Mack scores lone try as Canada falls to Romania in men’s rugby

A familiar face scored Canada’s lone try Saturday in Bucharest.

But it was amid an all too familiar storyline.

A regular refrain from Tests over the past few years was played out as Canada was again competitive against a fellow second-tier nation only to lose by a tight margin as world No. 16 Romania defeated the No. 18 Canucks 21-16.

The undersized but dynamic veteran Phil Mack of Victoria, who announced his retirement from rugby sevens following Canada’s failure to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics, has returned to the XVs game and the crafty James Bay back came off the bench and scored the Canadian try at 74 minutes after fellow James Bay player and Oak Baygrad Connor Braid had driven the ball close to the line. Braid converted Mack’s try while Gordon McRorie of Calgary slotted through three penalty goals.

DTH van der Merwe of Victoria, a pro with Scarlets, captained Canada on Saturday. Van der Merwe and Matt Evans of Duncan made some stellar open-field tackles from the No. 14 and No. 15 backfield slots to help blunt the Romanian attack.

But it wasn’t enough as this was the third tight loss to Romania in as many years for Canada, which concludes its November Test window with a game against No. 14 Samoa on Friday at Stade des Alpes in Grenoble, France.

Meanwhile, Canada defeated Ireland 48-7 in a women’s Test match played Saturday in Dublin. Julianne Zussman of Victoria, who plays for the Castaway Wanderers, led Canada with two tries while Andrea Burk of North Vancouver kicked 13 points.