World Cup qualifier: Germishuys hat-trick helps USA beat Canada
REPORT: Hanco Germishuys scored three tries Saturday as the United States defeated Canada 38-16 to claim a 59-50 aggregate victory in their 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifying tie.
The Eagles, coming off a 34-21 defeat in St. John’s, Newfoundland last weekend, scored four first-half tries to lead 25-9 at the interval on the way to a victory at Infinity Park Stadium in Glendale, Colorado.
In addition to South African-born flank Germishuys’s tries, scrumhalf Ruben de Haas delivered a 45-meter drop goal that pushed the score to 28-9.
De Haas also scored the Eagles’ first try of the second half before prop Joe Taufete’e crashed over from the back of a maul.
Christian Dyer added a try for the United States, who had a conversion and a penalty from A.J. MacGinty.
With the win, the Americans booked a two-leg play-off with Uruguay – with matches on October 2 and 9 – for a place at the World Cup in France in two years’ time.
Canada, who had notched their first win over the Eagles since 2013 with their victory last week, can still qualify for France.
They will now take on Chile for a chance to play the loser of the series between the United States and Uruguay.
@USARugby have done it! 🇺🇸
USA fight back to qualify for the next leg of their Rugby World Cup journey, which will see them take on @RugbyUruguay for a place at #RWC2023 🏉@France2023 | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/1gkvWES6Jq
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 12, 2021