Nations Cup

USA v Canada - 15-10

What a game to be involved with. Women's rugby does have its critics, but before the ill-informed shoot their mouths off about the sport, they may want to pop along and watch the odd game or two.

This North American battle pitted hosts Canada (ranked fourth in the world) against the USA, who finished fifth at the 2006 World Cup and who had not beaten the US since 2006.

The Canucks were the firm favourites to win the clash as they had also beaten their neighbours two months ago in a Can-Am clash in Colorado, 25-17.

While there were the usual higher-than-normal numbers of scrums than one may associate with the men's game, this was a cracker of a game.

Quite often as a referee I don't remember a match in as much detail as, for example, is written in a match report, but I knew from the outset that any sport involving a Canada v USA match-up was going to be intense - and it was.

These teams are building for next year's World Cup in England, and a tough encounter ensued. I remember the close-fought nature of the game and the intensity under which it was played, and at 10-10 in the second half, with the Canadian fly-half missing a conversion, there was everything to play for.

And so when the hosts went over for a try in the final quarter, one wondered what the response would be. Neither team surpassed the other, they were both evenly matched, and to write-off the US would have been foolish.

The US fought back with plenty of belief and a try in the final minute of the game sparked scenes of celebrations at the final whistle - it was if I'd just blown time on the World Cup final, such was their joy at beating the Canadians.

But for me the team of the tournament was by far South Africa. Having played dismally in the World Cup three years ago, the improvement in the squad is staggering.
The success of their 7s team has helped enormously and having a few experienced heads in the squad will help them in their quest for next year.

If they can get their forwards a lot fitter and conditioned, and sort out their set piece play, they will cause a few upsets next year.

But, having said all that, it's such a shame the team's success (they drew with Six Nations side France 17-17) appears to have missed the sporting media spotlight down south.

Bad timing maybe? (what with the SARU having recently been fined by the iRB for its farcical armband protest) - I doubt it.

And as for Total Rugby (the iRB-sponsored television show) following the England squad in Toronto? Hmmm... maybe their cameras would have been better off following the Springboks?