Energetic second half showing sees Canada make the semi-finals
Canada ran in 20 points in the second half against the USA to make sure of their progress and complete the Rugby World Cup 2021 semi-final line-up.
England now await Canada in the last four next weekend after they upped the tempo after the break at the Waitakere Stadium in Auckland to come through this quarter-final against their old rivals 32-11.
Canada had beaten USA 29-14 last weekend in pool play, but the latter had shown enough in that one to suggest they could cause problems in this last encounter.
It was the Women's Eagles who opened the scoring in the ninth minute when some strong forward play eventually saw hooker Joanna Kitlinski go over for a try. Centre Alev Kelter could not convert.
Seven minutes later second-row McKinley Hunt scored the first try of the day for Canada and captain Sophie de Goede converted to put them 7-5 up.
That advantage was stretched further to seven points when openside flanker Karen Paquin scored an unconverted try at the end of the first quarter of this contest.
There was then a big moment just before the half-hour mark when USA loose-head prop Hope Rogers thought she had scored her side’s second try.
However, after a long discussion, referee Joy Neville and her TMO Ian Tempest decided there was a knock on by openside flanker Rachel Johnson in the build-up and it was ruled out.
That left things at 12-5 before a USA penalty by Kelter got them to within four points at the break.
Canada were clearly frustrated by the inaccuracies which caused them some issues in the first period because they came out after half-time looking very focused.
Their third try arrived within a minute of the restart, winger Paige Farries running a great line and finishing well under the posts. Number eight De Goede converted and it was 19-8.
Kelter and De Goede then swapped penalties, the former also being yellow carded just before Canada’s three points after a head-on-head tackle.
With USA down to 14 players, before the hour mark Canada scored their fourth try of the game through fly-half Alex Tessier. De Goede’s conversion made it 29-11 and they had a healthy cushion now.
With 16 minutes to go - and Kelter back into the action - De Goede’s second penalty made it 32-11.
Despite the best efforts of both team, that was the way it stayed.
Canada captain De Goede said afterwards: "I am very proud, this is a great feeling.
"Each member of our squad really gave it everything out there and everyone has worked very hard to get here.
"We have a lot of belief."