One Island debutant has been swapped out for another for sa国际传媒鈥檚 rugby Test match against England at Twickenham on Saturday (7 a.m. PT streaming on DAZN).
Lachlan Kratz, former sa国际传媒 champion in high school with the Oak Bay Barbs, replaces fellow Victorian Quinn Ngawati at centre and will earn his first cap. The versatile 21-year-old Kratz is out of the University of Victoria Vikes and plays pro in Major League Rugby for NOLA Gold of New Orleans. Born in San Diego and raised on the Island since age three, Kratz is a dual sa国际传媒-U.S. citizen who has declared for sa国际传媒. He has worn the Maple Leaf in the Under-20 Junior World Rugby Trophy in Bucharest, Romania, 2018 Youth Olympics in Argentina and 2017 Youth Commonwealth Games in Nassau, Bahamas.
鈥淭he World Cup in XVs and Olympics in sevens are definitely dreams,鈥� said Kratz, before leaving on the Canadian senior team tour.
鈥淚 am really excited by the possibilities.鈥�
That journey begins on Saturday at the senior level.
Ngawati, former captain of the St. Michaels University School Blue Jags, earned his first cap by starting last weekend in the 68-12 loss to world No. 6 Wales at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The 22-year-old Islander, with much promise, is a pro in MLR for Rugby United New York after switching back to rugby union from rugby league. Both Islanders will get to brag that they earned their maiden caps at grounds considered hallowed in rugby.
Starting alongside Kratz among the backs for the Langford-based Canadian team Saturday at Twickenham will be Ross Braude, Peter Nelson, Kainoa Lloyd, co-captain Ben LeSage, Cole Davis and Cooper Coats. Starting in the forwards are co-captain Lucas Rumball, University of Victoria Vikes alumnus and Castaway Wanderers produce Jake Ilnicki, Djustice Sears-Duru, Andrew Quattrin, Reegan O鈥橤orman, Conor Keys, Corey Thomas and Siaki Vikilani. O鈥橤orman is stepping in to start at lock in place of the injured Josh Larsen of Nanaimo.
Dressed in reserve and available off the bench are Ngawati and Will Percillier of Victoria, Eric Howard, Cole Keith, Liam Murray, Donald Carson, Michael Smith and Robbie Povey.
Island players on the tour with sa国际传媒 are Kratz, Ngawati, Larsen, Percillier, Larsen, Doug Fraser of Ladysmith, Isaac Olsen of Victoria and Foster Dewitt of Courtenay.
sa国际传媒 will be hard-pressed against world No. 3 England, even though the hosts are missing 12 players to the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.
The ambitious Canadian Tests against Wales and England are in preparation for the upcoming 2023 World Cup regional qualifiers and are the first games for sa国际传媒 since the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
Americas qualifying for the 2023 World Cup in France begins in the fall with sa国际传媒 playing home games against the U.S. on Sept. 4 in St. John鈥檚 and South America No. 1 or No. 2 on Oct. 2 at Starlight Stadium in Langford.
