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Canada has kept its team unchanged for Saturday's match against Japan at the Junior World Rugby Trophy in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Canada lost its opening match to the host Georgians 38-9. A win against Japan will be vital to keeping hopes alive for a top of the table play-off encounter on June 5th.
Japan beat Zimbabwe to open the tournament, taking a decisive 37-24 win.
Team Captain Tyler Ardron says the team has not dwelled on the result vs Georgia as the Japan match looms.
"We were disappointed with our first result but with such a short turn around before our next game there was no time to dwell on it and we are looking forward to our next game against Japan," said Ardron.
The big No. 8, who hails from Brantford is wearing the captaincy well and says wearing the 'C' is not an extra chore for him.
"I dont think being captain has any extra weight heading into this game," he surmised. "We have a lot of very strong leaders who will all be looking to make a big contribution to the game."
Coach Mike Shelley feels that Japan has some key strengths, one of them being a strong mid-field.
"Japan convincingly beat Zimbabwe and with some very strong midfield runners," offered Shelley. "They have a well organized and committed group of players with some very strong individuals."
In terms of how Canada matches up with Japan Shelley says they rate fairly closely.
"From what I've seen the two teams could be quite evenly matched," says Shelley. "Japan play to their strengths well and we hope to be able to react to the speed they move the ball around."
In terms of the quick turnaround and what adjustments he has been able to make at training, there won't be a lot of changes to strategy, but more on execution.
"We have used the Japanese performance against Zimbabwe to adapt our game slightly this week but our main focus in training has been on accuracy and doing the basics well," he said.
Ardron concurs saying, "We dont need to make any major changes to our game plan, but we have been working on our accuracy to reduce the number of errors."
Canada Team vs Japan
1. Scott Macleod - Cowichan RFC (Cowichan, BC)
2. Casey Cavers - Cowichan RFC / University of Victoria (Cowichan, BC)
3. Graeme Mahar - Balmy Beach RFC / University of Guelph (Toronto, ON)
4. Scott MacDonald - Oshawa Vikings RFC (Oshawa, ON)
5. Cameron Pierce - Kelowna Crows / University of Victoria (Kelowna, BC)
6. Evan Olmstead - Capilano RFC (West Vancouver, BC)
7. Dustin Dobravsky - Shawnigan Lake School /University of Victoria (Regina, SK)
8. Tyler Ardron - Brantford RFC / McMaster University (Brantford, ON)
9. Lucien Nel - Cowichan RFC / University of Victoria (Cowichan, BC)
10. Carlin Hamstra - Cowichan RFC / University of British Columbia (Cowichan, BC)
11. Jeff Hassler - Foothills Lions RFC /University of Saskatchewan (Calgary, AB)
12. Patrick Parfrey - Swilers RFC / Memorial University of Newfoundland (St. John's, NFLD)
13. Clayton Meeres - Truro College - England
14. Kurtis Appeldoorn - Abbotsford RFC / University of Fraser Valley (Abbottsford, BC)
15. Liam Underwood - Balmy Beach RFC / Queen's University (Toronto, ON)
Replacements
16. Andrew Cho - Calgary Saracens RFC /University of Calgary (Calgary, AB)
17. Jordan Power - Dogs RFC / Memorial University of Newfoundland (St. John's, NFLD)
18. Brandon Tennant - Montreal Irish, (Montreal, PQ) - for Graeme Mahar - 62 mins
19. Cameron Stones Ajax Wanderers RFC / McMaster University (Ajax, ON) for Scott MacDonald 54 mins
20. Matt Kelly - Toronto Scottish RFC / Queen's University (Toronto, ON)
21. Andrew Ferguson - Oakville Crusaders RFC /McMaster University (Oakville, ON) for Lucien Nel - 62 mins
22. Michael Fuailefau - Castaway Wanderers RFC / University of Victoria (Victoria, BC) for Carlin Hamstra 56 mins
Coach Mike Shelley
Manager Des Lynch
Graeme Moffat. Assistant coach
Andy Evans. S & C coach/ Video Analyst
Mike Cook. Therapist
Alastair Poulson. Team Doctor
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