For the second time this year, the USA Women have deprived the Canada Women of a hometown victory – first, during the inaugural Vancouver 7s tournament on the World Rugby Women’s Seven Series, and yesterday, in a 36-28 win at the Super Series.

It took a little time for the USA to shake off the remnants of the England loss, but once the Eagles rallied from an early deficit to take a halftime lead.

“There were two key moments,” USA Women coach Pete Steinberg stated. “One was when we held out Canada at the end of the first half. It was a really important defensive stand so we could go into halftime up [22-21]. The second was Jess Wooden's amazing tackle to knock the wing into touch in-goal. In both, cases it allowed us to not let Canada score when they had the opportunity.”

Canada left many scoring opportunities on the field, but the USA had something to do with that, too.

“Jordan Gray and Bitsy Cairns really stepped up in the back row,” Steinberg said. “They struggled against England – admittedly against [Marlie] Packer and [Sarah] Hunter – but Jordan was a force with the ball in her hand, and Bitsy's work at the tackle contest was first rate. She poached the ball over near our line at the end of the second half.”

The Eagles took some chances, too, and although they weren’t all successful – an ill-advised pass in front of the tryline, an unnecessary chip kick – they also caught Canada off guard. One of the more memorable plays occurred off of the scrum, as scrumhalf Deven Owsiany broke hard to the weak side in what looked like a No. 8 pick. Instead, Gray and flanker Joanna Kitlinski picked up the ball and attacked extra space in the 9/10 channel. On two occasions, the play set up tries.

“That was Martha Daines’ play,” Steinberg enthused. “We put it in early, but the players did not run it in the first game. Jordan did a great job with the hands, and Jojo's burst was special. We feel like our scrum and lineout have been good platforms to attack, so hopefully we will offer some more [surprises].”

Wooden was recognized as MVP, and deservedly so. The fullback’s deceptive speed and fast-closing defense has been very important in the first two games, and she, too, has taken some risks with ball in hand. Her third try of the tournament was a beauty, originating from a sideline break that was extended by a perfectly executed chip that bounced into her arms.

“Jess is a very instinctive player and we tell her just to go for it,” Steinberg said. “She is really expressing herself and she is special. We always want the players to feel like they can go for it. We have a more wide open game this cycle and it is showing.

“I think that our other MVP could have been Hope Rogers,” Steinberg said of the just-graduated Penn State prop and World Cup vet. “She held the scrum for us and her work with the ball in hand is amazing. She gets us such good go forward ball. She is also becoming a play-maker as she passed the ball to Sam Pankey for the long break that led to the try.”

The USA has built some momentum and confidence, and the Eagles will employ them against New Zealand on July 5.

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