Emily Tuttosi scored two tries on her Exeter club home ground as Canada eventually overpowered Scotland 40-19 in the Women’s Rugby World Cup on Saturday, while the United States thrashed Samoa 60-0 to keep their quarter-final hopes alive.
Both Canada and Scotland had already qualified for the last eight before this weekend’s final round of group games, with the only remaining issue in Pool B the finishing order.
Scotland’s defeat at a windswept Sandy Park leaves them on course to face arch-rivals and World Cup favourites England should the tournament hosts, as expected, top Pool A by defeating Australia later Saturday.
Such is Australia’s huge points difference advantage over the United States – despite the teams’ thrilling 31-31 draw last weekend – they should still face title contenders Canada in the last eight even if they lose to England.
“I’m so thankful to see a full Sandy Park,” said Canada hooker Tuttosi, who plays for Exeter in England’s elite Premiership Women’s Rugby.
“The southwest (of England) always supports rugby and today is testament to that…Women’s rugby is here and it’s here to stay.”
Scotland coach Bryan Easson was frustrated by the eventual result.
“We went toe-to-toe with the second best team in the world and created a lot of opportunities, stayed in the fight until the end,” he said.
“When you make small errors against one of the top sides in the world, they capitalise. That’s what happened.
“The scoreline doesn’t reflect the game,” added Easson, who was nevertheless encouraged by top-six Scotland’s real progress” in reaching the quarter-finals.
Canada and Scotland exchanged first-quarter tries through McKinley Hunt and Rhona Lloyd.
Canada, however, then capitalised on Scotland being a player down when Evie Gallagher was yellow-carded for an infringement near her own line.
They were awarded a penalty try after a dominant scrum was halted illegally near Scotland’s line and Tuttosi then crossed as a stretched defence struggled to cope with their speed of ball.
But Scotland, 19-5 down, got back into the game when Gallagher’s arcing run saw her run in a fine try.
Canada, however, pulled clear again when Tuttosi powered over from a line-out following weak defence by Scotland.
Scotland’s lingering hopes of an upset evaporated when Helen Nelson had a try disallowed for offside and soon afterwards Canada replacement prop Brittany Kassil scored a decisive try .
Scotland’s Francesca McGhie, with her sixth try in three games, and Canada’s Olivia DeMerchant then exchanged late scores.
US ‘cheering on’ England
Elsewhere, flanker Freda Tafuna scored four of the United States’ 10 tries in a 60-0 rout of fully amateur Samoa in York.
Eagles lock Erica Jarrell-Searcy went over early in the second half to maintain her record of scoring in every pool game before Samoa full-back Taytana Pati Ah-Cheung came within a metre of the Pacific islanders’ first try of the tournament.
Australia will qualify for the quarter-finals with a bonus point of any type against England or a defeat by 74 or fewer points.
“Hopefully, England does us a favour,” said United States coach Sione Fukofuka. “We’ll watch it together, cheering on the England team and hoping for the best.”
All four quarter-final places on the other half of the draw have been decided ahead of Sunday’s matches, when Ireland will look to repeat last year’s shock win over world champions New Zealand in Pool C.
South Africa, into the last eight for the first time, meet France in a clash of the top two sides in Pool D.
Sunday’s other pool matches, between Japan and Spain, and Italy and Brazil, will see the four teams involved looking to bow out with their first win of this tournament.
AFP
