A 104-14 Loss to All Blacks Forces Perspective for USA Team, Fans
The All Blacks put the USA to the sword 104-14 Saturday at FedEx Field, the home of the Washington DC NFL franchise, and made it plain how good the New Zealand team is, and how far the USA has to go.
The Eagles had their moments, and scoring two tries against one of the world's best teams is certainly something to hang your hat on, but the game belonged to the All Blacks, who scored in the first half-minute. Luke Jacobsen did the honors in that one, although the Kiwis were a bit lucky as Mike Kruse tripped over the previous tackle, leaving George Bridge free to keep the play going.
After that they just played the game at a faster pace (something Eagles captain Bryce Campbell had warned about) not only in terms of foot speed but in terms of passing and decision-making.
Youth is Served as Eagles, All Blacks Name Lineups
It's no surprise that the USA team to face off with the All Blacks on Saturday at the 1874 will be a domestic team.
This test match is being played outside the World Rugby test match window for the fall, and so professional clubs in Europe are under no obligation to release their players to a national team.
As a result, we see all US-based players to face New Zealand (tickets here>>), and a young one at that.
Saturday at FedEx Field will see Army vs Navy around 1PM and then the test match at 3:30PM ET.
American Rugby Legend Kathy Flores Has Died
Legendary American rugby player and coach Kathy Flores has died.
The Head Coach of the Brown University women coached all over the country, including her national chamion Florida State University women's club, multiple national champion Berkeley All Blues, and, of course, the USA National Team.
All-Time American, Kathy Flores
Kathleen "Kathy" Theresa Flores (1955-2021) was a rugby player and coach, winning multiple national championships over her 45-year career. She was a strong champion of the women's rugby community and her contributions to the sport of rugby were extensive. Over her career, she won multiple national college and club championships, numerous awards, and is considered a pioneer and ground breaker in women's rugby.
1874 Cup Weekend More Than Just a Game
The 1874 Cup is just over a week away and there are still some tickets left for fans to go see Army vs Navy and the USA vs the All Blacks, but it's more than just about the game.
This could be, so said DC Old Glory owner Chris Dunleavy, to be the most-attended rugby event in North America. But even that's just part of the story. It's also about exposing American sports fans to this grear game.
“It looks to me the way the tickets are selling, the largest rugby event in North America at least since that Ireland New Zealand match [in 2016],” said Dunleavy, who club is putting plenty of effort behind supporting the test match.
USA Women Name 31 Players for 4 Fall Tests
USA Women's 15s Head Coach Rob Cain has selected 31 players for the Women’s Eagles’ first test series in nearly two years.
The team will face Canada twice on November 1 and 5 at Infinity Park in Colorado, Ireland on November 12 in Dublin and England on November 21 at Sixways Stadium in Worcester.
Five players from the USA Sevens programs are on the squad, including Sarah Levy, 2020 Olympians Kayla Canett, Alev Kelter, and Kristi Kirshe, as well as 2016 Olympian Nana Fa'avesi.
Uruguay Slams USA to Qualify for RWC
Uruguay will be going to the Rugby World Cup as Americas #1.
Los Teros took care of business against the USA, beating the Eagles 34-8 in a game where the USA was in it for, really, about 40 minutes. Uruguay was more physical, clinical in the red zone, and built early momentum.
Going into the game the USA held a slim three-point lead in the two-game series. But that lead was erased quickly as Uruguay sent Rodrigo Silva over. Down 7-0, the USA managed to get in position for a penalty goal from Will Magie. Then wing Federico Favaro made a mistake, calling for the mark on a Ruben de Haas box kick, he then didn't use the mark (the mark gives you a free kick). Instead he just started running before booting the ball downfield from some meters away.
Gold, Campbell Talk Momentum and Eagles Task Ahead
The coming weekend is a big one, of course, for the USA Men’s 15s team, and Head Coach Gary Gold says his players need to be tough on themselves in order to come away victorious.
Up by a slim three points in the two-game series with Uruguay, the Eagles know they were in a much better position 50 minutes into the first game of the series. Up 19-3, they saw Uruguay inch back with penalty goal, penalty goal, penalty goal, and then a try to make it 19-16.
“The game last week … we got ourselves in a really good position but it was pretty disappointing with how it finished,” said captain Bryce Campbell.
But, he added, the Eagles rebounded from some difficulties against Canada. “We’ve connected really well as a team and we showed honesty and looked at that game really hard and we were able to turn it around.”
USA Names Side to Face Uruguay in Qualifier #2
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay—USA Men's 15s Head Coach Gary Good has made two changes to his match-day 23 for Saturday’s finale of the Americas 1 Rugby World Cup Qualifier.
Having beaten their South American hosts last week 19-16, the USA Eagles need one more victory, on aggregate, to confirm their place in Pool A at Rugby World Cup 2023. Kick off is set for 4:30 PM local time with a live stream on florugby.com.
Too Close For Comfort: USA Edges Uruguay
Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz will start in place of Hanco Germishuys, who did not travel to Montevideo due to family obligations. Connecticut-born, Argentinian-raised flanker/lock Benjamin Bonasso could make his national team debut from the bench.
Too Close For Comfort: USA Edges Uruguay
The USA beat Uruguay Saturday in Glendale, Colo. but really not by nearly enough to feel comfortable going into the second leg of the two-game Rugby World Cup qualifier series.
Despite appearing to be in control of the game, the Eagles found that momentum is a fickle mistress, and spurned that momentum repeatedly in the second half to turn a comfortable 19-3 lead into a19-16 nailbiter.
The Eagles took a while to get going on the scoreboard simply because penalties and little errors would hurt them. Under pressure themselves they gave up a kickable penalty that flyhalf Felipe Berchesi put over without any trouble.
What to Hope For, What to Watch For, USA vs Uruguay
As the Eagles look to face Uruguay tomorrow there have, of course, been a few hiccups.
Key among those is an injury AJ MacGinty picked up in his team’s tie with London Irish last week. Asked if it was true that MacGinty would be out some weeks, USA Head Coach Gary Gold just shook his head, adding that the flyhalf might rejoin the team for next week’s game in Montevideo.
There was, if course, the usual dribbling in of players from overseas, but Gold said this wasn’t as difficult as it was in the last series, because those players didn’t have to then get into Canada.
Ticket still available for USA vs New Zealand in the 1874 Cup October 23 >>
1874 A Special Event for Fans, Eagles, and the All Blacks Too
While the USA and New Zealand men's national teams have some games to play, October 23 looms large as a major fixture for both.
The 1874 Cup brings back the fixture that we first saw in the modern game in 2014—the famed All Blacks against the USA. Yes, true, the All Blacks are favored—it's a rare game when they are not—but playing in the USA is an important nod to their many fans on US shores, It's also a way to broaden their brand, and, for the players, it's just plain fun. It's different.
For the USA, it basically comes down to this: you can't aspire to be the best if you don't know the standard. Playing the great All Blacks is a way to a) raise the Eagles' image by performing well, and b) to see how high the mountain is.
Lost Luncheon Speakers Confirmed: Places Going Fast
The speakers for the Lost Afternoon Luncheon October 22 in Washington DC have been confirmed.
The Lost Afternoon Luncheon, this year held at the Mayflower Hotel, is a grand tradition on the American rugby calendar and is a great way for lovers of the game to support the US Rugby Foundation and hear from some of the luminaries of the game.
Applications Open for USA Women's 7s Head Coach Position
GLENDALE, Colo.—Applications are now being accepted for Head Coach of the USA Women’s 7s National Team, based in Chula Vista, Calif.
Following an extensive 360 review with feedback from players, staff and key stakeholders, USA Rugby has identified the best path forward to build on the strong work of former Head Coach Chris Brown and his staff.
The full-time position will be selected by a five-person selection panel in accordance with standards set forth by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
The Selection Panel members are:
Irene Gardner | USOPC Player Representative and USA Rugby Board Member
Jillian Potter | Former player and Captain of 2016 Women’s Olympic Team
Huw Bevan | USA Rugby Director of Performance for Senior Teams
Dan Payne | USA Rugby General Manager of High Performance
Plus a USOPC Member
Eagles Name 23 to Face Uruguay Saturday
USA Men's 15s Head Coach Gary Gold has announced his matchday 23 to have Uruguay Saturday in Glendale, Colo. in the next round of Rugby World Cup qualification.
Gold has made six roster changes from the last time the Eagles played, a 36-19 win over Canada that secured a series win over their rivals. Will Magie started at flyhalf after AJ MacGinty could not travel due to injury. This means Bryce Campbell will serve as captain. Mika Kruse will start at wing, where he started in the first game against Canada in St. John's Newfoundland, and flyhalf/center Luke Carty is on the bench after not seeing action in the last game.
27 Prospects at Nine-Week USA Camp
GLENDALE, Colo.—Scouting and Talent ID activities from this spring and summer have culminated in a 9-week development academy for USA Men’s High Performance Pathways.
Hosted in partnership with World Rugby at the RugbyTown National Training Center in Glendale, CO, 27 players train and compete through October under Head Coach and Eagle Alumni Paul Emerick. Additional national team coaches, invited support coaches and analysts also filter through the program to deliver insights and evaluate talent in preparation for matches against 404, Seattle Rugby Club and St Mary’s College.
