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Canada takes the first steps to the 2015 Rugby World Cup on Saturday, a qualifying journey that can be short or long. Standing in its way is a longtime rival in the form of the U.S. Eagles. The two-match total points series opens at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C., before wrapping up Aug. 24 at Torontos BMO Field. Canada is ranked 15th in the world by the International Rugby Board, compared to No. 18 for the U.S. Four years ago, the Eagles defeated Canada 12-6 in South Carolina, only to lose 41-18 in the finale in Edmonton. The U.S. went on to beat Uruguay 27-22 and 27-6 to join the Canadian men at the World Cup in New Zealand. The Canada-U.S. winner will play in Pool D at the World Cup alongside No. 5 France, No. 8 Ireland, No. 12 Italy and Europe 2. The loser moves on to play Uruguay in another qualifying series, whose winner will play in Pool B with No. 2 Africa, No. 7 Samoa, No. 9 Scotland and Asia 1, likely No. 14 Japan. The team beaten by Uruguay has one last chance to book its ticket to the World Cup via a repechage tournament. No. 10 Argentina is an automatic qualifier from the Americas. Canada has most of its arsenal available for the U.S. series. Missing are prop Hubert Buydens, who is playing professionally in New Zealand, and injured back Trainor. But back in action are hard-nosed lock forward Jamie Cudmore and winger DTH van der Merwe. In-form flanker John Moonlight retains his place in a back row that also features captain Aaron Carpenter and Tyler Ardron, who has signed a pro deal with the Ospreys in Wales. Cudmore partners Jebb Sinclair of London Irish in the second row behind props Andrew Tiedemann and Jason Marshall and hooker Ryan Hamilton. Mobile scrum half Phil Mack earns the No. 9 shirt with Harry Jones winning the battle at fly half. Nick Blevins and Ciaran Hearn pair up in the centre with van der Merwe and Matt Evans on the wing. Dependable kicker James Pritchard starts at fullback. The Canadian starting 15 features eight who play professionally overseas. Saturdays game marks the 50th meeting between the North American rivals. Canada leads the series 36-12-1. The U.S. has lost its last five matches in 2013 including a 16-9 defeat at the hands of Canada in Edmonton in May. Under coach Kieran Crowley, Canada is coming off losses to Japan and Ireland but impressed earlier in the summer with wins over Fiji and Tonga. NOTES -- Jeff Hassler has been replaced by Sean Duke on the Canadian roster due to illness ... The Canadians are slated to leave Oakville, Ont., on Thursday for South Carolina ... Canada captain Aaron Carpenter threw out the opening pitch before the Blue Jays game Tuesday night against the Boston Red Sox. --- Canada Andrew Tiedemann, Castaway Wanderers, St. Albert, Alta.; Ryan Hamilton, Capilano RFC, Vancouver; Jason Marshall, Atlantique Stade Rochelais (France), Vancouver; Jebb Sinclair, London Irish (England), Fredericton; Jamie Cudmore, ASM Clermont Auvergne (France), Squamish, B.C.; Tyler Ardron, Ospreys (Wales), Lakefield, Ont.; John Moonlight, James Bay AA, Pickering, Ont.; Aaron Carpenter (capt.), Cornish Pirates (England), Brantford, Ont.; Phil Mack, Uvic Vikes, Victoria; Harry Jones, Capilano RFC, West Vancouver; DTH van der Merwe, Glasgow Warriors (Scotland), Regina; Nick Blevins, Calgary Hornets, Calgary; Ciaran Hearn, Castaway Wanderers, Conception Bay, N.L.; Matt Evans, Cornish Pirates (England), Maple Bay, B.C.; James Pritchard, Bedford Blues (England), Parkes, Australia. Reserves Ray Barkwill, Niagara Wasps RFC, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Tom Dolezel, London St. Georges, London, Ont.; Doug Wooldridge, Lindsay RFC, Lindsay, Ont.; Tyler Hotson, London Scottish (England), Vancouver; Nanyak Dala, Castaway Wanderers RFC, Saskatoon; Sean White, James Bay AA, Victoria; Nathan Hirayama, UVIC Vikes, Richmond, B.C.; Phil Mackenzie, Sale Sharks (England), Oakville, Ont. David Johnson Jersey . Torres calmly stroked a 51st-minute spot kick down the middle with goalkeeper Romel Quinonez diving right to convert a penalty earned by Javi Martinez. Spain controlled play at the Sanchez Pizjuan but found it hard to convert against a well-organized Bolivian team before Iniesta charged forward to curl around Quinonez in the 84th to seal victory. Corey Peters Jersey .The seventh-seeded Raonic was scheduled to play U.S. Open finalist Kei Nishikori of Japan, but was replaced in the Group B pool by Spanish substitute David Ferrer.Raonic, who was 0-2 at the year-end event, said he suffered the injury late in the first set of Tuesdays 6-3, 7-6 loss to Murray. http://www.officialarizonacardinalsfootb...r-jersey-womens. The visitors missed a host of good chances to win the game, and were left to rue substitute Ivo Ilicevics strike against the crossbar in the 86th minute, when he only had the goalkeeper to beat. J.J. Nelson Jersey . Cleary also had two assists and Patrick Eaves added two goals for the Red Wings, who also ousted Phoenix in seven games during the first round of the 2010 postseason. Todd Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist for Detroit, which got a goal apiece from Tomas Holmstrom and Niklas Kronwall and suffered no shortage of offense despite the absences of Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen. Tre Boston Jersey .Y. - For once, Clayton Kershaw was glad to see a long shutout streak end.VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Canucks hit the road for crucial back-to-back games this week knowing full well that their season likely hangs in the balance. With just nine contests left on the schedule and the club sitting four points adrift in the Western Conference playoff race, the Canucks have no margin for error. "Everybodys looking at the standings. We are too," head coach John Tortorella said after Tuesdays practice at Rogers Arena. "All we can do is control what we have. "Were going to keep on trying to battle away here and find points." That begins Wednesday in Minnesota against the Wild before another tough test the following night against the Colorado Avalanche. Both teams are all but locked into playoff positions, something the Canucks can only dream of at this point. While the standings dont look all that daunting at first glance — the eighth-place Phoenix Coyotes were four points up with a game in hand on Vancouver heading into Tuesday — the math tells a different story. The website www.sportsclubstats.com, which calculates teams playoff chances, currently gives the Canucks just a 2.3 per cent shot at making this years post-season. Its a stunning slide for a club that has become accustomed to battling for division titles in recent years, not its playoff life. Vancouver has won its last two games over the punchless Nashville Predators and the Buffalo Sabres to stay above water, but the Wild and Avalanche should pose a much tougher test in what could be two season-defining contests. "Weve been a very resilient group. Weve been on the outside looking in for a while now and weve climbed right back up there," said Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa. "Weve had some tough losses for sure. Theres no hiding that, but we keeping fighting. "Were still here. Were still standing." They might not be after this week. Apart from the Coyotes, the Dallas Stars also stand in the way of the Canucks playoff hopes. Dallas was three points up on Vancouver with two games in hand heading into Tuesday. But if Vancouver can survive the trip to Minnesota and Colorado, the club could have some life with six of its final seven games coming at home. "Im just trying to take it day by day here," said goaltender Eddie Lack, who is expected to make his 14th straight start Wednesday. "I know (Phoenix and Dallas) have a really tough schedule left. We have a lot of home games too so hopefully we can take advantage of that and just do our part here and well see if its enough or not.dddddddddddd." Canucks forward Zack Kassian said the players are aware of the out-of-town scoreboard each night, but added that the daunting task makes his preparation easier. "We know theres only nine and we know that every one of those games is going to be very important for our hockey team," he said. "You definitely look (at the scores) as a team when youre not playing and youre seeing how other teams are doing that youre trying to chase. "At the end of the day if we dont take care of our business and win hockey games it has no effect on us." Canucks forward Daniel Sedin said he cant help but pay attention to other teams results when every point is so critical. "I think you have to right now. We need those two teams to lose a few games," he said. "I think you keep an eye on that, but on game day youre so focused on your own games you dont really worry too much about the other scores." Tortorella and his players both refuse to use injuries as an excuse, but the Canucks have rarely had a chance to ice their full lineup since the end of December. Daniel Sedin returned on Sunday against Buffalo, but the club lost Henrik Sedin the same night, while fellow forward Alexandre Burrows was hurt against Nashville. Neither will make the two-game road trip. "It cant be deflating. Weve been going through this all year long. You get a couple back, another one goes out," said Tortorella. "Its been most of our top guys ... but it cant be deflating at this time of year. We just need to stay upbeat." While refusing to use injuries as a crutch to explain his teams predicament, the fiery coach who preaches pressure in all three zones added that the crowded sick bay has left him hamstrung at times. "The lineup when we were healthy, I think we were a different team. I think it allowed us to play a little bit differently, too," said Tortorella. "When we started getting banged up there ... we had to make some adjustments within our play and it changes things." Bieksa said that despite the injuries and long odds, a belief remains in the Canucks locker-room that the playoffs are still attainable. "Weve set ourselves up to make a push at least," he said. "Were fighting to the end. Were not going to give up." 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