Rugby Captain Supported - The Globe And Mail

Coach David Clark gave Al Charron a vote of confidence yesterday, one day after the veteran Canadian captain questioned how much he could help the team in the wake of a disappointing 41-10 loss to Wales at the rugby World Cup.

The 37-year-old Charron, an icon in Canadian rugby, said it was time to review his role given his performance. Charron, coming off complete knee reconstruction in June, was not his usual rambunctious self against the Welsh and took the loss badly.

He was substituted in the 59th minute and watched the rest of the match with a large ice pack on his surgically repaired knee.

But Clark, while acknowledging Charron's injury has taken its toll, said he had no plans to change his role.

The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Charron is not expected to start against New Zealand on Friday as Clark protects him and other key players for more competitive games against Tonga and Italy.

"He's a humble man and he certainly is his harshest critic," Clark said of Charron, whose appearance against Wales was a record 74th cap for Canada. "And he gives himself lashings when things don't go right. He suffers for the whole team. That's the sort of guy he is.

"But there's no doubt Al Charron was short of a gallop [Sunday] He was never going to be able to last for 80 minutes. And we knew that and we managed that the best way we could. We took him from the field. The game was gone at that stage and it was not worth risking his injury. He had done enough work that day."

Clark also said Charron will start, not come off the bench, in his next appearance.

"He has to be the leader of this team and he has to accept that role. He won't abdicate. He would like to but he won't. We won't let him."

Charron took a year off from pro rugby abroad to rest his body for the World Cup. He shredded his knee in a rare club appearance in his hometown in Ottawa, beating the odds to make it back in time for this World Cup.

There were no matches scheduled for yesterday at the World Cup. The tournament resumes today with Argentina facing Namibia in Gosford.

Yesterday, Charron was only slightly less negative about his showing against the Welsh.

"Yes it was a frustrating day [Sunday]and those words came from frustration, but at the same time I want to do what's best for the team. . . . I want to be able to play like I used to be able to play and on further review of the tape, it wasn't as bad as I thought personally though it doesn't make me any more happy.

"There's things in the game that I should have done that I didn't do or I can't do or couldn't do. That weighs heavily on me. I always take losing personally and how I play quite personally. That's the way I feel.

"I know there's a lot of things that I do well but there's other things that others can probably do better based on size and speed and so forth. I know my role on the team, but I also know what needs to be accomplished on the field. So it's a case of talking with the coaches and selectors and getting things worked out on what that role will be."