Canada Defeat USA to Finish 2nd Seed: Face USA Again in Quarter-Finals: VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Canada booked their place in the quarter-finals next weekend, they’ll face the USA again in the #2 v #7 match. In other action will be #1 NZ vs #8 Wales, #3 England v #6 Australia and #4 France v #5 Italy.
The move of Alex Tessier to #10 and Alysha Corrigan to outside centre energized the backline. Corrigan was selected as Player of the Match. Emily Tuttosi is the leading try scorer in the tournament so far with six.
Day 6 Highlights (Includes Canada v USA)
from World Rugby
Canada made sure they progressed to the Rugby World Cup 2021 quarter-finals with maximum points from the pool stage by defeating USA 29-14.
Heading into the game at the Waitakere Stadium in Auckland, third in the World Rugby Womens Rankings powered by Capgemini Canada had recorded Pool B bonus point victories over Japan and Italy.
And they made it three five pointers out of three here after a cracking contest.
USA, seventh in the world who finished third in the pool and also go through to the last eight, will have taken heart from part of their performance too.
Canada got off to a flying start and they took the lead thanks to a try from an attacking lineout.
Hooker Emily Tuttosi was the scorer, her sixth of an amazing tournament so far, and although skipper Sophie De Goede missed the conversion they were 5-0 up after six minutes.
Things got even better for them 10 minutes later when fly-half Alex Tessier went over for try number two and this time De Goede did add the extras and they were in the driving seat at 12-0 to the good.
USA are made of stern stuff though and their centre Alev Kelter is certainly a tough cookie.
In the 21st minute she injected some momentum into her side’s performance by scoring a try and converting it.
Three minutes before half-time Canada scored an important third try. It came through winger Paige Farries and, with De Goede converting, it was 19-7 to them with 40 minutes remaining.
USA knew that they needed to score first in the second half – and they so nearly did just that.
In fact, they thought they had scored in the 54th minute, but, after checking with her TMO, referee Aimee Barrett-Theron disallowed the try following an obstruction by second-row Evi Ashenbrucker in the build-up.
And Canada managed to ride out that period of pressure and get back down the other end of the pitch to bag their bonus point fourth try on the hour mark.
It came after a good break, kick and chase from centre Alysha Corrigan.
The chase by Corrigan won a penalty and, from the resultant lineout, replacement front-row Olivia DeMerchant went over. De Goedes conversion attempt hit the bar, but her side were 24-7 up.
A try by USAs impressive skipper Kate Zackary in the 71st minute – converted by Kelter – brought them back within 10 points.
However, with a minute remaining number eight Zackary was yellow carded and Canada took advantage to put the cherry on top of their cake with try number five.
The five pointer came from replacement front-row Mikiela Nelson and, after the match, De Goede said: We are pleased with the performance and we want to take momentum into the knock-out stages now.
*Canada Name Team to Face USA in Final Pool Match*
Canada is missing Brianna Miller who was injured in the Italy match. She was playing well and will be a big loss for Canada, off the bench is Justine Pelletier who will get the start at #9. Alex Tessier will get the start at #10 with reserves Julia Schell and Anais Holly providing halfback and backline cover.
In the forwards Brittany Kassil returns to a starting loosehead position, McKinley Hunt to second row and Karen Paquin starts at blindside flanker. The tireless Fabiola Forteza is not in the match day 23.
from Rugby Canada
Canada confirm roster for final Rugby World Cup pool game against USA
Head coach Kevin Rouet has confirmed Canadas Womens Rugby teams roster for the final pool game of Rugby World Cup 2021 playing in 2022 against USA at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland on Saturday 22 October, live on TSN 3.
Having already secured their place in the Quarter Finals, Rouet side will look to cement their place at the top of pool B with the USA needing a bonus-point win to leapfrog Canada into first place.
A bonus-point for Canada would see the team finish in the top-two seeds after pool play, with a losing bonus-point also being enough to take top spot in pool B thanks to taking a maximum 10 competition points from the first two rounds.
Canadas head coach, Kevin Rouet said: Were in a good place heading into what will be another big test against the USA.
Weve earned our spot in the playoffs, which is great, but we want to finish top of the pool and continue to build on what weve done so far.
From the start we had plans to rotate the roster and Im excited about the group that gets the opportunity to represent Canada on Sunday here in Auckland.
Kickoff is at 7:15 p.m. PT and 10:15 p.m. ET. on Saturday 22 October, which is 3:15 p.m. local time on Sunday 23 October.
WHERE TO WATCH
Saturdays game against Italy will be shown live on TSN 3. Coverage begins from 7:00 p.m. PT and 10:00 p.m. ET, with kickoff at 7:15 p.m. PT and 7:15 p.m. ET
CANADAS WOMENS RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER vs ITALY
1. Brittany Kassil (Guelph, ON) Guelph, ON
2. Emily Tuttosi (Souris, MB) Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
3. DaLeaka Menin (Vulcan, AB) Calgary Hornets / Exeter Chiefs
4. Courtney Holtkamp (Rimbey, AB) Red Deer Titans
5. McKinley Hunt (King City, ON) Aurora Barbarians / Exeter Chiefs
6. Karen Paquin (Quebec City, QC Club de rugby de Québec / Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais
7. Sara Svoboda (Belleville, ON) Brantford Harlequins / Belleville Bulldogs / Loughborough Lightning
8. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) Castaway Wanderers RFC
9. Justine Pelletier (Riviere-du-Loup, QC) Riviere-du-Loup, QC
10. Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, QC) Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC
11. Paige Farries (Red Deer, AB) Worcester Warriors
12. Sara Kaljuvee (Ajax, ON) Toronto Scottish
13. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) CRFC / Saracens
14. Maddy Grant (Cornwall, ON) University of Ottawa
15. Elissa Alarie (Trois-Rivieres, QC) Westshore RFC
16. Gillian Boag (Calgary, AB) Capilano RFC
17. Mikiela Nelson (North Vancouver, BC) UBC Rugby/Capilano Rugby
18. Olivia DeMerchant (Mapledale, NB) Halifax Tars RFC
19. Ngalula Fuamba (Notre Dame de-l’ile-Perrot, QC) T.M.R.R.F.C.
20. Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, ON) Cowichan RFC
21. Gabrielle Senft (Regina, SK) Castaway Wanderers / Exeter Chiefs / Regina Rogues Rugby Club
22. Anaïs Holly (Montreal, QC) Town of Mont-Royal RFC
23. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, ON) Guelph Redcoats / Castaway Wanderers