Canada Under-20 coach Jeff Williams may take the approach that his players are “underdogs” at the World Rugby U20 Trophy in Portugal next month, but he knows his players will leave no stone unturned in their bid to win the tournament.
The Canadians only secured their place in the 12-24 May tournament last month after overwhelming USA 69-25 on aggregate in a two-leg play-off to claim the NACRA berth and a place alongside 2014 runners-up Tonga, Namibia and Hong Kong in Pool B.
Twenty-one players who featured in Canada’s 41-6 win over USA in the second leg will travel to Portugal for the U20 Trophy, including captain Lucas Rumball and Harjun Gill who both played in the 2014 edition when Canada finished seventh.
“I think the reason this team has been successful thus far is because they’re extremely hard-working, they’re gritty and they’re able to play any style of rugby,” said Williams, whose team also beat Romania Under-19s twice in March.
"We’re not taking anything for granted and the key for us will be to outwork the opposition."
“They really can play a multi-faceted game and we can change our style of play depending on varying factors that might come into play.
“There are no easy games for us. The way I’m looking at it, we’re underdogs and we need to prove that we can play with these teams.
“Namibia will be very tough and they will be physical and they’ll play a very direct game. Hong Kong will well-prepared and they’ll know their game plan very well and they’ll try to play an expansive style.
“When it comes to Tonga, they’ve got the physical aspect where they’ll be very strong defensively and look for turnovers in the tackle. But they’ll also play an expansive, free-flowing game and they’ll be good scrummagers.
“We’re not taking anything for granted and the key for us will be to outwork the opposition.”
Canada squad: Phil Berna, Brendan Blaikie, Luke Bradley, Owen Brombal, Andrew Coe, Paul Cuilini, Guiseppe du Toit, Patrick Finlay, Harjun Gill, Dylan Horgan, Dan Joyce, Karsten Leitner, Cali Martinez, Ollie Nott, Reegan O'Gorman, Tony Pomroy, Mitch Rothman, Lucas Rumball (captain), Mitch Santilli, Theo Sauder, Emil Sehic, John Shaw, Matt Tierney, Adrian Wadden, Bryce Worden, Conor Young.
Photo credit: Lorne Collicutt
