USA edge Canada in North American battle

In the final match for all RWC 2019 competitors before the tournament begins the USA edged Canada to complete a 20-15 victory. The fixture was close with it genuinely being a North American classic with both teams in positions to win the encounter.

Canada’s roster for RWC 2019 was confirmed earlier in the week while attention will now turn to that of the USA. The Eagles’ roster is to be named on Sunday afternoon. It is to be the final squad announcement of all twenty competitors.

For the Eagles the match against Canada this evening was thereby a final opportunity to secure a place on the flight to Japan. The only player absolutely confirmed would be the captain, Blaine Scully. For him tonight’s match marked his 50th for his country. The Californian became the 11th Eagle to reach the mark of 50 caps.

Celebrating 50 caps and the win will have been a magic combination for Scully. Though getting over the finish line was not easy assignment. Canada would dominate early proceedings to establish a 12-0 lead.

The Canadians would do so with a converted try from scrum half Gordon McRorie and then a try following a quick tap from Peter Nelson.

The USA would open their account in response. Scoring the first points for the men in white was Will Magie. Enjoying a rare start at fly half, Magie would land a penalty to make it a 12-3 scoreline.

Following the restart the Eagles would again be within scoring range. Having stolen a Canadian lineout throw-in the USA went over only to be held up. They were awarded an attacking five meter scrum from which Cam Dolan scored his 16th test try. Maggie’s conversion made it 12-10 and it would remain as such until half time.

The second half would, like the first, begin well for Canada. Fly half Peter Nelson landed a penalty to give the home side a 15-10 lead. It would, ultimately, be the final score of the match for the home team.

The USA would level the scores with a try to Dylan Fawsitt. The Rugby United New York hooker scored from a  maul which came off a lineout. The score would be unconverted, noting the absence of regular fly half AJ MacGinty.

The Eagles would look like scoring again shortly thereafter only for Canada to turnover an attacking Eagles scrum. The USA would not be held off forever though as impressive defense from the Eagles would see Canada lose possession and from there Eagles speedster Martin Iosefo

After some excellent defense from both sides, a Canada knock on was spun wide to Martin Iosefo who demonstrated to Gary Gold that he wants to play in RWC 2019. He would wind his way through the defense to dot down in the right corner.

The final minutes of the contest saw Canada in possession and threatening. The Eagles, though would underline their progress during this decade as they held firm to increase their unbeaten run against Canada to 12 matches.

The next matches for both Canada, and the USA will be on Thursday, September 26. That day will be of note for the Americas as Uruguay face Fiji in Kamaishi; Canada face Italy in Fukuoka; and the USA face England in Kobe. All three games will be the first for the three Americas’ countries. Argentina begin on Saturday, September 21 against France in Tokyo.

 

SCORING

CANADA 15
Tries – G. McRorie (2’), P. Nelson (16’)
Cons – P. Nelson 1/1 (3’), G. McRorie 0/1
Pens – P. Nelson 1/1 (42’)

USA 20
Tries – C. Dolan (37’), D. Fawsitt (49’), M. Iosefo (70’)
Cons – W. Magie 1/2 (38’), W. Hooley 0/1
Pens – W. Magie 1/1 (20’)

 

TEAMS

CANADA
1 Hubert Buydens (17 Djustice Sears-Duru 18’-28’, 49’), 2 Eric Howard (16 Andrew Quattrin 64’), 3 Matt Tierney (18 Jake Ilnicki 55’), 4 Evan Olmstead, 5 Kyle Baillie (20 Matt Heaton 33’), 6 Justin Blanchet (19 Mike Sheppard 11’), 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Tyler Ardron (capt.), 9 Gordon McRorie (21 Jamie Mackenzie 72’), 10 Peter Nelson (22 Shane O’Leary 62’), 11 DTH van der Merwe, 12 Ciaran Hearn (23 Nick Blevins 67’), 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Jeff Hassler, 15 Patrick Parfrey

USA
1 Eric Fry (17 Olive Kilifi 65’-76’), 2 Joe Taufete’e (16 Dylan Fawsitt 49’), 3 Titi Lamositele (18 Paul Mullen 49’), 4 Ben Landry (19 Nate Brakeley 63’-72’), 5 Greg Peterson (19 Nate Brakeley 72’), 6 John Quill, 7 Hanco Germishuys (20 Malon Al-Jiboori 75’), 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Nate Augspurger (21 Shaun Davies 62’), 10 Will Magie (23 Mike Te’o 51’), 11 Martin Iosefo (22 Bryce Campbell 75’), 12 Paul Lasike, 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Blaine Scully (capt.), 15 Will Hooley

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Alex Ruiz (FFR)
Assistants: Mike Adamson (SRU) & Sean Gallagher (IRFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)