The Langford-based Canadian national men’s team continued its reprise of the 1980s Dan Aykroyd-Eddie Murphy movie. It continues Trading Places with former third-tier rugby nations.
Manuel Cardoso Pinto scored a late try for Portugal in Lisbon to defeat Canada 20-17 in a Test on Saturday to show it is going to be an arduous route back into the second tier of rugby for the free-falling Canucks, who were No. 11 in the world just a decade ago. Canada had never before lost to Portugal in their four previous Tests and such a result would have been unthinkable then. But the growth of rugby into new frontiers has been good for the sport but not so good for Canada, which has failed to keep up and is now ranked No. 23.
As a sign of the times, Canada has been eliminated from the 2023 World Cup after qualifying for all nine previous editions of the global showcase. Portugal is ranked No. 19 and in the hunt to nab a European qualifying berth into the 2023 World Cup in France.
Portugal led 10-5 at the half and 15-5 in the second half before Canada secured the lead at 17-15 thanks to two tries by Corey Thomas, a dual Canada-Australia citizen from Perth, who plays for Los Angeles of Major League Rugby. Cole Keith of New Brunswick and the Toronto Arrows of MLR scored Canada’s other try while England-born Rob Povey, a dual British-Canadian citizen who plays for the Houston SaberCats of MLR, added a convert.
“It’s obviously disappointing and a terrible way to lose a game,” said Canadian head coach Kingsley Jones of Sooke, in his post-game media video scrum.
“It’s always a challenge to win away Test matches. At 78 minutes, looking to close out the game, but we failed to do that. That last try from a loose kick was a killer when there’s no TMO [television match official] to check, because to me, it looked like it wasn’t grounded. That isn’t sour grapes. It’s just a fact about there being no TMO at an international match. That’s really important. But I can’t control that. We’ve got to lick our wounds and there are game-management issues we’ve got to correct. But by and large, I thought we controlled the game.”
Canada will close out the November Test window next Saturday against No. 28 Belgium at Stade Nelson Mandela in Brussels.
Canada will be giving a lot of field time to younger players as it begins its rebuild for 2027 World Cup qualifying. Island players named to the roster for the Portugal and Belgium Tests include youngsters Lachlan Kratz, Quinn Ngawati, Isaac Olson, all of Victoria, Kainoa Lloyd of James Bay, Foster Dewitt of Courtenay and veterans Josh Larsen of Nanaimo and Jake Ilnicki out of the University of Victoria and Castaway Wanderers.
“Lot of new faces in the team today did really well,” said Jones.
CANADIAN WOMEN: In international women’s rugby in Glendale, Colorado, Sophie de Goede of Victoria scored 11 points to help world No. 3 Canada to a 26-13 victory over the the No. 6 U.S. in a test match Friday night. The Oak Bay High graduate had a try and three converts.
The Canadians won 15-9 when the two met Monday in the first of the two Tests in suburban Denver. The matches were the first Tests for the Canadians and Americans in nearly two years.
De Goede, Courtney Holtkamp, Alex Ellis and Karen Paquin scored tries for Canada.
Canada faces No. 1 England in London on Nov. 14 and No. 11 Wales on Nov. 21 in Cardiff. The games are in preparation for the 2022 World Cup next fall in New Zealand.
— With a file from The Canadian Press
