Sinclair | Will start against U.S. Eagles in game to be shown on The Sports Network

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The Canadian Press

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Looking to move into the fast lane to the Rugby World Cup, Canada plays the U.S. Eagles today (TSN, 5 p.m. AT) in Charleston, S.C. in the opening match of a two-leg qualifying series.

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Canada's Jebb Sinclair of Fredericton, right, tackles Ireland A's Fergus McFadden during rugby action at the Churchill Cup last month in Glendale, Colo. Sinclair will move from second row to blindside flanker for today’s game against the U.S. Eagles, the opening match of a two-leg qualifying series for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The rematch goes next Saturday in Edmonton.

Victory in the total-points home-and-away playoff - the teams play again July 11 in Edmonton - is the easiest and quickest way to book a place in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand. The loser has two more possible routes to the World Cup, but coach Kieran Crowley's goal is to nail down a berth in the finals now.

"It's important in the fact that you can do your planning two years out from the tournament," the former All Black said from the Canadian team hotel in steamy South Carolina.

The alternative, a prolonged qualification campaign, means depleting Rugby Canada's limited resources and no doubt require some complicated logistics in assembling players from around the world.

As it is, Crowley takes on the Americans without two of his top players, with hard-hitting forward Jamie Cudmore (Clermont Auvergne, France) and Luke Tait (Stade Montois, France) both injured.

The 13th-ranked Canadians are playing attractive attacking rugby under Crowley, who took over in March 2008. But they still have to turn that into results and have been let down by defensive lapses.

The Canadians are 1-4 this year in the buildup to the World Cup qualifiers, losing 25-6 to Ireland A, 32-23 to Wales A and, at the Churchill Cup, 30-19 to Ireland A and 44-29 to Argentina A. The lone win was 42-10 over 17th-ranked Georgia at the Churchill Cup where Canada finished fourth.

The good and bad were both on display in the loss to Argentina A. The Canadians moved the ball down the backline with the likes of Matt Evans and DTH van der Merwe slashing through the Jaguars defence.

Just 20, Evans turned heads by scoring four tries in three games at the Churchill Cup playing out of position at wing.

But the South Americans made Canada pay for their mistakes.

"That was the biggest disappointment. We gave up three very soft tries in the first half, just through defensive lapses," said Crowley. "Yes, we scored a couple of good ones, but you can't afford to give up soft ones like we did early on. It was just through the (defensive) systems breaking down. It's something we've addressed and hopefully we can fix up."

Crowley has made six changes to his team for the U.S. game with prop Kevin Tkachuk, lock Mike Burak and centre Ryan Smith moving back into the starting 15 after being unavailable for the June 21 Argentina game.

With Stan McKeen sidelined with a calf injury this week, Fredericton's Jebb Sinclair shifts from second row to blindside flanker.

Captain Pat Riordan and Adam Kleeberger return at hooker and openside flanker respectively after getting a breather last time out, starting on the bench. Justin Mensah-Coker replaces Sean Duke on the wing.

The Americans moved up to 18th in the world after beating Georgia 33-13 for fifth place in the six-team Churchill Cup. That win snapped a six-match losing streak.

"After beating Georgia, we were pretty much where we wanted to be, but we're well aware that a victory against Canada is hard to come by and we'll have to play hard for it on Saturday," U.S. coach Eddie O'Sullivan said on the USA Rugby website.

Canada holds a career 31-11-1 record against the Eagles, who have not beaten their northern neighbours since a 20-19 decision in 2005.