Canada rush off to France

Big win over the USA

In a Rugby World Cup qualifier for a place in France in 2007 Canada destroyed the USA's hopes by winning 56-7 in St. John’s Newfoundland on Saturday.

The USA now go into répechage and face Uruguay in two matches with the burden of further matches to qualify for France.

This is Canada's biggest win over the USA in 41 matches between the two.  Canada's biggest win prior to this one was 53-12 in 1997.  The USA's biggest win over Canada was 35-20 in 2003.

The Canadians dominated the game from start to finish.  They scored seven tries to one.  Northampton Saints player James Pritchard, playing wing, scored a hat-trick of tries and added three penalty goals and five conversions for a 36 points, a record haul for a Canadian.

One of the try-scorers was veteran prop Rod Snow, one of rugby's itinerant who may well have played his last match for Canada.  A Newfoundlander, Snow's performance was loved by the whole of the 5000 strong crowd which included delighted members of his family.

It took Canada just six minutes to get on the scoreboard.  The USA penalised, prop Kevin Tkachuk tapped and the Canadians raced some 40 metres downfield for a try by fullback Mike Pyke.  The brittleness of the Eagles' defence was evident.  7-0.

Snow got the next try, his eighth for Canada, after virtually the whole side had been in the action.

Two Pritchard penalty goals made the score 20-0 after 24 minutes and it was clear that there would be only one winner.

Four minutes later centre Ryan Smith broke and No.8 Sean-Michael Stephen scored, 27-0

That was the half-time score.

In the second half the wind was behind Canada to add to the USA's woes.

Pritchard was first to score in the second half when he and Justin Mensah-Coker chased a long kick.  Mensah-Coker caught François Viljoen the USA fullback who tried to get a pass away.  Pritchard intercepted in athletic fashion and scored.  34-0.

Pritchard scored again when Pyke came into the line to provide the overlap.  41-0.

Pritchard added a penalty and then, surprise, the Eagles scored.  They won a turnover and centres Phillip Eloff and Albert Tuipolotu were off to make a try for flank Todd Clever.  44-7.

Replacement Derek Daypuck accepted a pass from Pritchard to score in the corner.  49-7.

From a quick line-out experienced scrumhalf Morgan Williams set Pritchard flying half the length of the field for a try, which he converted.  56-7.

Afterwards Ric Suggit, the Canadian coach, said:  “I'm very happy.  I couldn't be happier for the players.

"We said two-and-a-half years ago that this was the game we needed to win and now it is a reality.  At times we played some excellent rugby but we have to continue to improve because when we go to play Wales and Italy in November, we'll have to be even better than this.  The next level is a huge jump."

The eagles' coach Peter Thorburn said:  “It was amateurs against professionals.  Canada was much better than we were today and when things go wrong they tend to compound.  They put us under an immense amount of pressure and we didn't handle it well.”

At the World Cup Canada will be in Pool B with Australia, Wales, Fiji and probably Japan.

Scorers:

For Canada:
Tries:  Pritchard 3, Snow, Pyke, Daypuck, Stephen
Cons:  Pritchard 6
Pens:  Pritchard 3

For USA:
Try:  Clever
Con:  Hercus

Teams:

Canada:  15 Mike Pyke, 14 James Pritchard, 13 Ryan Smith, 12 David Spicer, 11 Justin Mensah-Coker, 10 Ander Monro, 9 Morgan Williams, 8 Sean-Michael Stephen, 7 Stan McKeen, 6 Jamie Cudmore, 5 Luke Tait, 4 Mike James, 3 Rod Snow, 2 Pat Riordan, 1 Kevin Tkachuk
Replacements:  16 Mark Lawson, 17 Dan Pletch, 18 Garth Cooke, 19 Colin Yukes, 20 Mike Webb, 21 Ed Fairhurst, 22 Derek Daypuck

United States:  15 Francois Viljoen, 14 Brian Barnard, 13 Phillip Eloff, 12 Albert Tuipolotu, 11 Paul Emerick, 10 Mike Hercus, 9 Kimball Kjar, 8 Kort Schubert (captain), 7 Justin Stencel, 6 Todd Clever, 5 Mike Mangan, 4 Alec Parker, 3 Chris Osentowski, 2 Matt Wyatt, 1 Mike MacDonald.
Replacements:  16 Patrick Bell, 17 John Vitale, 18 Adam Russell, 19 Louis Stanfill, 20 Scott Lawrence, 21 Chad Erskine, 22 Vaha Esikia

Referee:  Christophe Berdos (France)
Touch-Judges:  Romain Poite, David Rosich (both France)