Canadian women beat U.S. 42-10 in final home game before Rugby World Cup

Canada scored 28 unanswered points in the second half to dispatch the United States 42-10 Friday in its final home game before heading to Europe for the Rugby World Cup later this month.

The second-ranked Canadian women extended their winning streak against the 10th-ranked U.S. to 11 straight games, but it took time to subdue a determined American side in a physical, frenetic contest before an announced crowd of 11,453 at TD Place Stadium.

Rugby Canada called the attendance a record for a North American standalone women's rugby match.

Canada has one more World Cup tune-up on Aug. 9 against No. 5 Ireland in Dublin. The team is scheduled to fly from Toronto on Saturday.

Canada, which finished fourth at the last World Cup in November 2022, opens World Cup play in England against No. 14 Fiji on Aug. 23 in York, then face No. 9 Wales on Aug. 30 in Manchester and No. 7 Scotland on Sept. 6 in Exeter.

The U.S. will play in Group A at the World Cup, drawn with No. 1 England, No. 8 Australia and No. 15 Samoa.

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McKinley Hunt, Gabby Senft, Olivia DeMerchant, Florence Symonds and Mikiela Nelson scored tries for Canada, which was also awarded a penalty try. Sophie de Goede, in her first start since having knee surgery, kicked four conversions. Julia Schell added a conversion.

Freda Tafuna scored the lone try for the U.S. McKenzie Hawkins booted a conversion and a penalty.

"Obviously a bit of a slow start for us ... but we came on strong in the second half and finished the job pretty well, I would say," said Canada captain Alex Tessier.

The Canadian women have won four straight, improving to 5-0-1 this year. They hold a 29-19 edge