Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team defeat the Netherlands

Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team defeat the Netherlands

November 12, 2022 (Amsterdam, Netherlands) – Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team scored 24 unanswered points during a dominant start to the second half of a 37-25 victory over the Netherlands. The game was a first-ever test match between the two nations, presented by DHL, played before a capacity crowd at the National Rugby Center Amsterdam.
Ross Braude, Lindsey Stevens, Lucas Rumball and Josh Larsen got over the line to score tries for Canada in the match. Cooper Coats was a perfect seven for seven to add 17 points to the Canadian scoreline.

The match started slowly, with both teams testing each other with numerous kicks. Coats and Robert Povey were steady under the high ball for Canada. Coats gave Canada the lead in the 10th minute with a penalty, but by the 20th minute Peter Lydon, on debut, had answered with two penalties for the Netherlands giving them the 6-3 lead.

Canada quickly put together their best sequence of the first half following the second penalty, claiming the re-start and putting together the phases. A line break from Coats led to an offload to Ross Braude who sprinted clear and touched down between the posts for the first try of the match.

The Netherlands was tackling well in the first half as the Canadian forwards, led by Vikilani, Rowland and Rumball, hammered away. Coats added another penalty for Canada, but the Netherlands responded with a great counter-attack try finished off by Daily Limmen. The sideline conversion by Lydon had the teams head to the break tied at 13.

Canada started the second half with initiative and a focus to keep the ball in hand. A huge lineout drive led to a Netherlands penalty that was kicked to the corner in the 49th minute. Canada executed a beautiful shift ball at the ensuing lineout that was driven over the line and touched down by Lindsey Stevens.

The pressure remained on the Netherlands for the next ten minutes and Canada was eventually rewarded with another try in the 61st minute as Rumball finished off another multiple phase attack. The Canadian scrum responded to some Dutch pressure in the 67th minute as the Netherlands chose the scrum option from a penalty in front of the Canadian posts, only to be whistled for a scrum penalty which allowed Canada to kick clear.

Canada drove back into the Netherlands territory and showcased their physical dominance through more multiple phases that led to Josh Larsen touching down Canada’s fourth try in the 71st minute. Andrew Quattrin featured prominently in the build-up after coming on as an impact substitute. Coats added a penalty shortly after, giving the Canadians a formidable 37-13 lead with just over 5 minutes to play.


The Netherlands showed their mettle by scoring two late tries through Wagemaker and Wierenga to make the final scoreline more respectable at 37-25.

Josiah Morra received his first 15s cap with his start on the wing, while Conor Young, Callum Botchar, and Matt Klimchuk all earned their first caps when they came on as replacements in the second half.

Canadian head coach Kingsley Jones offered, “Full credit to the Dutch. Their kicking game was exceptional in the first half, but I’m so pleased with our team’s ability to implement adaptations to start the second half.” Jones explained, “We felt there were areas close to the breakdown to exploit and once we narrowed the Dutch defence it opened up area out wide for us to attack. Overall, I felt it was a great spectacle of emerging nations rugby and we’re pleased with the result, especially getting more valuable test match experience for our young team which included four more debutants today.”

The Netherlands showed why they are considered a rising force in the rugby world, with this test being the first of two huge games for Dutch rugby this weekend. Their U20 team play Spain tomorrow in the final of the Rugby Europe U20 Championship, having dispatched Germany and Portugal in previous rounds.
“We’re pleased to score three tries,” stated Netherlands head coach Lyn Jones. “But fair play to Canada – we came off second best in the contact areas.”
Canada now re-focus on their final November International versus Namibia, also in Amsterdam, Netherlands on Saturday November 19 at 2:30 p.m. local time (5:30 a.m. PT/8:30 a.m. ET). The test will be a long-awaited opportunity for the nations to meet, as their last scheduled match at the 2019 RWC was cancelled due to weather. Canadian fans can watch Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team take on Namibia LIVE on TSN.ca (https://www.tsn.ca/live) and the TSN App (under “WATCH”).
CANADA 37

TRIES: Braude, Stevens, Rumball, Larsen
CONS: Coats 4/4
PENS: Coats 3/3

NETHERLANDS 25

TRIES: Limmen, Wagemaker, Wierenga
CONS: Lydon 2/3
PENS: Lydon 2/3

HT score: 13-13

CANADA V NETHERLANDS TEAMS
Canada: 1 Liam Murray, 2 Lindsey Stevens, 3 Tyler Rowland, 4 Corey Thomas, 5 Josh Larsen, 6 Kyle Baillie, 7 Lucas Rumball (captain), 8 Siaki Vikilani, 9 Ross Braude, 10 Robbie Povey, 11 Josiah Morra, 12 Josh Thiel, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Andrew Coe, 15 Cooper Coats

Replacements: 16 Andrew Quattrin, 17 Djustice Sears-Duru, 18 Conor Young, 19 Callum Botchar, 20 Matt Klimchuk, 21 Jason Higgins, 22 David Richard, 23 Brock Webster

Netherlands: 1 Hugo Langelaan (captain), 2 Ross Bennie-Coulson, 3 Andy Darlington, 4 Koen Bloemen, 5 Louis Bruinsma, 6 Spike Salman, 7 Wolf van Dijk, 8 Stijn Albers, 9 Rik van Balkom, 10 Willie du Plessis, 11 Siem Noorman, 12 Daily Limmen, 13 Leroy van Dam, 14 Daan van der Avoird, 15 Peter Lydon

Replacements: 16 Lodi Buijs, 17 Jessy Wagemaker, 18 Delano Jansen van der Sligte, 19 Jim Boelrijk, 20 Dirk Wierenga, 21 Mark Coebergh, 22 Kevin Lenssen, 23 Té Campbell

Referee: Benoît Rousselet (France)

Assistant Referees: Vivien Praderie (France) & Jérémy Rozier (France)