Canadian women defeat USA and advance to Rugby World Cup semifinals – TSN.ca

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Canada took control in the second half with 20 points to defeat the United States 32-11 to secure a place in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals on Sunday.

The third-placed Canadians meet No. 1 England, the tournament favorites, at Eden Park in Auckland next Friday. No. 2 New Zealand, the five-time champions, meet No. 4 France in the other semi-final on Saturday.

McKinley Hunt, Karen Paquin, Paige Farries and Alex Tessier scored for Canada who led 12-8 at the break at Waitakere Stadium. Captain Sophie de Goede contributed 12 points with three conversions and two penalties.

Joanna Kitlinski scored the lone attempt for the American in seventh place. Alev Kelter shoots two penalties.

It was Canada’s seventh consecutive win against its North American rivals since 2019 – and their second in a week.

“The first half was even but after that we showed that we are better than the USA,” said Canada coach Kevin Rouet.

The Canadians (4-0-0) defeated the Americans 29-14 last weekend to win Pool B and advance to the knockout stages as runners-up. USA (1-3-0) advanced as one of the top two third-place finishers in the 12-team tournament.

In previous quarter-final matches, England defeated No. 6 Australia 41-5, New Zealand defeated No. 9 Wales 55-3 and France fielded No. 5 Italy 39-3.

It was the 29th win in a row for the full professionals from England. The Red Roses’ winning streak dates back to a 13-28 loss to New Zealand in July 2019 and includes a 51-12 decision over Canada last November.

England have never finished in the top three of the tournament.

The Red Roses won in 1994 and 2014 and were runners-up five times (1991 vs. USA and 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2017 vs. New Zealand). In 1998 they finished third.

Canada’s best finish at the tournament was second place in 2014, when they lost 21-9 to England in the final. The Canadians finished fourth in 1998, 2002 and 2006 and most recently finished fifth in 2017.

The rain that fell during the earlier game between England and Australia had stopped before kick-off, leaving a wet pitch. Both Canada and USA attempted to kick the ball early to push opponents back.

The Americans pressed early and took the lead in the ninth minute when Kitlinski fell after a run-out after a penalty on Maddy Grant for a high tackle near the Canadian try line.

Canada responded in the 16th minute by rebounding their driving maul off a laneway after a US offside penalty. Hunt eventually fought his way through to the try, with de Goede’s conversion giving Canada a 7-5 lead.

The Canadians got on with Paquin, wrapping up a protracted attack and grabbing a first chipkick from Elissa Alarie in the 20th minute for a try and a 12-5 lead.

Referee Joy Nicholls warned the Canadians against too many penalties in the 28th minute. Second later, the Canadians dodged a bullet when a Hope Rogers attempt to shoot down an American alley was negated for a knock-on after a video review.

A Kelter penalty in the 38th minute cut the Canadian lead to 12-8 just as it started to rain again.

The Canadians got their own push early in the second half and soon capitalized on that as Farries sliced ​​through the US defense and landed a converted try under the post that increased Canada’s lead to 19-8 in the 41st minute.

A penalty by Kelter from a distance reduced the lead to 19:11.

Kelter was sent in for a high tackle near the US goal line in the 47th minute, reducing the Americans to 14 players for the next 10 minutes. De Goede was good for a 22-11 lead on the subsequent penalty.

Tessier scored Canada’s fourth try in the 57th minute as Canada beat the US defense after an evasive run from Alarie.

Holes began to appear in the tired US defense and De Goede made it 32-11 with a penalty in the 65th minute.

Canada center Sara Kaljuvee lost early in the game after failing a head injury assessment.

Lock Tyson Beukeboom came off the bench in the second half to move up to third on Canada’s women’s list with her 54th cap.

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This report from The Canadian Press was first published on October 29, 2022.