MARCOUSSIS, France -- Canadian coach Francois Ratier has made five changes to his starting roster to face Samoa on Tuesday (TSN, 10:45am et/7:45am pt) at the IRB Womens Rugby World Cup. Isaiah Thomas Jersey . The Canadian women opened the 12-team tournament with a 31-5 victory over Spain last Friday. Samoa was thumped 65-3 by England in the other Pool A game. Canada will also be looking to pile up the points on the Pacific Islanders before its expected showdown with England for first place in the group. The three pool winners and the best-placed runner-up advance to the semifinals. "From their game against England we know that theyre an incredibly physical team and strong in the tackle area and we need to match them physically to be successful on Tuesday," Ratier said of Samoa in a statement. Ratier has replaced his entire front row with Marie-Pier Pinault-Reid, Mary-Jane Kirby and Olivia DeMerchant coming in for Laura Russell, Kim Donaldson and Hilary Leith. Jacey Murphy starts at blindside flanker for Barbara Mervin, who is out of the tournament after breaking a bone in her hand against Spain. There is just one change in the backs with winger Brittany Waters replacing Julianne Zussman. Resting the front row against the rough-and-tumble Samoans will preserve the trio for the crucial test against England on Saturday. And by keeping the backline mostly intact, Ratier retains his offensive weapons for the hunt for points against Samoa. Cindy Nelles has joined the squad to replace Mervin but will not dress Tuesday. "The team has a great energy right now and, other than Barbara, theres no serious injuries, so I think were ready to face Samoa on Tuesday and play a strong game," said Ratier. ---- Canada Roster against Samoa Marie-Pier Pinault-Reid, Club de Rugby Quebec, Quebec City; Mary-Jane Kirby, Highland RFC, Brampton, Ont.; Olivia DeMerchant, Woodstock Wildmen, Mapledale, N.B.; Maria Samson, Calgary Hornets, Calgary; Latoya Blackwood, St. Anne de Bellevue, Montreal; Jacey Murphy, Aurora Barbarians, Alliston, Ont.; Karen Paquin, Club de Rugby Quebec, Quebec City; Kelly Russell (capt.), Toronto Nomads, Bolton, Ont.; Stephanie Bernier, Club de Rugby Quebec, Quebec City; Quebec; Emily Belchos, Markham Irish RFC, Barrie, Ont.; Brittany Waters, Meraloma Athletic Club, Vancouver; Andrea Burk, Capilano RFC, North Vancouver; Mandy Marchak, Capilano RFC, Winnipeg; Magali Harvey, Club de Rugby Quebec, Quebec City; Elissa Alarie, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Rugby Club, Trois-Rivieres, Que. Reserves Hilary Leith, Capilano RFC, Vancouver; Laura Russell, Toronto Nomads, Bolton, Ont.; Tyson Beukeboom, Aurora Barbarians, Uxbridge, Ont.; Kayla Mack, Wild Oats RFC, Saskatoon; Julianne Zussman, Town of Mount Royal RFC, Montreal; Amanda Thornborough, Brandon Barbarians RFC, Brandon, Man.; Jessica Dovanne, Velox RFC, Victoria. Carsen Edwards Jersey . Bradley is one of eight players selected to the team who also played in this years World Cup in Brazil. The MLS all-stars will compete against German giants Bayern Munich in Portland on Aug. Tom Heinsohn Jersey .Y. -- Major League Soccer has agreed to new measures to protect gay players from discrimination and harassment as a result of meetings with New Yorks attorney general. https://www.cheapceltics.com/ .com) - Quarterback Cardale Jones will return to Ohio State next season.SAN FRANCISCO -- Ian Desmond had a career-high five RBIs and Stephen Strasburg won his third straight decision for the Washington Nationals in their 9-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Monday night. Denard Span added a triple and two doubles to help the Nationals win for the eighth time in 10 games. Desmond had three hits and Jayson Werth drove in two runs. San Francisco had its five-game winning streak snapped. Strasburg (6-4) allowed four hits over six innings and retired his final 10 hitters. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter, improving to 3-0 against the Giants with 29 strikeouts in 25 innings. Nationals starters have struck out 52 and walked one in their last seven games. Ryan Vogelsong (4-3) retired 10 of 11 batters during one stretch and pitched into the seventh. But he gave up six runs and nine hits, ending his three-game winning streak. Desmond, who owns a .373 career batting average against the Giants, also has an impressive .434 mark (23 for 53) with 51 RBIs with the bases loaded. His two-run single with the sacks full in the third gave Washington a 4-1 llead. K. C. Jones Jersey. Desmond tripled home a run in the second and added a two-run double in the seventh. Werth drove in the Nationals first run in the first inning and added an RBI single in the seventh. He also scored on an error. The Giants scored their first run in the second. Tyler Colvin doubled with one out and came home on Brandon Crawfords single. Joaquin Arias added an RBI single in the eighth. Strasburg struck out the first batter he faced in four of his six innings. He also ended three innings with a strikeout. NOTES: Nationals INF Anthony Rendon (sore right hand) was out of the starting lineup for a third straight game. Hes expected to start Tuesday. ... Giants OF Angel Pagan was out of the lineup with a bruised right shin. ... Giants RHP Santiago Casilla is expected to start a rehab assignment at Class-A San Jose on Wednesday or Thursday. ... RHP Doug Fister (4-1, 3.19 ERA) pitches Tuesday for the Nationals. Hes walked two batters in 36 2-3 innings this year. LHP Madison Bumgarner (8-3, 2.86) starts for the Giants. Hes on a six-game winning streak. ' ' '