Canada's Takoda McMullin (23) helped his team battle to a 42-all draw against Spain in Edmonton on Saturday.Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press
The Canadian men’s rugby team, having jumped two places to No. 23 in the world rankings in the wake of a 42-42 draw with Spain, looks to continue its climb when it plays host to Portugal on Saturday in Edmonton.
The test match at Clarke Stadium is the second for both sides in the inaugural Nations Cup, the second-tier companion to World Rugby’s Nations Championship.
The two tournaments feature the 24 teams that have qualified for next year’s World Cup in Australia.
Portugal dropped in the rankings in the wake of a 30-29 loss to the U.S., falling victim to a 79th-minute penalty from American fly half Chris Hilsenbeck. The win moved the U.S. Eagles ahead of Portugal in the rankings, climbing two spots to No. 14 while Portugal slipped one place to No. 15.
Portugal finished the game in Commerce City, Colo., with 13 men after fly half Manuel Vareiro and replacement prop Pedro Vicente both received red cards.
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Canada pulled even with Spain on Saturday in Edmonton on a last-ditch try by wing Kyle Tremblay in the 82nd minute. Takoda McMullin calmly kicked the conversion to secure the tie.
The game was a seesaw affair with the score knotted on six different occasions. Canada pulled ahead 35-28 midway through the second half, only to see Spain take a 42-35 lead with 70th- and 78th-minute converted tries.
Canada responded with a converted try of its own, capping a determined 15-phase Canadian attack from a lineout that took place as the clock moved into the red.
“To do that in the 80th minute was a pretty good reward for the players for their resilience, I suppose, and the ability to stay in the match,” said Canada coach Stephen Meehan.
Canada's Spencer Jones and his teammates saw their world ranking jump up two spots to No. 22 after their Saturday tie with Spain.Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press
While the comeback was encouraging, the Canadian defence was carved open several times during the match, allowing for long-range Spanish scores.
And while Meehan applauded his team’s spirit, he wanted more in terms of the result.
“Ultimately you can’t be satisfied with the draw,” Meehan said. “You’ve got to be pushing on to win those games.”
Meehan is not drawing on all his available talent, however. In announcing the roster for July matches against Spain, Portugal and Zimbabwe (on July 18 in Winnipeg) Rugby Canada listed more than two dozen players who were unavailable through injury or other commitments.
Meehan chooses to see the glass half-full.
“We’re providing people with opportunity to show what they’ve got,” he said. “A lot of them have done a really good job so far, really stepped up.”
Josh McIndoe, for one, impressed against Spain in his senior debut. The hard-running centre, a former Canada under-20 captain, left his mark on Spanish defenders.
The number of unavailable players has grown this week, however, forcing Meehan to make changes to his starting 15.
Evan Olmstead and Sion Parry slot into the back row, replacing veterans Lucas Rumball and Tyler Ardron, who are unavailable due to prior commitments.
Noah Flesch and the Canadian men's rugby team will host Portugal on Saturday, looking to continue their climb up the rankings.Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press
While Canada loses brute power with Rumball and Ardron out, the experienced Olmstead can replace some of that some physical punch while Parry adds mobility.
With Cooper Coats injured against Spain, Peter Nelson switches from fullback to fly half with McMullin moving from the bench to fullback.
Backrower Cody Nhanala and wing Liam James are added to the matchday 23 and could make their debut off the bench alongside fellow uncapped players Daragh Doyle and Jacob Ince.
Canada’s starting 15 goes into the match with a combined 292 caps, with another 38 caps spread among the eight-man bench. The starters against Spain had a combined 347 caps with the bench totalling 44 caps.
Canada lost 33-27 to Portugal when they met in November in Coimbra, Portugal.
The Portuguese won the Rugby Europe Championship in March, downing No. 13 Georgia 19-17 to claim the annual competition for top European teams outside the Six Nations Championship.