It seems the tides are changing in North American rugby, with the United States grabbing the Americas 1 spot at the 2019 Rugby World Cup with a 52-16 drubbing of neighbours Canada, who now have to battle it out with Uruguay for the Americas 2 spot.

It was a landmark win for the United States yesterday in San Diego, the first time they have got the better of the Canucks in qualification tournaments.

Canada, who have played at all eight tournaments so far and reached the quarter-finals in 1991, had won 15 out of 20 qualifiers between the neighbours but went into yesterday's decider as underdogs having failed to beat the Eagles in four years.

The first leg in Hamilton was drawn 28-28 the previous weekend and the second leg at the University of San Diego was a hard-fought affair until a lack of composure at a crucial time cost Canada.

The decisive Eagles score came after a no-arms tackle ruling against Canada meant a scrum near halfway became a five-metre US lineout. The Eagles drove it and replacement hooker Joe Taufete’e scored from the rolling maul.

Canada were down by 10 points and No 8 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 for Taufete’e, an 80-metre break finished by scrum-half Nate Augspurger, and another try from a rolling maul for replacement prop Dino Waldren.

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

The Americans’ reward is a place in Pool C in Japan, alongside England (ranked No 2 in the world), France (No 8) and Argentina (No 9) and a yet-to-be-determined Oceania qualifier, likely to be either Samoa or Tonga.

Canada will meet Uruguay in January for a slot in Pool D with Australia, Wales, Georgia and another Oceania team, likely to be Fiji.

Possible RWC 2019 pool lineup
Pool A: Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Europe 1 (Romania), play-off winner (Tonga)
Pool B: New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Africa 1 (Kenya), repechage winner (Namibia)
Pool C: England, France, Argentina, USA, Oceania 2 (Samoa)
Pool D: Australia, Wales, Georgia, Oceania 1 (Fiji), Americas 2 (Canada)