DTH van der Merwe returns as Canada name side to face Ireland

Despite the absence of Jamie Cudmore and Tyler Ardron among others, Mark Anscombe has named a fairly experienced Canadian team to face Ireland. Aaron Carpenter will lead a side which sees the return of DTH van der Merwe, Brett Beukeboom, Conor Trainor and Connor Braid to the starting line-up.

Carpenter will earn his 75th Test cap, leaving him one cap behind Al Charron’s Canadian record of 76, and is one of seven survivors from the starting XV at the 2015 Rugby World Cup when Ireland (who have three survivors) opened their group phase with a 50-7 win.

“The boys have adapted well to what we want to do.” Anscombe said. “We’re really looking forward to the game. We have to do well on Saturday so that we get credibility so that we can face off against other Tier One teams in the future.”

CANADA: Matt Evans (Cornish Pirates); DTH van der Merwe (Scarlets), Conor Trainor (RC Vannes/BC Bears), Ciaran Hearn (London Irish), Taylor Paris (Agen); Connor Braid (James Bay AA/BC Bears), Gordon McRorie (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack); Djustice Sears-Duru (Glasgow Warriors/Ontario Blues), Ray Barkwill (Castaway Wanderers/Ontario Blues), Jake Ilnicki (Manawatu Turbos/BC Bears); Brett Beukeboom (Cornish Pirates), Evan Olmstead (Newcastle Falcons/Prairie Wolf Pack); Kyle Baillie (Westshore RFC/Atlantic Rock), Lucas Rumball (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues), Aaron Carpenter (Cornish Pirates/Ontario Blues, capt).

Replacements: Eric Howard (Brantford Harlequins/Ontario Blues), Rob Brouwer (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues), Matt Tierney (Section Paloise/Ontario Blues), Admir Cejvanovic (Burnaby Lake RFC/BC Bears), Matt Heaton (Darlington Mowden Park/Atlantic Rock), Phil Mack (James Bay AA/BC Bears), Patrick Parfrey (James Bay AA/Atlantic Rock), Nick Blevins (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack).