Canada’s Thyssen De Goede, left, will start at flanker and has already represented Canada in sevens and played for the Canadian under-20 team.Julie Jacobson/The Associated Press
In years gone by, having a de Goede on the rugby field for Canada was always bad news for the opposition.
Hans de Goede, who captained Canada at the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup, was a force to be reckoned with – a hard man who picked up some extra cash in "So You Think You're Tough?" boxing tournaments.
On Saturday, it's the turn of de Goede's son Thyssen to step into the spotlight when he makes his test debut for 17th-ranked Canada against No. 13 Japan in San Jose at the six-team Pacific Nations Cup.
At a time when the sport was amateur and Canadian test matches were few and far between, Hans de Goede represented Canada 24 times from 1974 to 1987. The hard-nosed forward also played for famed Cardiff and was twice named to World XV squads.
The younger de Goede, who has already represented Canada in sevens and played for the Canadian under-20 team, will start at flanker with English-based veteran Richard Thorpe, while Tyler Ardron captains the side at No. 8.
"There's a bit of everything in there," Canadian coach Kieran Crowley, in a statement, said of his starting 15. "It's not the World Cup squad as there are some guys we still need to have a look at.
"There are some guys who aren't here due to various reasons so it's an opportunity for some of these guys to put their hands up."
Crowley, who will name his Rugby World Cup roster after the Pacific Nations Cup, is waiting on the health status of veterans such as Jamie Cudmore, Jebb Sinclair, Taylor Paris, Nanyak Dala and Jason Marshall.
Against Japan, Canada will start a front row of Hubert Buydens, Ray Barkwill and Doug Wooldridge ahead of locks Jon Phelan and Brett Beukeboom.
Gordon McRorie starts at scrum half and Liam Underwood at fly half with Connor Braid and Ciaran Hearn in the centres. D.T.H. van der Merwe and Jeff Hassler play on the wing with Matt Evans at fullback.
Sevens stars Phil Mack and Nathan Hirayama are on the bench, Crowley gave fellow Pan Am Games winners John Moonlight, Harry Jones and Conor Trainor the weekend off.
Callum Morrison, looking for his test debut, is also among the reserves.
Canada lost 34-25 to Japan the last time they met, in the 2014 Pacific Nations Cup in Burnaby.
Afer the Japan game, Canada plays No. 12 Tonga on July 24 in Burnaby, B.C., and No. 9 Samoa on July 29 in Toronto. The competition wraps Aug. 3 with playoff matches in Burnaby, B.C.