The record for most drop goals in test matches is 36 by Jonny Wilkinson of England.

He surpassed the great Huge Porta of Argentina, who kicked 28. Twenty-three rugby players have kicked ten or more drop goals in test matches. Jannie de Beer kicked five in one World Cup game. 

But players from the USA? Not so common in this list. The Eagles don’t have any player with more than four (that would be Mike Hercus). When Mike Petri dropped a goal against Romania last Saturday, it was the USA’s 19th drop goal ever. Four individual players have kicked more than that. Just about every major rugby nation has more (except for Tonga). France has 222. Italy 100. The Czech Republic has 38. 

It’s a skill that the USA should employ more often, especially when they aren’t getting points in the red zone. Petri’s play was a smart one because the Eagles had a penalty advantage, and we stalled. He just stepped back and slotted it over as if he’d been doing it all his life.

“Mike’s got a soccer background so he’s got those skills,” said USA Head Coach Mike Tolkin about the kick. “But I wasn’t sure at the time if we still had the advantage. If we had the advantage, then it’s a good call.”

They did; it was.

USA prop Nick Wallace was, like many players, a bit surprised. Normally drop goals are kicked by a flyhalf or other back standing in a pocket well behind the breakdown. But Petri just took one step and put it over (see GIF below).

“My feeling was that it came out of nowhere,” said Wallace. “Mikey’s a very heads-up guy. That took some skill though, to just step behind a ruck and kick it with a guy right in your face. I think everyone was surprised, but Mike realized we needed a score at that point and it was a great play.”

The Eagles need to do this more often. Petri, showing he has that ability, might employ it more often. Saturday’s flyhalf, Shalom Suniula, can kick drop goals - he has done it plenty of times playing 7s for the USA. Fullback Folau Niua has done the same, and he can do it left-footed or right-footed. Center Andrew Suniula probably can do it, too.

It’s not a selfish move. If a team isn’t getting anywhere on offense and is in range, the drop is a very viable option. World Cups and British Lions tours have been won on drop goals. Australia beat Wales on a drop goal just last weekend.

If the Eagles struggle to get tries against Tonga, a drop goal or two might get Tonga thinking a little differently on defense. As Mike Petri said, it’s worth a shot.