Canada set the pace in CanAm

Photo: Paul Rudman/USA Rugby

Canada and the United States have been played “CanAm” tests since 1987 – one of the oldest rivalries in rugby. Wednesday’s game was the 35thin the series – and Canada’s win mean that on Saturday they could, for the first time, draw level in the series.

And after the first of two matches in the series the Canadians look strong favourites as, after a fairly tight opening 40 minutes, they took advantage of a Christiane Pheil’s yellow card to pull away and win 39-5 - recording their third biggest winning margin in the 30-year history of the series.

As is so often the case, with several core sevens players in the squads returning to fifteens (especially the USA), much of the early exchanges were played in a near sevens style - long, powerful runs, hard hits, quick passes, grubbers and chip kicks to often put the defence on the back foot.

It is terrifically entertaining rugby, but exhausting especially over a tournament and is also a style that well-drilled fifteens-specialist teams can often pull apart as possession is given up too easily, and so it proved in the opening quarter of the match with before Canada finally broke through with a try from Karen Paquin. USA quickly responded with a try of their own to bring the match even at 5-5, but after that it was all Canada.

Carolyn McEwen added a try before half time to give the Canadians a 10-5 lead at the break.

And with the Americans down to 14 players early in the half because of the yellow card, Canadian substitute Tyson Beukeboom touched down to extend Canada’s lead to 15-5.

Soon after, captain Kelly Russell got in on the action with a try of her own to put Canada up 20-5, after which Beukeboom then went in for back-to-back tries, giving her a second-half hat trick.

Finally, Canada added a late converted try as they finished one point shy of the 40-point mark.

Canadian coach Francois Ratier said:

"When you play the Americans, you need to respond to there physicality first and then you can play a bit wider. We didn't perform in the first half, but the second one was better. We knew our scrum would keep us in the game. To perform on Saturday we will have to be better in reading and executing."

"Heading into Saturday, it's about consistency and understanding what we're trying to do. The Canadians showed their experience by taking it to us in the second half. We were able to respond in pieces, but not consistently."

USA:  1. Tiffany Faaee (C) (Reddick @ 56')  2. Joanna Kitlinski  3. Catherine Benson (Reinhardt @ 61')  4. Stacey Bridges  5. Alycia Washington (Kinsella @ 51')  6. Christiane Pheil  7. Nicole Strasko (Parsons @ 61')  8. Jordan Gray  9. Joanne Fa'avesi (Pedraza @ 54')  10. Megan Foster (Canett @ 71')  11. Naya Tapper  12. Sylvia Braaten (VC) (Heavirland @ 58')  13. Alev Kelter  14. Kristen Thomas  15. Jess WoodenReserves  16. Phaidra Knight  17. Naima Reddick  18. Jamila Reinhardt  19. Molly Kinsella  20. Sara Parsons  21. Annakaren Pedraza  22. Kayla Canett  23. Nicole Heavirland

Canada:  1. Carolyn McEwen  2. Laura Russell  3. DaLeaka Menin  4. Kayla Mack  5. Latoya Blackwood  6. Jacey Grusnick  7. Karen Paquin  8. Kelly Russell  9. Chelsea Guthrie  10. Emily Belchos  11. Frederique Rajotte  12. Andrew Burk  13. Amanda Thornborough  14. Magali Harvey  15. Julianne ZussmanReserves  16. Jane Kirby  17. Brittany Kassil  18. Olivia DeMerchant  19. Tyson Beukeboom  20. Cindy Nelles  21. Brianna Miller  22. Brittany Waters  23. Elissa Alarie