Mark Anscombe is shown in a Rugby Canada handout photo. Anscombe isn't wading into the shallow end for his first match as head coach of Canada's men's rugby team.Andrew Cornaga/The Canadian Press
Mark Anscombe isn't wading into the shallow end for his first match as head coach of Canada's men's rugby team.
The 18th-ranked Canadians host No. 10 Japan on Saturday, a country that stunned powerhouse South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
"The one thing the World Cup has given Japan is confidence and belief and a standard they won't want to drop below," said Anscombe. "They've set the benchmark and it's up to us to step up and match that."
Anscombe was hired by Rugby Canada to lead the senior men's program at the end of March after former head coach and fellow New Zealander Kieran Crowley left to take over a professional club in Italy.
The Canadians completed a recent training camp ahead of three exhibition Test matches this month as the team begins to build towards qualifying for the 2019 World Cup.
"We want to have an attitude that we're going out to win, no matter who it's against," said Anscombe. "Over the course of time we'll become more resilient and be stronger minded. Then when these big games are for something, we're better prepared."
Anscombe named 12 players from the last World Cup squad to current crop of 28, but is without many veterans due to injury, including captain Tyler Ardron and DTH van de Merwe.
Also, Canada's rugby sevens team is focused on a last-chance Olympic repechage next weekend so the door has been swung open for some lesser-known players.
"We're not looking at who's not here, we're looking at who is here," said Anscombe. "What it does is create an opportunity for a few guys and gives them a chance to put their hand up and show everyone what they're capable of doing."
While there's some new blood, 37-year-old lock Jamie Cudmore is among the familiar faces back with the team. A veteran of four World Cups, the Squamish, B.C., product said like any budding relationship, the players and their coach are still in the process of getting to know each other.
"I've had a few first days of school over the years," said Cudmore, who will serve as captain against Japan. "The coach has brought a freshness to the group and some new ideas."
One player happy to be back is Taylor Paris, who suffered a knee injury before the World Cup that forced him to miss the tournament.
"It's been a bit of a rough year but definitely exciting times," said the 23-year-old wing from Barrie, Ont. "Quite a few new faces. It's good to see."
Canada, which was just 1-6-1 at two World Cups under Crowley's leadership, played some good rugby for the former coach, but too often fell victim to mistakes at key times.
"The biggest thing for us is performing simple things under pressure," said Cudmore. "If you get the simple things right, the hard things will work themselves out."
Anscombe, whose coaching resume includes stints with professional clubs in New Zealand and Northern Ireland, said his goal early on is to drill fundamentals into his players.
"If we can do that at training and keep repeating those words, saying those things and executing them every time, then when the games come with intensity and pressure, we'll execute better," he said. "Critical, simple errors have cost the team in the past."
Canada hasn't beaten Japan since 2005 and is 8-14-2 all-time against Saturday's opponent heading into the first-ever 15-man Test match on the artificial turf at B.C. Place Stadium.
Japan also has a new man in charge since the World Cup with interim coach Mark Hammett, who has brought many Super Rugby players to North America.
"They're a fully professional squad," said Cudmore. "Maybe they've got the step up on us, but Canadians don't mind being underdogs and playing at home definitely helps."
Note: Canada will meet No. 19 Russia on June 18 in Calgary before facing No. 14 Italy in Toronto on June 26.