Blog: Cracking The Back Row

What is the strongest part of the Canadian forward pack?  It wasn't so very long ago that observers would have confidently pointed to the Canadian second-row. Names like Mike James, Jamie Cudmore, Luke Tait; at the time of the 2007 World Cup, these men were all fully professional lock-forwards playing in France's Top 14.  But the times are indeed changing.

With the retirement of players like John Thiel, Rod Snow, Mike James and Mike Burak, the strength of Canada's pack has unquestionably shifted to the back-row.  So deep is the list of Canadian professionals with overseas experience across the back of the scrum, that men like Coventry's Sebastian Pearson have not even been called on to compete for a back-row place in the current national team setup. 

The choices for selection are truly difficult. The only sure bet amongst the options would seem to be the likely selection of Aaron Carpenter at #8.  Carpenter, who had an outstanding season for Plymouth Albion in the RFU Championship, has now locked-down the #8 jersey for both his club and country; his position would seem unchallenged. Even here, however, Jeremy Kyne (now on duty in the North of Wales) is being groomed as a legitimate replacement at the #8 position. 

At blind-side, Canada is truly spoiled for choice.  Here, the nation is blessed with a host of players who could easily slide into any of the back-row positions. Sean-Michael Stephen, the Plymouth Albion Captain, would seem to be among the strongest contenders for the #6 jersey, however, the big man from Oakville, Ontario has started only one match for Canada in recent times. Oxford's Stan McKeen is perhaps the most naturally gifted choice, but again, his studies at Oxford's School of Law have limited his appearances for the national squad.  Chauncey O'Toole, who played a handful of games for the Glasgow Warriors, has been perhaps the most consistent choice of Canadian Head Coach Kieran Crowley, and he has benefitted enormously from his long string of international starts.  When names like Kyne and Jeb Sinclair, both of whom have overseas experience with RGC 1404, are added to the mix, it becomes clear how deep the Canadian depth chart truly is. Even Josh Jackson, playing out of Stade Montois in France, has been seeing time in the back-row this year, in addition to his usual role at lock.

At open-side, the Canadian pack is bolstered by impressive performers such as Adam Kleeberger. Kleeberger is currently recovering from shoulder surgery, but his recent stint in New Zealand and his long string of international appearances would seem to suggest that he has the edge. But Kleeberger is being joined on the comeback trail by Nanyak Dala, a player who is as dynamic a back-row product as Canada has ever produced. If not selected at #6, Chauncey O'Toole will surely be raising his hand for an open-side shirt, and Sebastian Pearson is returning to Canada this summer to try and stake a claim of his own.  The contest for a World Cup birth will truly be a dog-fight.

What criteria will the Canadian management use?  Will two back-row players be selected for each position?  Will it be the six best athletes; or will the Canadian pack be chosen for size and power, as was done in 2007?  One way or another, Canada will have some very talented back-row players watching the World Cup from their sofas, instead of from the sidelines in New Zealand.  It will be very interesting to see which way the Canadian selectors lean in the weeks and months to come.

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