The Langford-based Canadian national team has again dipped into the deep pool provided by the world鈥檚 greatest rugby nation. Mark Anscombe, a Kiwi who has coached the New Zealand U-20 team to the junior world title and also big-time Irish club Ulster, was unveiled Wednesday as the new Canadian head coach.
Anscombe鈥檚 contract runs through the 2019 World Cup in Japan. He will be based in Greater Victoria, where an enhanced XVs centralization program will be established beginning in August at the Rugby sa国际传媒 Centre of Excellence next to Westhills Stadium in Langford. The Canadian men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 sevens teams, abetted by federal sports funding because of sevens鈥� status as an Olympic sport, are already centralized in Langford.
鈥淸Anscombe] has an understanding of the current, modern rugby environment,鈥� said Jim Dixon, Rugby sa国际传媒 general manager of rugby operations and performance.
鈥淚t was a world-wide search with a large number of high-calibre coaches who applied.鈥�
Anscombe guided New Zealand to the U-20 junior world title as head coach in 2011. He was assistant coach with world junior-champion New Zealand sides on three previous occasions. Anscombe replaces fellow New Zealander Kieran Crowley, a former World Cup-champion All Black, who took on the Canadian head coaching position in 2008 and guided sa国际传媒 through the 2011 and 2015 World Cups. Crowley left earlier this year to coach a pro club team in Italy.
鈥淚 will create a culture that is honest and hard-working,鈥� said Anscombe, in a conference call with the Canadian sports media from New Zealand.
鈥淥ur style will be beneficial to the strengths that we have. It takes time and hard work. And it starts up front [with the forwards]. You have to earn the right to play wide.鈥�
Crowley leaves for Anscombe to inherit a Canadian national side ranked No. 18 in the world. It had several tight and exciting games in the 2015 World Cup but went 0-4.
鈥淣o one hides from the fact there are lots of challenges. But I look forward to taking the team through to qualifying and the next World Cup,鈥� said Anscombe, who like Crowley, hails from Taranaki.
鈥渟a国际传媒 is a big country that is spread out. There is raw talent in sa国际传媒.
鈥淏ut you can鈥檛 go from club to national team. The gap is too great. So we look forward to centralizing players and up-skilling them.鈥�
Building a base will be key, said Anscombe, who realizes how steep his learning curve will be.
鈥淲hat is the depth chart? Where are the younger players coming from?鈥� noted the 59-year-old former outside flanker, who played provincially for Auckland North Harbour.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 survive on 20 players at the top. You need depth. Getting the next generation through the system and ready to play is one of my greatest tasks.鈥�
That starts with a summer Test series beginning June 11 at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby against Japan, followed by June 18 in Calgary versus Russia, and June 26 at BMO Field in Toronto against Italy.
Anscombe鈥檚 two-year tenure at Ulster was highlighted by a tight loss to Leinster in the 2012-13 Irish championship game after claiming the regular-season title. He is proudest that eight players moved up from his time at Ulster to earn their first caps for Ireland.
sa国际传媒 has managed to keep it close against higher-ranked teams over the past year, including in the 2015 World Cup, only to see late collapses cost winnable games.
鈥淟ate in games, you fall off tackles and the passes get off target a bit . . . that鈥檚 the challenge for the second-tier national sides 鈥� of keeping composure and executing all the way through,鈥� said Anscombe.
