Canada downs United States 13-11 to clinch spot in 2015 Rugby World Cup

TORONTO – James Pritchard scored eight points Saturday as Canada clinched a spot in the 2015 Rugby World Cup with a hard-fought 13-11 victory over the United States.

Jason Marshall also had a try for the Canadians, who took the two-match total-points qualifying series 40-20 after last weekend’s 27-9 victory over the U.S. in Charleston, S.C.

Takudzwa Ngwenya had the only try for the Americans, while Chris Wyles added six points on a penalty kick at BMO Field.

The Canadians, who are ranked 14th in the world by the International Rugby Board, join 12 countries that have already qualified automatically for the 20-team 2015 Rugby World Cup in England and will slot into Pool D alongside France, Ireland, Italy and another European qualifier.

The U.S. still has two cracks at making the tournament, including a two-match series with Uruguay.

With the sights and sounds of the Canadian National Exhibition as a backdrop Saturday, the game between the North American rivals lacked flow for long stretches.

Tied 8-8 at halftime, Wyles had a chance to put the Americans in front, but missed a penalty kick in the 47th minute

The Canadians grabbed the lead when Marshall finished off a good move by just getting the ball over the American line in the 60th minute. Pritchard then missed the conversion as Canada went in front 13-8.

Wyles cut Canada’s advantage to two in the 67th minute with his second penalty kick of the afternoon and had a chance to give the Americans a late lead, but missed a difficult penalty in the 79th minute from the left-hand side.

The Canadians got off to a quick start in last Saturday’s match south of the border but were hemmed in their own end early by a determined American team that was disappointed with its effort on home soil.

The U.S. opened the scoring in the 14th minute after some sustained pressure paid off with a try down the left side from Ngwenya, who faked a pitch before gliding across the line and touching down for a 5-0 lead. But Wyles missed the conversion for an American team that came in already facing a huge deficit.

Pritchard calmed Canadian nerves somewhat by getting his team on the board in the 21st minute with a penalty kick from centre field that split the uprights.

The Australian-born fullback, who scored 12 points in the opening leg seven days earlier, then gave the home side the lead with a try two minutes later. Ciaran Hearn took a pass on the right before finding Pritchard, who wove his way into the American end untouched for an 8-5 lead before missing the conversion attempt.

Wyles added a penalty kick on the final play of the first half to send the teams to the locker-room tied 8-8.

Canada and the U.S. met at the same stage of World Cup qualifying in 2011, with the Americans scoring a 12-6 victory in the opening leg before falling 41-18 in the return match. The U.S. went on to beat Uruguay 27-22 and 27-6 in the next round of qualifying to also make the tournament in New Zealand.

Notes: Canada was missing veteran lock Jamie Cudmore, who suffered a hand injury in the first game against the U.S. Also out injured was hooker Ryan Hamilton (knee). … Should the Americans suffer defeat to Uruguay in the next round of qualifying, they team will have one last chance to make the World Cup via a repechage tournament. … Canada now leads the all-time series against the U.S. by a count of 38-12-1. … The U.S. has lost seven straight matches in 2013. … The Webb Ellis Cup, which is awarded to the Rugby World Cup winner, was on hand at BMO Field. … Canada’s last game in Toronto — a 40-14 loss to Ireland in June — was watched by 20,396 fans, the largest-ever rugby crowd in this country.