The newly sponsored Affidea Stadium in Belfast (formerly the Kingspan) will host a big game between nations aiming to go a very long way in the World Cup.
Scott Bemand has made ten changes to the last side he put out:
15 FLOOD 14 PARSONS 13 DALTON 12 BREEN 11 McGANN 10 O’BRIEN 9 REILLY 1 O’DOWD 2 JONES (co-captain) 3 DJOUGANG 4 CAMPBELL 5 TUITE 6 MOORE 7 KIRIPATI 8 HOGAN
16 MOLONEY- MACDONALD 17 PERRY 18 McGRATH
19 CORRI FALLON 29 MONAGHAN 21 BOLES 22 LANE 23 HIGGINS
I see the 6:2 split as a sign of weakness, not strength. It throws great responsibility on the backs. But Bemand knows the power of the Canadian forwards.
This is close to a full-strength starting XV, but it still lacks proven back-up players. Who is the alternative to Dannah O’Brien at 10?
Bemand is allowing Sam Monaghan a gentle return to the game after a long break, so Neve Jones, one of the few Ulster girls on parade, wears the armband. But out of courtesy to Monaghan she is termed “co-captain”.
I find it next to impossible to predict a home win. For all the fine players listed above, there are deficiencies unknown to the visiting side.
Canada
This is their 23:
15 SCHELL 14 CORRIGAN 13 SYMONDS 12 TESSIER 11 FARRIES 10 GALLAGHER 9 PELLETIER 1 HUNT 2 BOAG 3 MENIN 4 DE GOEDE 5 BEUKEBOOM 6 PAQUIN 7 CROSSLEY 8 FORTEZA
16 TUTTOSI 17 KASSIL 18 DEMERCHANT 19 O’DONNELL 20 BUISA 21 APPS 22 SEUNANUTAFA 23 LACHANCE
The Canadians flew over from Ottawa on Wednesday. Their campaign has been marked by high ambition from the start. They intend going one step further than in 2014 and take the pot.
They have beaten all their main opponents in the past, though not England for a good while. But, rather like France, they have come very close.
Rouet keeps his star player, Sophie de Goede, in the second row, so strong are his back-row options – even with the absence here of Gabrielle Senft. She is missing for reasons undisclosed.
One more riddle: who will captain the side? In de Goede’s lengthy absence Alex Tessier took over, and retained the post even after the long-term captain returned.
In the last contest between the two sides the Maple Leafs won 21-8 in Vancouver in WXV1. I expect a similar result this time.
Match details
Date: 9 August
KO 12 noon BST
Venue Affidea Stadium Belfast
UK media coverage: BBC2 NI, BBC Sports app and website
