Eagle lock Stacey Bridges / Photo: Colleen McCloskey
The USA Women’s National Team has a good shot at the Women’s Rugby World Cup (WRWC) semifinals. Round three of pool play will occur on Thursday, Aug. 17, and the USA will play England for top billing out of Pool B.
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As a review: The three pool winners advance to the semifinals and the fourth seed is filled by the best second-place team. Standings points then point differential will name the fourth semifinalist.
Obviously, the quickest way for the USA to advance to the semifinals would be to win Pool B by defeating England, the defending WRWC champion, on Thursday. But even if the USA loses, the team is in a decent position for a semifinal berth. The Americans did their jobs in the first two rounds by banking bonus-point wins and thus maxing out its standings points potential with 10. Only four of the six undefeated teams have 10 points, with the most difficult round approaching.
Hong Kong’s Jessica Ho saves a ninth Woodman try. / Photo: INPHO/Tommy Dickson for World Rugby
The USA has also received help from the other pools. In Pool A, New Zealand and Canada are both 2-0, but only the Black Ferns have 10 points. Canada defeated Wales 15-0 on Sunday and thus has 9 pts. Now, Canada either needs to defeat New Zealand on Thursday or earn a bonus point in the loss to make up ground. If Canada does pick up a bonus-point loss, then it will likely take the fourth semifinal seed on point differential. If New Zealand and the USA lose, then the Black Ferns will also likely advance on point differential.
Canada beat Wales 15-0. / Photo: INPHO/Tommy Dickson for World Rugby
In Pool C, France and Ireland are undefeated, but only Les Bleus have 10 points. Ireland hasn’t earned a bonus point in wins against Australia (19-17) and Japan (24-14), and would need to defeat France Thursday if it were to advance to the final four.
France has been killing it in Pool C / Photo: INPHO/Bryan Keane for World Rugby
So, what is the best scenario for the USA? Obviously, shocking the world with a win against England tops the list. But if the Eagles lose on Thursday then it would benefit the USA if Canada also lost to New Zealand by seven-plus points and without scoring four tries. That’s really the biggest game Thursday, as France is favored to beat host Ireland.
WRWC ROUND 3
THURSDAY, AUG. 17
(times listed in Eastern)
7:00 a.m. Canada v New Zealand
9:30 a.m. England v USA
9:45 a.m. Italy v Spain
12:00 p.m. Australia v Spain
12:15 p.m. Wales v Hong Kong
2:45 p.m. France v Ireland