(Martin Iosefo helped spark a two-minute flurry for the Eagles in their most impressive game of the year. Ian Muir photo.)
 

USA V WALES, PORT ELIZABETH

A good pick for a Game of the Year would be a game that won a trophy, or a game that avoided oblivion, or one of great drama. This game is none of those. 

This is an old-fashioned butt-whuppin’. The reason this is the Game of the Year is because the USA team doesn’t blow out teams very often. And when they do, it’s a team that’s not very good. Against good teams, the Eagles don’t win as often (yeah. that’s why they pay us the big bucks, to say things like that), and when they do, it’s a close game.

So on to USA v Wales in Port Elizabeth. Wales qualifies as a good team. They had made the top eight twice in a row going into PE, and while they were only 10th last year, they’ve been much higher in previous season. The Americans outplayed their Welsh counterparts nicely in this game, overcoming an early try to take the lead 12-5 at the break, and leading 19-12 with two minutes to go. So here’s where it gets good. 

Martin Iosefo intercepted a pass after a long period of Welsh possession where Wales couldn’t get anywhere. They moved the ball quickly, with Iosefo to Test to Niua to Hughes, who breaks through, and then back to Niua for a try. Right after that Danny Barrett took the kickoff in the air and thundered in for a try. And they didn’t let up. They won the next restart and sent the ball quickly to Carlin Isles to score. They could have tried to hold on for a 19-12 win. Instead, they showed a killer’s instinct and scored three tries to crush Wales.

That’s what they need if they want to move up to the higher levels, they have to think about not only winning, but winning big. They can’t be satisfied.

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