Canada ring the changes

Coach Ric Suggitt has made seven changes – four personnel – to play Japan at the Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux on Tuesday.

The three new starters all appear in the back-row with Colin Yukes and Aaron Carpenter both being elevated from the replacements bench in Canada’s first two World Cup games against Wales and Fiji respectively, while flank Adam Kleeberger gets his first ever World Cup start.

Used efectively as an impact player against Fiji, Carpenter will start against Japan at number eight. David Biddle and Sean-Michael Stephen drop out of the match 22 altogether.

Cudmore’s replacement in the squad is Josh Jackson, the Bordeaux-based utility forward takes a spot on the bench with Mike Webb providing back row cover.

Scott Franklin and the Pletch brothers, Mike and Dan, will provide cover for the front row while Ed Fairhust and Justin Mensah-Coker are the two backline replacements.

Canada and Japan have played each other seventeen times since 1932 with Japan holding the edge with 9 wins and 8 losses.

Canada: 15 Mike Pyke, 14 Dth van der Merwe, 13 Craig Culpan, 12 Dave Spicer, 11 James Pritchard, 10 Ryan Smith, 9 Morgan Williams (c), 8 Aaron Carpenter, 7 Adam Kleeberger, 6 Colin Yukes, 5 Mike James, 4 Mike Burak, 3 Jon Thiel, 2 Pat Riordan, 1 Rod Snow
Replacements: 16 Mike Pletch, 17 Dan Pletch, 18 Scott Franklin, 19 Josh Jackson, 20 Mike Webb, 21 Ed Fairhurst, 22 Justin Mensah-Coker