[1/5] Rugby Union – Women’s World Cup – Quarter Final – Canada v United States – Waitakere Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand – October 30, 2022 Canada’s Paige Farries in action REUTERS/David Rowland
AUCKLAND, Oct 30 (Reuters) – Canada raced in four tries to beat neighbors the United States 32-11 on Sunday in a Women’s World Cup quarterfinal matchup, setting up a meeting with tournament favorites England in the semi-final. . endings
McKinley Hunt, Karen Paquin, Paige Farries and Alex Tessier cruised through to send Canada to a fifth World Cup semi-final with a deserved win in rainy conditions at Waitakere Stadium.
England beat Australia 41-5 on Sunday to remain on a collision course with reigning champions New Zealand, who take on France in the other semi-final next Saturday at Eden Park.
“I am very proud of our group,” Canada’s captain Sophie de Goede said. “(We have) a lot of belief. All of our fans and our families believe in us and now is the time to go out there and perform.”
The United States, inaugural World Cup winners in 1991, gave it all they had but couldn’t kick after shaking opponents off to a brilliant start.
They took the lead in the ninth minute when hooker JoJo Kitlinski blasted her way over the line from close range, but Canada quickly responded with two attempts in four minutes.
Lock Hunt crossed the line in similar style, but Paquin’s effort in the 20th minute came from an open game, with the wing finding Elissa Alarie on the right flank and earning a run to the fullback’s chip ahead.
American prop Hope Rogers had a try disallowed for a hit in the 29th minute, but teammate Alev Kelter cut the deficit to 12-8 with a penalty kick just before halftime.
Paquin helped get Canada off to a strong start in the second half when he stole the restart, and left winger Farries blasted his way through the American defense for his team’s third down.
Kelter reduced the lead again with three points off the kicking tee, but was almost immediately shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle, allowing De Goede to extend the lead to 22-11 with the resulting penalty.
Canada’s extra woman proved useful in the 57th minute when they camped on the US line and Tessier, a flyhalf, was able to find space outside the defense to cross for the fourth down.
The Americans continued to pummel the Canadian defense, but de Goede kicked her second penalty to take a towering 21-point lead with 15 minutes to go.
“We talked last night about how, win or lose, we would walk out of this field proud,” said an emotional US captain, Kate Zackary. “I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney; Edited by William Mallard
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