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Canada ring the changes

Chasing Victory: The Canucks will be looking for their first win in the 2007 RWC

Canda coach Ric Suggitt has made seven changes - including four positional switches - to his side ahead of Tuesday's clash with Japan at Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux.

The three new starters all appear in the back-row with Colin Yukes and Aaron Carpenter both being elevated from the replacements bench in Canada's first two World Cup games against Wales and Fiji respectively, while flank Adam Kleeberger gets his first ever World Cup start.

Used efectively as an impact player against Fiji, Carpenter will start against Japan at number eight. David Biddle and Sean-Michael Stephen drop out of the match 22 altogether.

With flank Jamie Cudmore ruled out of the remainder of his side's World Cup campaign after breaking a bone in his left hand, Suggitt has called up Josh Jackson to the squad, and the Bordeaux-based utility forward duly takes a spot on the bench with Mike Webb providing back row cover.

"We're very fortunate that Josh has been able to make himself available after Jamie Cudmore's unfortunate injury," said Suggitt.

"Josh is a very good line-out jumper, and good on kick-off receiver and we're glad to have him with us.

"Mike Webb is the consummate toiler and he has a high work rate. If any of our back-row tires, we know that we can put Webbie in and up the tempo again.

"Justin Mensah-Coker is coming back from a slight strain and if anything happens to any of our back three then Monzie will add genuine speed and size."

Scott Franklin and the Pletch brothers, Mike and Dan, will provide cover for the front row while Ed Fairhust and Justin Mensah-Coker are the two backline replacements.

Canada and Japan have played each other 17 times since 1932 with Japan holding the edge with nine wins and eight losses.

Canada: 15 Mike Pyke, 14 Dth van der Merwe, 13 Craig Culpan, 12 Dave Spicer, 11 James Pritchard, 10 Ryan Smith, 9 Morgan Williams (c), 8 Aaron Carpenter, 7 Adam Kleeberger, 6 Colin Yukes, 5 Mike James, 4 Mike Burak, 3 Jon Thiel, 2 Pat Riordan, 1 Rod Snow
Replacements: 16 Mike Pletch, 17 Dan Pletch, 18 Scott Franklin, 19 Josh Jackson, 20 Mike Webb, 21 Ed Fairhurst, 22 Justin Mensah-Coker

Date: Tuesday 25 September
Venue: Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux
Kick-off: 18:00 (17:00 BST, 16:00 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Touch judges: Lyndon Bray, Bryce Lawrence
Television match official: Joël Jutge