Canada will start their Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2019 campaign with a Pool B fixture against the fancied Italy, who started their own campaign with a win.
The bonus point win (47-22) over Namibia didn’t go according to plan for the Italians, though. They conceded three tries to the weak African outfit and struggled to control the game. With New Zealand and South Africa expected to boss the pool, Italy’s chances will depend on how fast they can improve. The defensive frailties against Namibia mean there is a lot on the plate for Italy to improve. There could be wholesale changes to the squad, which could be an invitation for the Canadians to present a ‘tougher than expected’ challenge.
Canada’s glory under the sun came in the 1991 RWC, when they reached the quarter finals. However, a lot has changed since then and the Canadians haven’t been able to scale those lofty heights. Their recent form has been very poor too, with just one win in their last ten matches including friendlies. Regardless, Canada will step into the tournament with zero expectations and could look to upset the odds against Italy. Captain Tyler Ardron will be the key to Canada’s chances, going by his experienced of playing in the Super Rugby for the Chiefs. In addition, Italy might play a weakened team that could play to Canada’s advantage.
There is little reason to back Canada upsetting the odds and beating Italy in this fixture. However, Italy might look to rotate their squad and keep them fresh for the upcoming big matches against New Zealand and South Africa. That presents a great chance for Canada to close the gap. This one might see a tight result with the final margin expected to be less than 15.