GLENDALE, Colorado (AP) — The United States edged Canada in a two-leg Rugby World Cup qualifier by nine points after winning the second test 38-16 on Saturday with a hat trick of tries by flanker Hanco Germishuys.
Following a surprising 34-21 loss last weekend in St. John’s, the U.S. dominated the set-pieces, led 25-9 at halftime and finished with six tries to a penalty try awarded to Canada in the dying seconds. It won the series on aggregate, 59-50.
The Eagles will face Uruguay on Oct. 2 and 9 for a place at the 2023 World Cup in Pool A with host France, New Zealand, Italy and an Africa qualifier.
Canada, which has never missed a Rugby World Cup, will play Chile. The winner faces the loser of the U.S.-Uruguay series for a spot in World Cup Pool D with England, Argentina, Japan and Samoa.
Despite flanker Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz landing in the sin-bin early, the U.S. swept Germishuys over the tryline from a driving maul off a lineout.
A box kick fumble led to wing Christian Dyer’s try, then Germishuys got his second when he carried two Canadians over the line for 18-6 in the 28th minute.
Another driving maul set up Germishuys for his third try on halftime.
Scrumhalf Ruben de Haas added a long-range dropped goal from a Canada tryline dropout in the second half, and scored a try two minutes later from his own chargedown.
Prop Joe Taufete’e touched down from the back of another rolling maul in the rain as the Americans ended a seven-test losing run.
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