RWC QUALIFIER RESULT: URUGUAY 32-31 CANADA

Canada will now look to book their spot in Japan for next year through a last-chance repechage tournament in November, with the details to be made public by World Rugby in the coming weeks.  

Game Recap: 

Canada started the game with intent and were rewarded in the 6th minute when Brock Staller slotted a penalty to put the first points on the board. 

The boys in red were on a mission as DTH van der Merwe crossed the line to score his 30th try for Canada and put the away team ahead by ten. The flying start continued for Canada as a strong driving maul gained momentum, resulting in Taylor Paris joining the pack and dotting the ball down for Canada's second try of the game. 

The 15-0 lead was reduced before half-time as Uruguay caught the Canadian defence napping with a quick tap and go resulting in a try for the home team. 

The second half did not get underway as planned with Uruguay scoring soon after kick off through outside centre, Juan Manuel Cat. 

 After a long spell of possession in which Canada came close to scoring on a couple of occasions, a pass did not go to hand and Andrés Vilaseca pounced on the loose ball to run away with his first try of the game. 

 With ten minutes remaining Djustice Sears-Duru dotted down after another well excecuted driving maul. The score now 26-25 in Canada's favour on the day. 

 With time running out and Canada taking more risks in order to close the 9-point aggregate deficit, Andrés Vilaseca intercepted the ball to race away and break Canadian hearts. 26-32.

 With time up, DTH van der Merwe crossed the line for his second try of the day but it wasn't enough as the game finished 31-32 in favour of Uruguay and 60-70 overall. 

Scoring Recap:

Canada:

Tries: ’11 DTH van der Merwe, ’24 Taylor Paris, ’69 Djustice Sears-Duru, '80 DTH van der Merwe
Conversions: Brock Staller (1)
Penalties: ‘6, ‘39, ‘53 Brock Staller (3)

Uruguay:  

Tries: ’33 Ignacio Dotti, ’41 Juan Manuel Cat, ’63 Andrés Vilaseca, ’73 Andrés Vilaseca
Conversions: Felipe Berchesi (3)
Penalties: ’36, ‘55 Felipe Berchesi (2)

Canada’s Men’s Roster for the first leg of the 2019 Rugby World Cup Qualifier: 

1. Hubert Buydens – (New Orleans Gold/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon,SK
2. Ray Barkwill – (Seattle Seawolves/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
3. Jake Ilnicki – (Newcastle Falcons/BC Bears) Williams Lake, BC
4. Brett Beukeboom – (Cornish Pirates/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON
5. Evan Olmstead – (Newcastle Falcons/Prairie Wolf Pack) Vancouver, BC
6. Lucas Rumball – (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues) Mississauga, ON
7. Matt Heaton – (Darlington Mowden Park/Atlantic Rock) Godmanchester, QC
8. Tyler Ardron – (Chiefs/Ontario Blues) Lakefield, ON
9. Phil Mack – Captain (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
10. Shane O’Leary - (Ealing Trailfinders) Cork, Ireland
11. DTH van der Merwe – (Newcastle Falcons) Victoria, BC
12. Nick Blevins – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
13. Ben LeSage – (UBC Thunderbirds/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
14. Taylor Paris – (Castres/Ontario Blues) Barrie, ON
15. Brock Staller – (Meralomas RFC/BC Bears) Surrey, BC
16. Benoit Piffero – (Blagnac Sporting Club/Atlantic Rock) Montreal, QC 
17. Djustice Sears-Duru – (Ealing Trailfinders/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
18. Cole Keith – (James Bay AA/Atlantic Rock) Sussex, NB
19. Kyle Baillie -
20. Admir Cejvanovic – (Burnaby Lake RFC/BC Bears) Burnaby, BC
21. Gordon McRorie – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
22. Patrick Parfrey – (Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock) St. John’s, NL
23. Kainoa Lloyd – (Mississauga Blues/Ontario Blues) Mississauga, ON 

Unavailable due to injury: 

Matt Evans, Conor Trainor, Kyle Baillie, Ciaran Hearn, Jeff Hassler, Connor Braid, Andrew Coe & Matt Tierney 

Uruguay roster to face Canada: 

1. Mateo Sanguinetti
2. Germán Kessler
3. Mario Sagario
4. Ignacio Dotti
5. Rodrigo Capó Ortega
6. Juan Manuel Gaminara (capt.)
7. Franco Lamanna
8. Alejandro Nieto
9. Santiago Arata
10. Felipe Berchesi
11. Nicolás Freitas
12. Andrés Vilaseca
13. Juan Manuel Cat
14. Leandro Leivas
15. Rodrigo Silva
16. Carlos Pombo
17. Matías Benítez
18. Juan Echeverría
19. Manuel Leindekar
20. Rodolfo Garese
21. Agustín Ormaechea
22. Gastón Mieres
23. Joaquín Prada

Canada’s 2018 Americas Rugby Championship & RWC Qualifier schedule:

Canada vs. Uruguay
Full Time Result: Canada 29 – 38 Uruguay
*Rugby World Cup Qualifier round 1 and ARC round 1*

Canada vs. Uruguay
Full Time Result: Canada 31 - 32 Uruguay
Montevideo, Uruguay
*Rugby World Cup Qualifier round 2, not an ARC match*

Canada vs. USA
February 10th at 3pm local time
Sacramento, California

Canada vs. Brazil
February 17th at 6:30pm local time
Westhills Stadium, Langford, BC 

Canada vs. Argentina XV
February 24th at 8pm local time
Jujuy, Argentina

Canada vs. Chile
March 3rd at 1pm local time
La Pintana, Santiago, Chile

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