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Gordon McRorie was in the midst of a Canadian team media training session in Wales when he was pulled out and handed a phone to speak to a reporter.The sudden graduation somehow seemed fitting. The Scottish-born scrum half has wasted little time making his mark in a Canadian jersey.Despite not qualifying to play for Canada until May this year via residency, the 26-year-old is in a battle with Phil Mack for the starting No. 9 shirt. And with Mack currently injured, McRorie is making the most of Canadas November tour.Ive loved every minute of it, McRorie, who has no family ties to Canada, said of his brief time with the national team. This is what I wanted to do for a long time — play international rugby. Its been a dream come true.He scored two tries last Saturday in a 28-23 loss to an RFU Championship XV side in Worcester, England, and will start again Friday when Canada, ranked 17th in the world, takes on No. 22 Namibia in Colwyn Bay, Wales.Both teams are headed to the World Cup next year, albeit in different pools. Namibia is the only one of the 20 teams at the 2015 tournament that has yet to win a game at the rugby showcase.Canada is in sore need of a win itself, after four straight losses this year. Its last victory was a 52-8 decision over Portugal in Lisbon last November.McRorie first came to Canada in 2010 when he visited a friend from university in Edmonton for two weeks. He liked what he saw and moved to Canada in May 2011. He had finished at Sterling University in Scotland and wanted to try something new.He eventually settled in Calgary where then-Hornets coach Graeme Moffat made him welcome at his club.McRorie, who also plays for the Prairie Wolf Pack, had no thought that the move might lead to playing for Canada. But Moffat suggested a year later that perhaps he should stick around and see what happens.He soon drew the attention of national team coaches and was available for selection in late May this year after qualifying through three years of Canadian residency.Im pretty chuffed that I came here, he said.He made his Canada debut on June 7 against Japan, at Swangard Stadium, in Burnaby. And a week later he came on late against his native Scotland.He had a bit of a rocky start, giving up a penalty on a flubbed box kick against the Scots. But he has acquitted himself well since, winning selection to Canadas Americas Rugby Championship team prior to going on tour.Coach Kieran Crowley has made five changes to the side that lost to the RFU Championship XV in Worcester, England, on Saturday. That game was not considered a test match with Canada missing some of its pros because the game fell outside the IRB November test window.Prop Jason Marshall, fresh from his appearance with the Barbarians, comes into the pack along with London Irish lock Jebb Sinclair.Connor Braid, Jeff Hassler and DTH van der Merwe enter the backline at fly half, wing and fullback, respectively.Jordan Wilson-Ross starts on the bench and could win his first cap.Canada lost to Samoa and beat Russia two years ago at Parc Eirias, site of Fridays game. Sinclair, Buydens, Doug Wooldridge and Sean White were some of the Canadians involved in the RGC 1404 team that played at Welsh facility a few seasons ago.The Canadians head to France after Fridays match to take on No. 9 Samoa in Vannes on Nov. 14 before wrapping up the tour Nov. 22 in Bucharest against No. 16 Romania.Canada and Romania are both in Pool D at the World Cup, along with No. 5 Ireland, No. 7 France and No. 14 Italy. ---CanadaHubert Buydens (capt.), Prairie Wolf Pack, Saskatoon; Ray Barkwill, Niagara Wasps, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Jason Marshall, Hawkes Bay (New Zealand), Vancouver; Tyler Hotson, Doncaster Knights (England), Vancouver; Jebb Sinclair, London Irish (England), Fredericton; Kyle Gilmour, St. Albert RFC, St. Albert, Alta.; Nanyak Dala, Castaway Wanderers, Regina; John Moonlight, James Bay AA, Pickering, Ont.; Gordon McRorie, Calgary Hornets, Calgary; Connor Braid, Glasgow Warriors (Scotland), Victoria; Sean Duke, UVIC Vikes, Vancouver; Ciaran Hearn, Castaway Wanderers, Conception Bay South, N.L.; Conor Trainor, UBCOB Ravens, Vancouver; Jeff Hassler,- Ospreys (Wales), Okotoks, Alta.; DTH van der Merwe, Glasgow Warriors (Scotland), Regina.ReplacementsDoug Wooldridge, Lindsay RFC, Lindsay, Ont.; Ryan Hamilton, Capilano RFC, Vancouver; Jake Ilnicki, NSW Country Eagles (Australia), Williams Lake, B.C.; Brett Buekeboom, Plymouth Albion (England), Lindsay, Ont.; Aaron Carpenter, Cornish Pirates RFC (England), Brantford, Ont.; Sean White, James Bay AA, Victoria; Patrick Parfrey, Swilers RFC, St. Johns, N.L.; Jordan Wilson-Ross, James Bay AA, Alliston, Ont.Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter .com) - Sixth-seeded Feliciano Lopez was a first-round winner on Monday at the Delray Beach Open tennis event. .S. Olympic hockey management team have been making what he called "ghost rosters" since August. . -- Henry Josey watched helplessly from the sideline last fall, rehabbing from a serious knee injury, while Missouri was getting pushed around in its first SEC season. . -- Mixed martial arts fighter Cristiane Justino Santos has been suspended and fined for testing positive for steroids. . James scored 25 points against his former team, leading the energized Heat to a 114-107 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night. Dwyane Wade added 24 points and Chris Bosh had 22 for the Heat, idle since a 90-84 loss Tuesday at Indiana.Home favourites Rowby-John Rodriguez and Zoran Lerchbacher began their Austrian Open campaign with first round wins in Vienna on Friday. Former World Youth Championship finalist Rodriguez made light work of European Tour debutant Steve McNally in a 6-1 thumping to set up a second round clash against World Championship quarter-finalist Alan Norris.After taking the opening leg, Rodriguez showed his intent with a 97 checkout in the second for a break and never looked back racing into 4-0 lead before McNally finally got on the board but Rodriguez took the next two legs to seal his place in the second round. Saturdays Second Round - Best of 11 legs Alan Norris v Rowby John Rodriguez Stephen Bunting v James Richardson Terry Jenkins v Dimitri Van den Bergh Robert Thornton v Nigel Heydon Ian White v Simon Stevenson Simon Whitlock v Ron Meulenkamp Gerwyn Price v Steve Beaton Kim Huybrechts v Chris Dobey Dave Chisnall v Jamie Cavan Jelle Klaasen v Zoran Lerchbacher Peter Wright v Zoran Lerchbbacher Michael van Gerwen v Jonny Clayton Phil Taylor v Steve West Mensur Suljovic v Kyle Anderson Benito van de Pas v Josh Payne Michael Smith v Mark Frost It wasnt quite as straightforward for another host nation qualifier as Lerchbacher overcame Jeffrey de Zwaan in a narrow 6-4 victory to the delight of the home crowd.ddddddddddddHowever, there was disappointment for Austrias Roxy-James Rodriguez - the elder brother of Rowby-John - as he lost 6-4 to Nigel Heydon, whilst 18-year-old debutant Nico Mandl was comfortably seen off 6-1 by Jonny Clayton who next meets Michael van Gerwen.Steve West produced the performance of the day as he fired six maximums and a 101 average to beat Mervyn King 6-3, and will now face Phil Taylor who makes his return to European Tour action for the first time in two years.There were also strong performances from Steve Beaton and Jamie Caven, who knocked out former Austrian Darts Open winners Vincent van der Voort and Justin Pipe respectively, while left-hander Ron Meulenkamp overcame fellow Dutchman Jeffrey de Graaf 6-3.Elsewhere, there was a dream debut for Simon Stevenson as he came through a tough battle with James Wilson 6-5 to reach the second round.Chris Dobey continued his strong form on the European Tour as he eased past Darron Brown, and James Richardson produced some scintillating darts in a 6-2 victory over former Lakeside champion Christian Kist.Another man in top form is Josh Payne and he showed no signs of letting up with an impressive 6-3 victory over Wes Newton.Mark Frost displayed some masterful finishing as he hit six out of six on the doubles to beat Mike Zuydwijk, whilst Australias Kyle Anderson edged out Ross Smith 6-4 in a ferocious battle.Belgian Dimitri Van Den Bergh also progressed to the second round with a 6-1 victory over Wayne Jones and Jermaine Wattimena saw off Brendan Dolan 6-3 to set up a clash with Peter Wright.Saturday will see the second round take place over an afternoon and evening session before Sundays last eight meetings as well as the semi-finals and final. Also See: Sky Bets darts odds On Sky TV Schedule/Results Features Get Sky Sports ' ' '
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