Canada defeats U.S. Eagles 34-21 in first leg of Rugby World Cup qualifying series

Wing Brock Webster, a product of the Canadian sevens program making his 15s debut, went the length of the pitch for an intercept try in the 68th minute as the home side reeled off 20 straight points. A late U.S. try was called back due to an infraction but Tavite Lopeti, also on his debut, scored a converted try under the posts in the 82nd minute to cut the lead to 34-21.

Corey Thomas, Lucas Rumball and Ben LeSage also scored tries for 22nd-ranked Canada, which trailed 14-10 at the half on a sunny, very windy afternoon at Swilers Rugby Park. Peter Nelson added four conversions and two penalties.

Jamason Faʻanana-Schultz scored a converted try for the 16th-ranked Americans, who were also awarded a penalty try.

The Canadians had two men sent to the sin-bin in the first 20 minutes but still managed to outscore the Americans 3-0 while down a man.

Canada had a nightmarish start, pinned deep in its own end after a kicking error by Ross Braude and subsequent penalty. Scottish referee Mike Adamson awarded a penalty try to the Americans for another infraction in the third minute, sending Canadian flanker Matt Heaton to the sin-bin in the process.

Despite being a man down, Canada answered quickly with the six-foot-four, 254-pound Thomas bulling his way over in the sixth minute after a well-orchestrated attack. Nelson’s conversion tied it 7-7 and the Canadians managed to hold the Americans off while Heaton served his 10-minute sentence.

The Canadians began to make inroads on the American defence, winning penalties. Nelson made it 10-7 in the 19th minute, launching a penalty kick through the swirling wind after the Americans were penalized for a high tackle.

Canadian lock Conor Keys was sin-binned in the 20th minute for a high tackle on Carty, the American fullback. Seconds later, after another penalty, Adamson warned Canada about too many infractions.

The Canadians resisted a U.S. rolling maul on their goal-line. Nelson then missed a long-distance penalty attempt in the wind in the 25th minute.

The Americans threatened again after Carty earned good field position with a 50-20 kick, one of the new laws under trial that allows a team to get the lineout if it kicks the ball from within its 50-yard line into touch inside the opposition 20. But the Canadians stymied another American maul to end the threat.

Faʻanana-Schultz put the U.S. ahead 14-10 in the 35th minute, crossing the line on a set play from a lineout.

The U.S. lost its most experienced player — and lineout leader — in the first half after when No. 8 Cam Dolan, a veteran of 54 caps, failed a head injury assessment test.

Taking advantage of an American error on the second-half kickoff, Rumball’s converted try gave Canada a 17-14 lead in the 43rd minute.

Canada began to attack the U.S. lineout and, after Heaton stole a lineout and chipped the ball into U.S. territory, extended its lead after LeSage went over in the 52nd for a 24-14 lead. A Nelson penalty in the 63rd minute, after a U.S. high tackle, made it 27-14.

Canada’s matchday 23 featured 11 Toronto Arrows, including captain Rumball and vice-captain LeSage. There were three Toronto players in the forward pack and three in the backline, not counting wing Kainoa Lloyd who is a former Arrow. Five others were on the bench.

Three Arrows earned their first caps. Centre Spencer Jones started while forward Mason Flesch and scrum half Jason Higgins came off the bench.

Star fly half A.J. MacGinty, who plays for England’s Sale Sharks, had been tabbed to captain the Eagles but started on the bench due to travel complications getting to St. John’s. Centre Bryce Campbell served as skipper with Will Magie starting at fly half.

MacGinty came on to open the second half for his 29th cap.

The win will move the Canadians up to No. 21 in the rankings while the Americans will go the other way.

Due to pandemic-related schedule interruptions, both teams had only played twice since the Japan World Cup with all the matches coming in July’s test window.

Canada lost 68-12 to No. 9 Wales and 70-14 to No. 3 England in its lone action since falling 66-7 to eventual World Cup champion South Africa on Oct. 8, 2019.

The Americans were beaten 43-29 by England and 71-10 by No. 4 Ireland in July.

Both teams came into Saturday’s match mired in lengthy losing runs.

While the Americans were riding a six-match win streak over Canada, they had lost their last six test matches against all opposition dating back to a 20-15 win over the Canadians in September 2019 in Vancouver, a warmup for the World Cup in Japan. That B.C. Place Stadium game marked the last time the Canadian men played on home soil.

Canada, meanwhile, had lost 10 straight since beating Chile 56-0 in February 2019.

Canada came into the match holding a 38-23-2 all-time record against the U.S., including an 8-3-0 edge in World Cup qualifiers. But the Americans were unbeaten in their last 12 meetings (11-0-1) with Canada dating back to a 13-11 loss in Toronto in August 2013 that booked Canada’s ticket to the 2015 World Cup.

A moment of silence was observed before the anthems in memory of Robin Short, the longtime sports editor of the St. John’s Telegram who passed away last week after a two-year battle with cancer.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 4, 2021.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Canada defeats U.S. Eagles 34-21 in first leg of Rugby World Cup qualifying series

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