is at home against the United States on Feb. 18 at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby. That will be followed by away contests in Uruguay on Feb. 25 and Brazil on March 4.
All games in the Americas Championship are Test matches except those featuring Argentina XV.
