Another Close International as Florida Cheers Eagles

08.16.2026

USA XV vs Argentina XV. Photo USA Rugby.

Author: Alex Goff

Well it was close again, and the Americans were able to finish on the right side of a close one once more as a USA XV held off Argentina XV 25-24 Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale.

The USA team did make it hard on themselves, especially with a couple of key mistakes in the second half, but overall they played a gard-working, controlled game with great physical presence to win it.

Jérémy Rozier referee

Argentina XV kicked off and the USA kicked to touch, But the lineout proved to be an issue for the Argentines and in this case the USA XV got the ball, and then a penalty. Flyhalf Luke Carty slotted the penalty for a 3-0 lead.

Argentina XV answered by punishing a couple of penalties to set up a lineout in the USA 22. They mauled it forward before hooker Martin Vaca popped off the back and dove into the corner.

The USA XV went into this game looking to continue their kicking prowess. Head Coach Scott Lawrence pointed out earlier in the day that the USA team, during the Nations Cup, had kicked the most in that competition but still led in time of possession.

That led the Eagles program to believe, logically, that the kicking was working by creating contestable contests while playing in the opposing half.

It seemed to work next as the USA pressure of the kick was intense. However, Flanker Marno Redelinghuys tried to get away with some sneaky play on the ground and was caught.

That penalty turned the tables.

Around midway through the first half the USA kept at the pressure, forcing Argentina to defend. With the Argentina XV still committing penalties, the Americans got a few chances, and finally a lineout and maul drove Shilo Klein over.

They USA almost added to that right after with an excellent chase from Julian Roberts setting them up in the Argentina 22.

The Americans worked the ball quickly to the left and to the right, but a penalty at a scrum under the posts gave Argentina a reprieve.

And from there the Argentina XV backs ran a snappy backline move off a scrum to go 55 meters to score in the corner. A nice fend opened up a have gap on the edge and the Argentina XV moved the ball well in support to make it 10-8.

Julian Roberts. USA XV vs Argentina XV. Photo USA Rugby. — Julian Roberts got the start at fullback and had a strong performance. Photo USA Rugby.

Some Champagne Rugby

The USA XV got back on the front foot after a smart kick to the corner from Carty.

That forced Argentina to kick back and the counter from Roberts was very good.

The ball was sent left and then back to the right. Quick and smooth hands put them in a scoring position. Scrumhalf Ruben de Haas ran a curving line to garner some attention and then passed to Carty. The flyhalf sent it on to a row of forwards who passed smoothly to prop Payton Telea Ilalio. He fixed his defender, and found Roberts. The fullback caught the ball and passed in one motion as he was hit. That was superb work and Makeen Alikhan was there to take the pass and charge on in to score.

With Carty's conversion ir was 15-10.

"It was a great try, but the best part of it was a tighthead prop-turned hooker doing this," said Lawrence as he mimed a quick catch-pass. "The short ball to Marno. That was my favorite."

But against Argentina would answer. Once again they were far from the USA line but a penalty and a missed tackle allowed Argentina XV to run close to the length of the field and take a 17-15 lead into halftime.

Adding to that, Alikhan now had a yellow card and the USA would start the second half shorthanded.

It was hot, even in the evening It was humid. And a lead, albeit a small one, had been lost. However, there didn't seem to be any negative body language from the USA players. Certainly this not being a test match had its positives, including the fact that losing wouldn't affect your World Rugby ranking.

However, every player goes into the game looking to win it, and the USA XV needed to make adjustments. Really what they needed to do was keep doing the good things and avoid those random turnovers or momentum-killing penalties.

Early on in the second half Roberts, who overall was very good, nabbed a ball that had been knocked on. He was in an offside position and that's a penalty. But the scramble defense was good enough.

Two or three times Argentina broke through and could have caused real problems but a forced error or the right tackle did them in.

Much of the early going in that second half was the USA defending, getting back into position, and making more tackles. The ferocity of those tackles, shown later on the bruises GRR saw on Tavite Lopeti, would lead to Argentina players hearing footsteps a bit.

A scramble tackle by Lopeti and a jackle opportunity by Roberts led to a penalty and a yellow card for an illegal clearout. The card might have been a little harsh, but overall referee Jérémy Rozier had a strong game. He allowed a few borderline knock-ons to go on both sides in the itnerests of keeping the game flowing, and kept control of the point of contact.

Both teams had turnover chances in the middle third of the field and neither was really able to break something open. But a turnover and a quick kick from Ruben de Haas produced a 50-22 and an attacking lineout for the Americans.

From there, with Alikhan back on the field, they pressured once more, finally getting a penalty that allowed Carty to nudge his side ahead by a point 18-17.

Another promising move almost produced a try for Joe Mano on the left side, but the little grubber was just corralled by Argentina.

But the USA has developed an ability to stay in an attacking position even if they lose the ball. They got it back, powered over the line ... but were held up. Still they came on, from the goalline drop Damm got them going. A high kick was rescued by Alikhan, and then the captain laid off a perfect tips pass for Redelinghuys.

The big flanker charged through untouched, ran around the cover, and was in from 25 meters.

Carty converted from in front of the posts and the USA had an eight-point lead at 25-17.

They needed it.

As time wound down Argentina was able to stay in the USA end. The Americans defended their line doggedly, but penalties continued to give the Argentina XV more chances.

Why didn't they kick for posts? The penalties were all near the sideline and the angle wasn't ideal. Whether that was the reasons or not, the visitors opted for the lineout, and were held out until the closing moments when Thiago Sbrocco went over.

A few scrambles and a a final defensive stand of some tenacity finished it off, and the USA had their win.

Yes it was Argentina's 2nd side, but it was still a good team. Yes this wasn't a test match, but it was important international experience. Yes it was close, but, as Lawrence said after the game, "we put ourselves under a lot of pressure on not winning the middle third when we really didn't need to be at that time. And those were just some young mistakes, understanding the laws of the game, and positioning. But any time you can get lessons and a win, you take it."

USA and Argentina XV Lineups Here>>