Rugby Union – Women’s World Cup – Group A – USA vs Japan – Okara Park, Whangarei, New Zealand – October 15, 2022 Jennine Detiveaux of USA in action with Japan’s Rinka Matsuda REUTERS/David Rowland
Oct 15 (Reuters) – The United States kept its hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup alive with a 30-17 victory over Japan at Whangarei on Saturday.
Defeated by Italy on their debut, the United States shrugged off a slow start and trampled four attempts in the second half of the Group B clash.
Joanna Kitlinski, Alev Kelter, Elizabeth Cairns and Jennine Detiveaux scored all five points for the Americans, who will try to secure a spot in the semifinals with victory over Canada on October 23.
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“We came here to do a performance today. To see also : Roe v. Wade: The Supreme Court Leaves an Evil United States… The girls showed up and I’m so proud of them,” said US Captain Kate Zackary.
“They knew how important that second half was.
“We love the cross-border battle (against Canada) and it will be even sweeter here in New Zealand.”
Megumi Abe, Hinano Nagura and Komachi Imakugi crossed for the Japanese, who were thrashed by Canada in their debut and haven’t won a World Cup match since 1994.
Japan got off to a brilliant start when midfielder Abe finished a set-piece from a five-meter lineup with a try in the fifth minute.
Gabriella Cantorna scored a penalty for the United States, but the Japanese held a 5-3 lead at half-time after saving an attempt with a brilliant defense in front of the posts.
The Americans emerged after the break with renewed vigor, and the whore Kitlinski exploded five minutes into the break.
Nagura regained the lead for Japan six minutes later, but Kelter dropped in the 55th minute to put the United States ahead again.
From there, the Americans set foot on the tiresome Japanese.
Free forward Elizabeth Cairns ran for a deft shot before crossing in the 62nd minute and forward Detiveaux sealed the bonus point with his attempt eight minutes later.
Imakugi’s late effort was the standout attempt of the match, however.
With four minutes left on the clock, the high-heeled winger had the small crowd roaring with delight as she landed a shot from behind the midfield line and sliced through the Americans in a 55-meter dash.
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Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by William Mallard
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