June 24, 2017
Eagles and Canada Draw in first RWC2019 Qualifier
Doug Coil
The Eagles and Canada played to a draw in the first of two Rugby World Cup 2019 Qualifier on June 24 at Tim Horton Field in Hamilton, Ontario. The second match of the Qualifier will conclude on July 1 at Torero Stadium in San Diego with the kick off at 7 pm ET/ 4pm PT.
The winner of the Qualifier matches between the USA and Canada will qualify as the Americas 1 team in Pool C of the Rugby World Cup 2019. They will join England, France , Argentina and the Oceania 2 team. The Loser will play against Uruguay January 27 and Feb 3 to become the Americas 2 team, while the loser of that match still has one opportunity to advance through the repechage.
The Americas 2 team will be in Pool D, along with Australia, Wales, Georgia and Oceania 1. The prechage winner will be in Pool B along with New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and Africa 1.
Leading up to the Qualifiers, the Eagles played two Emirates Airlines Summer Series matches losing to 4th ranked Ireland on June 10 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey and narrowly losing to 12th ranked Georgia at Fifth Third Bank Stadium at Kennesaw State University on June 17.
Canada also had two test matches to prepare them for the RWC 2019 Qualifier against the United States. Canada lost to Georgia on June 10 and then to 16th ranked Romania on June 17.
The qualifiers against Canada are being broadcast in the United States live on The Rugby Channel. In Canada, the matches are on TSN.
Canada v USA Recap
Canada’s Shane O’Leary kicked off to begin the match at Tim Horton Field in Hamilton, Ontario. Canada had the early momentum leading to a Shane O’Leary penalty attempt at six minutes that was wide left. A minute later, a missed tackle by the USA had Ciaran Hearn offloading to Andrew Coe to DTH Van Der Merwe for a try. After O’Leary’s conversion Canada led 7-0.
The USA quickly struck back after the restart was fumbled leading to a Nick Civetta try and AJ MacGinty conversion to level the score at 7 all.
At the 18th minute, DTW Van Der Merwe picked the ball from a breakdown and went in for a try in the corner for a 12-7 lead.
Soon after, both sides had to make temporary substitutions for DTH Van Der Merwe and Todd Clever. They were replaced by Nick Blevins and Andrew Durutalo for a concussion assessment and blood substitution, respectively, until both players returned after a brief absence.
O’Leary increased Canada’s lead to 15-7 with a penalty kick at the 26th minute and then with back and forth play the USA attacked from a lineout turned into a maul that had Todd Clever getting to within 1 meter of the line before Nick Civetta scored his second try, which was then converted by MacGinty to narrow the score to 15-14.
The Eagles would add another try just prior to halftime. This was created from a MacGinty chip to Te’o and with Nate Augspurger kicking ahead and taking the ball inside Canada’s 22 meters. An offload by Marcel Brache to Mike Te’o resulted in a try and after MacGinty’s conversion the USA took a 21-15 lead into halftime.
Four minutes into the second half, James Hilterbrand was issued a yellow card on a late hit. O’Leary made the Eagles pay for this error in slotting a penalty kick to narrow the score to 21-18.
Canada had a key scoring opportunity thwarted as they were attacking within 5 meters of the line. Mike Te’o intercepted a Shane O’leary pass and went 95 meters for a try and after MacGinty’s conversion the Eagles had a 28-18 lead.
Canada came right back after a penalty to kick for territory and then turned a lineout into a maul from about 6 meters out. The USA repelled six forward picks, but the referee sent Cam Dolan to the bin.
Three minutes later, Canada’s Andrew Coe was tackled by Brache and went over the line for an apparent try.. A TMO, however showed that the ball was not grounded. Canada did narrow the scoring gap at the 7oth minute, when Aaron Carpenter scored a try in the corner. O’Leary then converted and it was 28-25.
Canada then had another opportunity for a possible score deep in USA territory, but a penalty by the USA had O’Leary slotting a penalty kick to tie the match 28 all with two minutes remaining.
As second dwindled, MacGinty tried to win the match with a drop kick, but it was wide left. Canada then had their opportunity with no time and O”leary’s penalty kick was wide left.
It wasn’t the result that either team wanted, but the teams will travel to San Diego for a winner take all match July 1 to determine the Americas 1 representative to the Rugby World Cup 2019
Men’s Eagles: 1. Tony Purpura 2. James Hilterbrand 3. Paddy Ryan 4. Ben Landry 5. Nick Civetta 6. Todd Clever (C) 7. John Quill 8. Cam Dolan 9. Nate Augspurger 10. AJ MacGinty 11. Matai Leuta 12. Marcel Brache 13. Bryce Campbell 14. Mike Te’o 15. Ben Cima 16. Peter Malcolm 17. Ben Tarr 18. Dino Waldren 19. Matthew Jensen 20. David Tameilau 21. Andrew Durutalo 22. Shaun Davies 23. Will Magee
Canada: 1. Djustice Sears-Duru 2. Ray Barkwill 3. Jake Ilnicki 4. Brett Beukeboom (Co-C) 5. Evan Olmstead 6. Admir Cejvanovic 7. Matt Heaton 8. Tyler Ardron 9. Phil Mack 10. Shane O’Leary 11. Taylor Paris 12. Connor Braid 13. DTH van Der Merwe (Co-C) 14. Andrew Coe 15 Ciaran Hearn 16. Benoit Piffero 17. Anthony Luca 18. Matt Tierney 19. Kyle Baillie 20. Aaron Carpenter 21. Gordon McRorie 22. Nick Blevins 23. Dan Moor
USA Men’s Eagles Summer 2017 Schedule
v. Ireland (Emirates Airline Summer Series) – L 55-19
v. Georgia (Emirates Airline Summer Series) – L 21-17
v. Canada (Rugby World Cup 2019 Qualifier) – Draw 28-28
v. Canada (Rugby World Cup 2019 Qualifier) – Saturday, July 1 @ 6 p.m. ET – Torero Stadium
