Submitted by admin on Fri, 2006-11-24 08:00. ::
Canada's team to play Italy at Fontanafredda Municipal Stadium on Saturday, includes six new players to its starting line-up, with four new players on the bench, from the team that started against Wales last weekend in Cardiff.
Dan Pletch earns the starting loose-head spot from Kevin Tkachuk for his sterling all-round work and the scoring of one of Canada's two tries when he came into the game against Wales last Friday.
The Mississauga, Ontario native has been working extremely hard in training and will add extra weight should he come into the game against a formidable Italian front-row.
“Aaron was a late addition to the squad when Garth Cooke had to withdraw. Aaron has worked really hard the past two weeks and he'll get on the field. His size will be important against a big Italian pack,” offers Suggitt.
“We know Mike and Dan can play together and this week now we'll look at this combination,” says Suggitt. “It's no secret that we are looking at front-row combinations and that tight-head is part of that search.
The Italy-based Overmarch Parma lock, Luke Tait retains his starting berth, however this weekend he will team with Stade Bordelais professional Oliver Atkinson in the absence of Mike Burak, who has returned to his club.
Atkinson, who won his first professional contract this fall, last played against the USA in the Churchill Cup in Edmonton and will earn his fifth cap on Saturday against Italy.
With Sean-Michael Stephen not fully fit, Aaron Carpenter regains the number eight position at the back of the scrum for the first time this 2006 season.
Carpenter held the number eight position all through the 2005 season but Stephen won that place in 2006 and has held it ever since, though Carpenter has come off the bench as an impact player in most 2006 matches. He joins flankers Mike Webb and Stan McKeen, who formed a dynamic partnership against Wales in last weekend's international.
Albi professional Morgan Williams will lead the side for his ninth time from the scrum-half position. This will be his third game against Italy having played against the Azzuri in 2000, and 2003.
Edinburgh Gunner Ander Monro has been restored to the fly-half position he relinquished to Derek Daypuck in the Wales match. The versatile and hard-tackling Daypuck moves to the centres in place of injured David Spicer.
Monro is expected to take over the kicking duties in the absence of James Pritchard who went five for five with three penalties and two conversions against Wales. Daypuck joins Ryan Smith in the centres, with the Montauban professional earning his twenty-ninth cap.
“We lost Spicer with a calf injury and James Pritchard is unavailable,” says Suggitt. “Ander is a quality player and a good attacker and we will need his kicking and tactical awareness against Italy.
The ‘twin towers' Justin Mensah-Coker, who made an impact coming off the reserve bench against Wales, and Mike Pyke, who scored a try against Wales, will play on the wings.
Pyke is the only starter remaining from Canada's embarrassing 51-6 loss to Italy two years ago in L'Aquila. An injury in the eighth minute of that game, however, saw him replaced by Ryan Smith.
Thirty-seven cap-winning loose-head prop Kevin Tkachuk, who has played against Italy four times, backs up Dan Pletch. Mike Pletch backs up Forrest Gainer at tight-head, with Aaron Abrams ready to take over from Riordan at hooker.
Perth Ontario's Stu Ault, who won his first cap as a blood substitute against Wales, stands ready to play lock if needed while flanker Adam Kleeberger will act as back-row cover.
Port Perry, Ontario native Dean Van Camp and Regina, Saskatchewan's DTH Van der Merwe, with two and one cap respectively and one try apiece, will serve as cover for the backs.
“Dean was on our November tour last year and got some play against Romania, but then he had to have an injury repaired. He's battling for a place against some very fierce competition and that is difficult for him,” says Suggitt.
“We expect Italy to be very physical and aggressive. They will be tough up front and we will have to make sure of our first-up tackles and be equally aggressive,” says Suggitt.
“If we look at it person-to-person, we have a strong back three in Justin Mensah-Coker, Mike Pyke and Ed Fairhurst who can match anyone. We have a good back-row in McKeen, Webb and Carpenter who will be grafting for every ball.
This is cache, read story here
