Fiji defeated the USA 20-14 in Vannes, France in a game where the USA played more of the rugby, had multiple chances to score, and saw the winning try disappear before their eyes.

The Eagles played poorly in the first half. They made several bad errors that undercut their positive moments. Fiji led early with a penalty, and then a series of penalties set up Fiji for their first try. They then scored another when a long kick downfield by the Eagles was returned 80 meters for a classic Fijian try.

Meanwhile, the USA squandered chances. A kick for a penalty lineout missed touch. An attacking maul was held up when they had numbers out wide. John Quill broke through on a move from thea lineout and was close to the posts, but his pass to John Cullen was dropped. And late in the half Fiji was hit with a yellow card as Phil Thiel was stopped just short of the line. The ensuing lineout and maul was stopped again, and Fiji escaped the half up 15-0.

It didn't last, though, as the USA spun the ball wide right and then used Thretton Palamo, Cullen, and Greg Peterson to muscle ahead. Smooth hands saw Quill feed emus Kelly, who sold a dummy and went in for his first USA try. That made it 15-7, and the Eagles began to play better. They replaced Shalom Suniula with Ronnie McLean as the man to kick to touch, and that helped as McLean had better power and distance.

Fiji, however, extended the lead with another broken-field try. The Eagles retained the ball on a 22 dropout when Scott LaValla skied high to nab the ball. But moments later, they opted for a box kick from Mike Petri, and with no one really chasing, the kick simply set up the Fijians to slice through the fractured defense.

That made it 20-7, but the USA replied with good hands out to Taku Ngwenya, who raced in to make it 20-14.

Fiji looked tired and the Eagles were playing much better. Then came a crucial moment. Shalom Suniula raced through a gap, beat another defender, and looked to have room between two Fijians to slide in to score. He opted instead to pass inside for Kelly. The ball was intercepted, and Fiji took it all the way to the other end of the field. The USA spent the rest of the game trying to get out of their end, and repeatedly lost the ball in contact at important moments. The damage had been done. Suniula's brilliance allowed him a scoring chance, but his desire to use his support, or ensure the ball was under the posts, wasn't the right move.

The Eagles did have a series of penalties right inside the Fijian 22, but once again lost their imagination and tried to just pound the ball over. That failed against New Zealand, failed against Tonga, and failed in the first half against Fiji. It failed again in the second half.

In the game, John Quill was monstrous, poaching several balls and setting up Kelly for his try. LaValla was excellent in the lineout, on defense, and cleaning up problems. Mike Petri worked hard but kicked too much to a team that counters well. Thretton Palamo had a huge impact. In hi debut, Ronnie McLean played very well. Kelly scored that try and had his best game of the month.

Despite their mistakes, the USA played well enough to win, but they didn't win, and they didn't win because of some bad decisions, mistakes in retaining the ball, and a single-minded approach in the red zone that doesn't work.

Fiji 20
Tries: Nagusa, Votu 2
Convs: Nadolo
Pens: Nadolo

USA 14
Tries: Kelly, Ngwenya
Convs: Mclean 2

Notes: Todd Clever left midway through the second half and looked beaten up through most of the game. Matt Trouville replaced him. The USA used only Kyle Sumsion for a temporary sub, Nick Wallace, and Trouville. Tom Coolican, Ben Tarr, Roland Suniula, and Tim Maupin weren't used. Andrew Suniula was a late scratch and Lou Stanfill replaced him on the bench. Stanfill did not play.