Canada win big over USA

Canada made it two from two with their second straight blowout victory of the Women’s Rugby Super Series, this time with hosts USA on the losing end of a 33-5 result. Andrea Burk led the way with 18 points including five successful kicks at goal as the Eagles struggled to contain Canada’s expansive attacking game, much the same as England had in Round 1.

Brittany Waters made the first try look easy as the Canadians moved the ball through the phases like clockwork, with Julianne Zussman drawing the outside defense in and putting her winger into space. Burk’s conversion made it seven but the Eagles were there to play, and responded in kind. Lovely interplay by props Catie Benson and Hope Rogers, of all people, on the blindside put Rogers over to cut the difference to two.

Canada continued to pile on the pressure and DaLeaka Menin put her own application into the prop festival as she burst through the line to earn a penalty in kicking range. Burk made good on the kick after just missing a few minutes earlier. Menin was back at it shortly after, finishing off a series of short range attacks on the line with Burk’s conversion making it 17-5 at the break.

The second half was all Canada. Jenn Sever was binned early for indiscretion at the breakdown, and Burk took advantage to add three points. She added five more with a try, doing her best forward impression with a pick and drive to make it a full 20 points between the two, with her conversion attempt ringing off the uprights.

Burk found the post for a second time as the game crept into the closing minutes, but the radar was back on song for her third penalty goal after Jamila Reinhardt was dispatched for team infringements. With one less defender another score was inevitable and it went to Zussman, her third in competition, who showed a clean pair of heels to the defense to wrap up the dominant performance.

The Eagles have one last shot to find a win against England on Saturday in Round 3. Canada have all but wrapped up the tournament, with only a single bonus point required against France to claim the title.

CANADA 33
Tries – B. Waters (6), D. Menin (37), A. Burk (48), J. Zussman (78)
Cons – A. Burk 2 (7, 38)
Pens – A. Burk 3 (32, 44, 76)

USA 5
Tries – H. Rogers (12)
Yellow cards – J. Sever (43), J. Reinhardt (75)

CANADA
1 Carolyn McEwen 2 Mary-Jane Kirby 3 DaLeaka Menin 4 Laura Russell (capt.) 5 Kayla Mack 6 Barbara Mervin 7 Latoya Blackwood 8 Jacey Murphy 9 Chelsea Guthrie 10 Emily Belchos 11 Katie McNally 12 Andrea Burk 13 Alex Tessier 14 Brittany Waters 15 Julianne Zussman

16 Julia Folk 17 Demi Stamatakis 18 Olivia DeMerchant 18 Tyson Beukeboom 19 Fabiola Forteza 20 Brianna Miller 22 Anaïs Holly 23 Frédérique Rajotte

USA
1 Catie Benson 2 Katy Augustyn 3 Hope Rogers 4 Stacey Bridges (capt.) 5 Molly Kinsella 6 Elizabeth Cairns 7 Nicole Strasko 8 Jordan Gray 9 Jennifer Lui 10 Kimber Rozier 11 Cheta Emba 12 Jenn Sever 13 Asinate Serevi 14 Saskia Morgan 15 Jessica Wooden

16 Joanna Kitlinski 17 Tiffany Faaee 18 Jamila Reinhardt 19 Alycia Washington 20 Christiane Pheil 21 Deven Owsiany 22 Megan Foster 23 Naya Tapper

Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU)