Canada beats Oxford University in warmup for World Cup repechage tournament

OXFORD, England — Canada geared up for the Rugby World Cup repechage tournament with a 26-20 win over Oxford University on Wednesday.

Matt Evans, in his first action for Canada since 2016 due to a serious knee injury, scored two tries while Luke Campbell and Giuseppe du Toit added singles. Shane O’Leary kicked three conversions.

After going down 3-0 to an Oxford penalty, Evans put Canada ahead 7-3 with a converted try. Oxford answered with a try and penalty to pull back ahead 13-7 before Campbell’s converted try made it 14-13 Canada at the half.

A 53rd-minute converted try by du Toit, who had just entered the game, extended the Canadian lead to 21-13. Evans’ second try of the day made it 26-13 in the 65th minute.

Oxford narrowed the gap with a penalty try but Canada held on for the victory.

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Canada coach Kingsley Jones did not have his full roster at his disposal with some overseas players yet to be released by their clubs. That prompted him to summon England-based players Robbie Povey, Dan Moor and Adrian Wadden as reinforcements.

Povey started at fullback while Moor was on the wing. Wadden was on the bench.

Oxford came into the game having won five straight, thumping the Royal Navy 50-3 last time out. The Dark Blues, who had won all four previous games at their Iffley Road home stadium, are gearing up the annual Varsity Match against Cambridge on Dec. 7 at Twickenham.

The Oxford bench included Dom Wadlouck, who has also played for the Newcastle Falcons, London Wasps, Northampton Saints and London Irish. He is pursuing a master’s degree in sustainable urban development at Kellogg College.

The Oxford side also featured former Harlequins lock George Robson and London Irish fullback Ben Ransom.

Jones will trim his roster to 30 after another warmup game against Coventry on Nov. 5 before heading to Marseille, France, for the last-chance qualifier for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

The 23rd-ranked Canadians play No. 28 Kenya on Nov. 11, No. 29 Germany on Nov. 17 and No. 21 Hong Kong on Nov. 23.

The round-robin winner will slot into Pool B at the World Cup alongside top-ranked New Zealand, No. 5 South Africa, No. 14 Italy and No. 22 Namibia.

Canada, which has never failed to qualify for the Rugby World Cup, dropped into the repechage after losing qualifying series against the 15th-ranked U.S. Eagles and No. 18 Uruguay.

All of the repechage games are at the 5,000-capacity Stade Delort.

Canada

Noah Barker, James Bay AA, Courtenay, B.C.; Eric Howard, NOLA Gold (MLR), Ottawa; Cole Keith, James Bay AA, Sussex, N.B.; Paul Ciulini, Aurora Barbarians, Vaughan, Ont.; Josh Larsen, Otago (New Zealand), Parksville, B.C.; . Mike Sheppard, Stoney Creek Camels, Brampton, Ont.; Lucas Rumball (capt.), Balmy Beach RFC, Mississauga, Ont.; Luke Campbell, James Bay AA, Victoria; Gordon McRorie, Calgary Hornets, Calgary; Shane O’Leary, Nottingham Rugby (England), Cambleton, N.B.; Dan Moor, Yorkshire Carnegie (England), Toronto; Nick Blevins, Calgary Hornets, Calgary; Doug Fraser, Castaway Wanderers, Ladysmith, B.C.; Matt Evans, Cornish Pirates (England), Maple Bay, B.C.; Robbie Povey, Coventry Rugby Club (England), Northampton, England.

Replacements

Ray Barkwill, Seattle Seawolves (MLR), Niagara Falls, Ont.; Hubert Buydens, NOLA Gold (MLR), Saskatoon; Jake Ilnicki, Yorkshire Carnegie (England), Williams Lake, B.C.; Adrian Wadden, Leeds Beckett University (England), Ontario; Matt Heaton, Darlington Mowden Park (England), Godmanchester, Que.; Guiseppe du Toit, UVIC Vikes, Maple Ridge, B.C.; Phil Mack, Seattle Seawolves (MLR), Victoria; Kainoa Lloyd, Mississauga Blues, Mississauga, Ont.; Theo Sauder, UBC Thunderbirds, Vancouver.

The Canadian Press