Canada’s U20s defeated the USA U20s 24-23 Monday at Shawnigan Lake School in British Columbia in the first of a two-game series to decide which team goes to the Junior World Rugby Trophy in Portugal.

Photos by Judy Teasdale. Click on image to enlarge.

Ian Kinsley

Fitou Fisiiahi, with Christian Wiessing in support

Braeden Hood passes to hooker Lucas Joseph

Michael Engelbrecht, Mike Tolkin, Marc Stcherbina, Luke Gross

Scott Dean

Christian Wiessing

Hanco Germishuys

Hanco Germishuys, Valdemar Lee-Lo, Maciu Koroio

On a very wet day both teams had trouble holding onto the ball and mistakes proved crucial.

The USA got on the board first when Canada scrumhalf Dan Joyce passed from a lineout and the ball kind of squirted out of his hand. USA flanker Hanco Germishuys swopped in, gathered the ball, and was away for the try. Ben Cima converted.

In a game that would see referee Kurt Weaver (who works for USA Rugby) have a strong influence, Canada got a penalty from a scrum and center Guiseppe du Toit slotted the kick. Penalties in the scrums were relatively common in the first half, but seemed to be related to players slipping over more than anything else.

Still, a rather harsh penalty against Canada resulted in a long-range attempt for Cima, who was good with the attempt to make it 10-3 USA.

Right after that, Canada sliced through the USA defense in the backline, with fullback Andrew Coe shaking off some iffy USA tackling to score and make it 10-8.

Both teams tried to use their kicking to produce scoring opportunities. Cima made a nifty play on one kick to slide past a Canadian chaser and toe the ball into touch. The half ended with the USA up 13-8 after Cima slotted another goal.

In the second half, Cima missed two kicks, but eventually USA pressure produced a try. A dropped ball allowed the Americans to toe ahead and chase. That forced a five-meter scrum for Canada, and an attempted box kick from Joyce bounced off a teammate’s head. The ball landed at the feet of USA captain and lock Christian Wiessing, who, assuming there were players out wide, flipped a long backhanded pass to the left side. Somehow wing Seth Halliman controlled the ball, and as he was tackled, offloaded to center Ian Kinsly, who sidestepped his way to a try. Cima converted and the USA led 20-11.

Moments later it was 23-11 and the USA seemed to have the game in hand. But the subs that came on didn’t bring the impact needed, and in the scrum, where the Americans had been stronger, Canada started to get the calls. This led to a Canadian try scored through the forwards, and then moments later they were clear through on the wing for another. Suddenly it was 23-21.

With the subs on, the USA got back into Canadian territory. They got a penalty about 45 meters out and a kick t the corner might have been in order. But they opted for a penalty, hoping perhaps to make it a five-point lead.

But Oisin Brady’s kick, while straight, was short, and Canada sent Philip Berna almost all the way through for a try. He was halted, but eventually Canada got a penalty, and du Toit slotted it to win the game.

Overall, the USA was the stronger team in the set pieces, and when they had their phase game working, they were tough to stop. But too often they knocked on the ball in contact. In addition, referee Weaver was harsh on poachers, which certainly seemed to frustrate the USA players. 

Germishuys was outstanding at flanker and No. 8 Marciu Koroi, and lock Weissing also had strong games, while Cima was more than just a kicker. Louis Mulholland had a lot to do at scrumhalf and did it well.

But the USA learned a lesson in closing out a game, and will get another chance Friday in what is essentially a 160-minute game that is tied after 80.

USA U20s 23

Tries: Germishuys, Kinsly

Convs: Cima 2

Pens: Cima 3

Canada U20s 24

Tries: Coe, Cuilini, Sauder

Pens: Du Toit 3

AIG Men's Junior All-Americans
1. James Gannon
2. Lucas Joseph
3. Valdemar Lee-lo
4. Oliver Drew
5. Christian Wiessing (C)
6. Braeden Hood
7. Jacobus Germishuys
8. Maciu Koroi
9. Louis Mulholland
10. Ben Cima
11. Seth Halliman
12. Fitou Fisiiahi
13. Ian Kinsly
14. Connor McRae
15. Scott Dean

Reserves
16. Gabe Romero
17. Nick Kwasniewski
18. Victor Comptat
19. Brian Nault
20. Erik Thompson
21. Oisin Brady
22. Babapelumu Adejuyigbe

Canada U20s 
1. Brendan Blaikie
2. John Shaw
3. Matt Tierney
4. Paul Cuilini
5. Adrian Wadden
6. Lucas Rumball (C)
7. Ollie Nott
8. Luke Bradley
9. Dan Joyce
10. Dylan Horgan
11. Karsten Leitner
12. Guiseppe du Toit
13. Mitch Santilli
14. Theo Sauder
15. Andrew Coe

Reserves
16. Paddy Finlay
17. Conor Young
18. Cali Martinez
19. Reegan O'Gorman
20. Mitch Rothman
21. Tony Pomroy
22. Philip Berna