With heavy rain in the forecast for Auckland, Canada coach Kevin Rouet is not anticipating Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final towards the U.S. to be a factor of magnificence.
“It’s going to alter the dynamic of the sport for positive,” mentioned Rouet, pointing to his forwards and the kicking recreation as potential key elements in the competition at Waitakere Stadium.
“It could be not the prettiest recreation,” the French-born coach added. “But that is a quarter-final so it’s important to adapt to any climate conditions.”
The solar was shining final weekend when the third-ranked Canadians (3-0-0) defeated the seventh-ranked Americans 29-14 to win Pool B and transfer into the knockout spherical because the second seed. The Americans (1-2-0) superior as one of many two finest third-place finishers in the 12-team event.
Canada has had the higher hand of late over its North American rival, successful six straight over the U.S. since 2019.
“Last week was stuffed with drama, large collisions with plenty of thrilling rugby, and a few key learnings for each groups who share an intense rivalry,” mentioned U.S. coach Rob Cain. “We very a lot count on this weekend to supply much more and we all know we must be even higher, as too will Canada.
“We are completely happy to be at this stage of the event, however we aren’t glad simply but. [Saturday] is a actual alternative for this group,” he added.
WATCH l Canada beats the U.S. 29-14 at girls’s rugby World Cup:
Canada beats the United States 29-14. The two groups will face off once more subsequent week in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
In the opposite weekend quarter-finals, it is fourth-ranked France versus No. 5 Italy, No. 2 New Zealand versus No. 9 Wales and No. 1 England versus No. 6 Australia.
The Canada-U. S. winner will possible face event favorite England in the semifinals. The Red Roses hammered No. 13 South Africa 75-0 in their closing pool recreation to increase their successful streak to twenty-eight video games — a run that dates again to a 28-13 loss to New Zealand in July 2019 and consists of a 51-12 resolution over Canada final November.
Rouet has made two adjustments to his beginning 15, slotting in veteran prop Olivia DeMerchant and flanker Fabiola Forteza.
Lock Tyson Beukeboom will transfer into third place on the Canadian girls’s caps checklist if she comes off the bench to earn her 54th cap.
Olivia Apps, who joined the staff after scrum half Brianna Miller was dominated out for the remainder of the event, could make her 15s debut off the bench. The 23-year-old Apps has been with the Canadian sevens facet since 2018.
Miller joined Laura Russell and Taylor Perry in being sidelined by damage in New Zealand.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau despatched the staff a video message earlier than the quarter-final, congratulating them on their progress and wishing them good luck forward.
“There’s no higher feeling than seeing Canadian athletes competing and successful on the world stage,” Trudeau mentioned in the brief video.