NEWS

Canada Fail to Qualify for 2023 Rugby World Cup as USA Lose to Uruguay

Written by Joe Harvey | Photo by Francisco Fuenzalida

Both the USA and Canada lost yesterday, meaning different things for their World Cup deams. Slipping to a 33-24 loss in Valparaiso, for the first time in the history of the World Cup, Canada will not be playing at the tournament.

Instead, Chile will move to the Americas 2 qualifier, where they will play the USA. This comes as a result of the Eagles’ 34-25 defeat in Montevideo, a result that sends the South American nation directly to the tournament in two years’ time.

CHILE 33 – 24 CANADA

At the end of the two games, the aggregate score line reads 54-46 in favor of Los Condores and seed the South Americans move through to the Americas 2 qualifier, which will be played against the USA in 2022.

Early pressure from Kingsley Jones’ side allowed Peter Nelson to opening the scoring, but for much of the game from that point onwards, Chile subdued their opponents. Santiago Videla notched three first-half penalties and even converted Rodrigo Fernandez’s 24^th minute try.

Like in the opening 40 minutes, Canada got the scoring underway in the second period. NOLA’s Eric Howard crashed over from the back of a lineout maul after Chile hooker Augusto Bohme received a yellow card for repeat infringements.

Again, Canada fell away, tidal waves of Chilean attacks following, with a converted try for Matias Dittus and a penalty for Videla soon following. Chile would even remain composed after conceding a second try from Canada’s lineout, with Videla scoring his own try and notching the extra points.

Kainoa Lloyd’s late try was nothing short of a consolation score, the players more than aware of the fate that lay ahead of them.

“First off, I must congratulate the Chilean Rugby Union and wish them the best of luck as they move forward in the qualifying rounds,” Rugby Canada CEO Allen Vansen said.

“This is a hugely disappointing result – although we remain proud of the staff and players and the efforts they made over the past months, we all know the expectations for Canadian rugby are rightfully higher.”

URUGUAY 34 – 15 USA

Playing in Montevideo, it was former Austin Gilgronis full-back, Rodrigo Silvba, who first punished the USA just five minutes in, Federico Favaro slotting the conversion without much hesitance.

Some four minutes later, Will Magie (Austin) would reduce the deficit with a well-struck penalty, but would not be able to convert the full throttle try that Mika Kruse registered in the corner, the Utah Warriors man showing the world exactly what speed and dynamism he can offer.

As the half drew to a close, Favaro kicked two more penalties, giving Los Teros a 13-8 lead at half-time. It was really in the 15 minutes after the break that Uruguay won the game. A period of passiveness seeing Toronto’s Gaston Mieres, Facundo Gattas and Silva all cross the whitewash.

Favaro would convert each of the scores too, giving his team a commanding lead with plenty of time still on the clock. With 25 minutes still to play, the Eagles could only produce a try for Christian Dyer, the Sevens product carrying on his fine form in the 15-a-side game.

“Obviously incredibly disappointing day,” USA Head Coach, Gary Gold, said after the game. “Most certainly not what we planned for. Just seems that, yet again, we are the masters of our own destiny by making errors at critical times.

“The whole team showed a lot of character by never ever giving up the fight. These are very tough lessons for us to be learning at the moment now, but this young team is going to be very good one day because of these lessons.”

More information on Rugby World Cup qualifications can be found here.