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The series Mark Anscombe was hired to nail is now, finally, in his sights.

At the end of June, Canada will begin a two-leg Rugby World Cup qualification series against the USA. The winner goes straight to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. The loser faces off against Uruguay for another spot in Japan.

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Lose again there and there’s a final global tournament to play in.

We’ll leave the scenarios for another day. Let’s focus on the here and now.

Before the American series, Anscombe squad faces tests versus Georgia (June 10) and Romania (June 17) in Alberta. Given how hard games against those two nations have been in the last few years for Canada, they’re surely the most ideal prep for the USA series.

It will be hard, hard rugby.

Anscombe has drawn heavily from his domestic player pool, but it’s a group of names much closer to what first choice has looked like than the group which struggled badly in the Americas Rugby Championship.