The USA and Canada rivalry is an old one, but the squads that represented their respective countries at Fast Four 7s in Vancouver are relatively new to international rugby. In the team’s opener, Canada maintained the lead for the majority of the match but the Eagles battled back for a 22-12 win.
It looked like the USA was going to be the first to score when Summer Harris-Jones made the first of two big line-breaks, but she was corralled on the sideline and a turnover near mid-field negated that territorial gain. A coverage error opened a gap off the ruck, and Emma Chown tore through it for the game-opening try approximately a minute into the match: 5-0.
Again Harris-Jones put the USA in good attacking territory with a big break, but there was no support and Canada’s two pursuers forced a turnover after the tackle. Fortunately for the Eagles, a handling error put the ball back in the visitors’ hands, and Steph Rovetti’s footwork sucked in the defense for an offload to Nia Toliver on the wing. The defense shut down the sideline, and Kayla Canett was there to secure the ball and the attack. Toliver then picked from the base of the subsequent ruck and forced her way through the defense for the try: 5-all.
After an exchange of possession, Canada connected out of a tackle and Olivia Apps streaked downfield. Rachel Strasdas flew downfield, too, and prevented the try with a solid tackle. Olivia De Couvreur was there for the dribble pass but Canett took the prop to ground immediately. After a couple of recycles, however, Canada was able to build an overload out wide for the second Chown try, which Chloe Daniels converted: 12-5 to Canada into the break.
The USA responded with three-straight tries in the second half and kept Canada off the board. A loose ball in contact saw Toliver pop out and scoop it up, then hold off the defense while shuffling backward toward Canada’s try line. Toliver kept moving those feet and eventually slipped out for the score: 12-10.
Several knock-ons from both sides marked the next couple of minutes, and then Canada nearly took advantage of a gap if it weren’t for a forward pass to Chown. The USA reset with the scrum, and Canett took off on an angle. She stalled Ella O’Regan with a dummy pass, planted a fend to keep her at bay, and then finished with a fast try. Canett converted her own score, 17-12.
There were fewer than two minutes remaining in the match and the bench cleared. Jaz Gray and Rovetti tied up a Canadian ballcarrier, who then knocked the ball on the ground. A scrum followed, and then a penalty, and Rovetti took off for the sideline. The former DI basketball player sent a behind-the-back pass to Gray switching back inside, and after some show-stopping sidesteps, the new cap broke free for a sprint to the try zone: 22-12 to end the game.
The USA will face Mexico, which dropped a 39-0 match to Great Britain in round one, at 12:11 p.m. PDT.
USA 22
Tries: Toliver (2), Canett, Gray
Cons: Canett
CANADA 12
Tries: Chown (2)
Cons: Daniels
USA
Starters: Sui A’au, Summer Harris-Jones, Rachel Strasdas, Nana Fa’avesi (c), Nia Toliver, Kayla Canett, Steph Rovetti
Reserves: Lauren Thunen, Lote Tausinga, Sarah Levy, Jaz Gray, Spiff Sedrick