RWCQ: USA vs. Canada this Saturday

August 9, 2006

There's a huge World Cup qualifying match this Saturday between rivals Canada and the United States in St. John's, Newfoundland.

via Rugby Canada:

Canada’s National Senior Men’s rugby team coach, Ric Suggitt, admitted at a news conference held in St. John’s, Newfoundland on Tuesday that he has such confidence in his team that he personally feels little pressure about the World Cup Qualifying match against the US Eagles to be played at the Swilers’ Rugby Complex on Saturday.

Lots of confidence from the Canadian coach. And why not...?

Will experience count?

[O]ne thing is certain: Canada holds a marked advantage in terms of playing experience, as well as in members of its squad that have played against the Eagles in games going back to 1977, from which Canada holds a 27-12-1 record.

Rugby prognosticators across the country will be trying to predict Canada’s starting line-up for this upcoming forty-first test, and arguably the biggest and most important match ever played between the two rivals. However, until Coach Ric Suggitt names his team 48-hours before the match, only he knows the starting line-up. So let’s deal with the Canada squad as a whole and with some of the likely starters.

Read the entire prognostication here.

EARLIER, via USA Rugby:

USA Rugby Interim Head Men’s National Team Coach Peter Thorburn announced the players that will assemble for his team’s Rugby World Cup Qualifier against Rugby Canada, Saturday, Aug. 12 in Newfoundland.

More.