The USA qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup – and the dubious honour of a place in Pool C in Japan, alongside England, France and Argentina – as the top North American side for the first time, after thrashing Canada by a record 52-16 on Saturday.

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Canada had won 15 out of 20 qualifiers between the neighbors, but hadn’t beaten the Eagles in four years. The first leg in Hamilton was drawn 28-28 last weekend, and the second leg was close at the University of San Diego until Canada lost their composure while they had momentum.

The deciding Eagles scores came after a no-arms tackle ruling against Canada meant a scrum put-in near halfway became a five-meter USA lineout instead. The Eagles drove it and replacement hooker Joe Taufete’e scored from the rolling maul.

Canada were down by 10 points and No8 Tyler Ardron was sent to the sin-bin for collapsing a maul. While he was off the field, the US rushed in three tries: a second lineout drive score for Taufete’e, an 80-meter break finished by scrum-half Nate Augspurger, and another rolling maul score for the replacement prop Dino Waldren.

AJ MacGinty converted all three tries and six of eight in all as the Eagles reached their highest score and biggest margin of victory against Canada.

It was a fitting send off for retiring captain Todd Clever, who was winning a record-extending 76th cap since 2003, and coach John Mitchell, who is leaving to guide the Bulls of South Africa in Super Rugby.

The Americans’ reward is a dubious one: a place in a World Cup pool with England (ranked No2 in the world), France (No8) and Argentina (No9) and a yet-to-be-determined Oceania side, likely to be either Tonga or Samoa.

Canada will meet Uruguay in January for a slot in Pool D with Australia, Wales, Georgia and another Oceania team, in all likelihood the powerful Fiji.

The Canadians were handicapped by the withdrawal of backs DTH van der Merwe, who scored two tries last week, Taylor Paris and Phil Mack, and were down 12-0 in almost the same time after a couple of tries by US No8 Cam Dolan. Dolan also set up their third try for lock Nate Brakeley as the Eagles led 19-3 after the first quarter.

The Americans then lost their cool, and Canada rallied with kicks by Gordon McRorie and 10 points while the Eagles flanker Tony Lamborn was in the sin-bin. Then Canada’s discipline dropped away, and the Americans pounced.