Tausinga (left) and Levy (Photo: P Yates / World Rugby)
The USA returns to the Fast Four final against Great Britain after defeating Canada 22-12 in the semifinals. The Americans have gone 3-0-1 against the Canadians across the Vancouver and Edmonton tournaments.
Canada launched a good defense at the USA and the Eagles didn’t necessarily have a good answer for it early on. The Americans took contact, and Lote Tausinga planted some memorable hits on would-be tacklers, but the ball didn’t recycle quickly out of contact or to teammates running clever lines. But while Canada’s defense stifled the USA at times, the home team really hurt itself with unforced errors. Canada wasn’t able to play with much ball and it showed on the scoreboard.
After a few exchanges of possession, Tausinga shook a few defenders in tight and just as the attack came to a standstill, the ball to moved to Sarah Levy, who sprinted away from the congestion. Levy was able to pierce forward and a good pursuit tackle Alysha Corrigan prevented a bigger breakaway. Levy rolled the ball back to Nana Fa’avesi, who sent a long pass to Steph Rovetti in space for the try. Kayla Canett kicked the conversion for the 7-0 lead after 10 minutes.
Tausinga got hands on the ball to turn over the restart, and was good over the ball all game. There were several exchanges of possession mostly in the Canadian end, all associated with penalties for not driving straight in the scrum or those that follow slow support to the tackle. Eventually, Rovetti stressed the defense by side-stepping three defenders in close, then moved the ball to Fa’avesi, Olsen, then Jaz Gray on the sideline. The wing dove into the corner for the half-ending try, 12-0.
Canada kept the second-half kickoff and earned a penalty from the subsequent tackle, but lost the attacking opportunity with an unforced ball-handling error. The USA reset with an attacking scrum, but the ball ricocheted away from Fa’avesi, and Apps was there for the quick pick-up. Nonetheless, the ref blew it up for a not-driving-straight penalty. From the redo, Fa’avesi did an excellent job of sucking in three defenders before getting the over-the-top pass to Gray for the try, 17-0.
An offsides penalty at the subsequent restart allowed Canada to tap through the 50. Renee Gonzalez and Sabrina Poulin did good things with ball in hand, and Emma Chown got her side to the USA 10 meter. The Canadian did an excellent job of keeping the ball in play before going into touch, and a good chase from Olivia De Couvreur kept the home side on attack. A USA penalty followed and Apps just tapped and barreled over the defense for the try, 17-5.
There were approximately two-and-a-half minutes to play and Canada needed two tries to contend. Not impossible, but tough. Gray ended those hopes, as a long pass pit the wing against Chown in a one-on-one with loads of space with which to play. Gray had the steps and the pace to beat Chown, and the wing dotted down a third try, 22-5.
Canada did have one more go, though. After an offsides penalty at the ruck, Canada launched a fast attack from midfield, moving quickly out of contact and eating up ground with every pass. Nakisa Levale challenged the defense and then connected with Asia Hogan-Rochester, who pushed off the defense and finished with a try and conversion, 22-12.
The Eagles will face Great Britain for the fourth time in two weekends. Kickoff is at 4:56 p.m. MDT.
USA 22
Tries: Rovetti, Gray 3
Cons: Canett