Canada is enduring a war of attrition at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. But coach Kevin RouetB次元官网网址檚 team has yet to stumble.

The third-ranked Canadian women (2-0-0) wrap up Pool B play Saturday night against the sixth-ranked U.S. (1-1-0) in Auckland (3:15 p.m. Sunday local time) in control of their own destiny, despite losing a third player for the tournament in the wake of last weekendB次元官网网址檚 22-12 win over No. 5 Italy.

Scrum half Brianna Miller was taken to hospital after the match and ruled out of further play due to B次元官网网址渟ignificant internal injuries.B次元官网网址� She joins fly half Taylor Perry (knee) and veteran front-row forward Laura Russell (upper body injury) on the sidelines.

Despite the injuries, Rouet says his squad is in a good place.

B次元官网网址淭hey are sad but next practice, itB次元官网网址檚 like B次元官网网址榃eB次元官网网址檙e ready to move on, and we need to win the next game,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said the French-born coach, who now calls Quebec City home. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a good mindset and IB次元官网网址檓 proud of them for that B次元官网网址� They want to win for Miller. They want to win for Laura. They want to win for Tayor.B次元官网网址�

The good news is Miller is doing well, according to Rouet.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 fine. SheB次元官网网址檚 with us,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut she canB次元官网网址檛 play in the next six weeks.B次元官网网址�

Justine Pelletier will start at scrum half against the Americans, who lost 22-10 to Italy before downing No. 12 Japan 30-17. The U.S. currently is third in the pool, behind Italy on points difference. Italy plays Japan (0-2-0) earlier Saturday.

B次元官网网址淚 feel bad for Miller but I am very confident with Justine going on the field,B次元官网网址� Rouet said of his scrum half. B次元官网网址淪he will be a great (No.) 9.B次元官网网址�

Captain Sophie de Goede will take over as placekicker for Miller, with Tessier also a kicking option.

Canada defeated Japan 41-5 in its opener. And Rouet likes what he has seen from his team, in patches

B次元官网网址淚 just want that it happens more in an 80-minute game than just 30, 35 minutes,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e know that.B次元官网网址�

The Canadians have excelled at the set piece and their driving maul has been dominant. But they have shot themselves in the foot at times with handling errors.

And the Americans will likely offer a more physical challenge than the first two opponents.

B次元官网网址淲e are also physical B次元官网网址� I still believe we are better than them in the set piece,B次元官网网址� said Rouet, whose team defeated the Americans 36-5 at the Pacific Four Series in June. B次元官网网址淓ven our backline, I think if we move the ball, we can move the ball better than the U.S.A.

B次元官网网址淏ut I know itB次元官网网址檚 never an easy game. As Canadians, we want to win against U.S.A. And same with U.S.A. They always want to say that theyB次元官网网址檙e the best B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be a good fight.B次元官网网址�

U.S. coach Rob Cain agrees.

B次元官网网址淯.S.A. against Canada is always a massive test match,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎t a World Cup, itB次元官网网址檚 an even bigger game for us both. Canada has shown what they can do really well so far and we are excited at the challenges that are ahead. We know what we need to do and we know how we are going to do it.B次元官网网址�

No. 1 England, No. 2 New Zealand and No. 3 Canada have already guaranteed their place in the quarterfinals. But only New Zealand is mathematically guaranteed to finish atop its pool.

The nine other teams are still in contention for the five remaining berths in the knockout round.

Following the end of the pool phase, the eight quarterfinalists will be ranked one through eight, with the three pool winners seeded first to third, runners-up fourth to six and the two best third-placed teams seventh and eighth.

The top seed will then play the eighth in the quarterfinals, the second will face the seventh, third will take on sixth and the fourth will meet fifth.

The host Black Ferns currently have the best record of the pool leaders B次元官网网址� ahead of Canada on points difference.

Rouet has made six changes to his starting 15, explaining he is just rotating his roster. Alex Tessier shifts from centre to fly half.

B次元官网网址擭eil Davidson, The Canadian Press