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The match will also be his 50th test cap with Team Canada, a milestone that couldn’t have come at a better place and time. The veteran has been around this team since 2009, and played in the 2015 World Cup, so hitting 50 caps at home is perfect.

“It’s crazy how it came full circle and it’s back in Edmonton,” he said. “It’s unbelievable how that worked out. Getting a win would top it right off.”

Blevins was hoping he could share the moment with his Team Canada roommate Gordon McRorie, the Scottish born scrum half who now makes Edmonton his home, but an injury in practice derailed those plans.

McRorie’s ankle isn’t broken, just a Grade 2 sprain that will keep him out two or three weeks, and off the field at Commonwealth this Saturday.

If anyone understands how McRorie is feeling right now, it’s the other Edmontonian.

“He’s pretty devastated,” said Blevins. “His parents actually flew in from Scotland to watch this game. That’s tough. But at least he’s with his family.

“And he’s still a part of the team just as much as if he was playing. He’ll still be on the sidelines enjoying himself and supporting us. He’s on the mend and we’ll see if we can get him back later in this tour.”

Team Canada coach Kingsley Jones feels the loss on both a tactical and personal level.

“You have injuries, that’s the nature of the sport,” he said. “And you can’t select who they are, but Gordon is important to us. He plays two positions very well. It was a bit of blow to us.

“But I’ve been doing this long enough to know that you can only control the controllables. We’ll call in Brock Staller as a good goal kicking fullback option and Patrick Parfrey, who has a lot of experience, to cover that position as well.”