Canada takes down U.S. at Women’s Rugby World Cup to set up quarter-final rematch

Canada ran in 5 tries Sunday to defeat the United States 29-14 for its third straight victory at the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

The Canadians had already certified for the quarter-finals and have been wanting to enhance their seeding within the knockout spherical. A 3rd consecutive bonus-point win — for 4 tries scored — means Canada finishes atop Pool B and goes into the ultimate eight because the second seed and can meet the seventh-seeded Americans once more in subsequent weekend’s quarter-finals.

“We simply performed the sport right now and now we have to replay that subsequent week. So we’re going to be prepared for that,” mentioned Canada coach Kevin Rouet.

“I feel the quarter-final’s going to be cracker,” mentioned U.S. coach Rob Cain.

Host New Zealand (3-0-0) completed as prime seed on factors distinction and can play eighth-seeded Wales.

WATCH | Canadian girls defeat U.S. for third straight World Cup victory:

The Canadian forwards continued to showcase their driving maul. But this time the backs demonstrated attacking aptitude with Alex Tessier pulling the strings from fly half. Alysha Corrigan excelled at exterior centre.

On the minus facet, Canadian dealing with errors and missed tackles have been on show once more. And Canada wanted some stiff defence within the second half to maintain the Americans at bay.

Tessier, Emily Tuttosi, Paige Farries, Olivia DeService provider and Mikiela Nelson scored tries for Canada, which led 19-7 at the half at Waitakere Stadium. Captain Sophie de Goede kicked two conversions.

Alev Kelter and Kate Zackary scored tries for the U.S. Kelter booted two conversions.

Quarter-final matches set

The prime two groups in every of the three swimming pools plus the 2 finest third-place finishers transfer into the quarter-finals at the 12-country event. Other outcomes earlier than the Canada match meant the U.S. was additionally assured of shifting on.

The Americans, who dropped one place to No. 7 on this week’s rankings, downed Japan 30-17 after dropping 22-10 to Italy.

The prime two groups in every of the three swimming pools plus the 2 finest third-place finishers advance to the quarter-finals of the 12-team event.

Earlier Saturday, Italy had to work arduous to beat Japan 21-8 with an Eightieth-minute transformed strive padding the Italian lead. Italy additionally strikes on to the knockout spherical.

Japan, coached by former Canadian worldwide Lesley McKenzie, doesn’t advance however leaves with kudos for its energetic efficiency.

Tuttosi, Tessier, Corrigan paved the way for Canada

The Canada-U. S. contest kicked off at 10:15 p.m. ET Saturday (3:15 p.m. Sunday native time).

Canada went forward within the sixth minute on Tuttosi’s sixth strive of the event, crashing over at the again of the driving maul that has been such a weapon for the Canadians. De Goede helped set up the strive, profitable a penalty at the breakdown to enable Tessier to kick for the nook and set the stage for the maul off a lineout.

Tessier went over herself within the fifteenth minute after a linebreak by Corrigan ripped open the U.S. defence. The Americans have been penalized at the breakdown and Canada scored off a quick-tap penalty for a transformed attempt to 12-0 lead.

The U.S. answered within the nineteenth minute with Kelter breaking by means of two would-be Canadian tacklers to lower the lead to 12-7.

The Americans started to present supremacy within the scrum as the primary half wore on however had issues at the lineout.

Farries sliced by means of the American defence for a Thirty seventh-minute strive that gave Canada a 19-7 lead with de Goede’s conversion.

The Americans got here out with function within the second half however had little to present for it.

And DeService provider scored at the again of the maul within the sixtieth minute to up the lead to 24-7.

The Americans lastly received their reward within the 71st minute when Zackary bulled her manner over to lower the Canadian benefit to 24-14 with the conversion. Zackary was despatched to the sin bin within the Eightieth minute for a deliberate knock-on with Nelson scoring a late strive within the dying seconds.

Rouet made six adjustments to his beginning 15, highlighted by Justine Pelletier coming in for the injured Brianna Miller and Tessier shifting from centre to fly half.

Miller suffered inside accidents within the win over Italy and has been dominated out for the remainder of the competitors together with fly half Taylor Perry and front-row ahead Laura Russell (higher physique), who have been injured on the eve of the event.

Canada has gained six straight over the U.S. since 2019, most not too long ago 36-5 at the World Rugby Pacific Four Series in June.