The record will show that the USA beat Romania 26-18, but really it wasn't that close as the Eagles put in a pretty gritty defensive performance to beat the Oaks in Bucharest and regain the Pershing Cup.
With the win the USA ends 2025 3-6, and 7-3 overall against Romania (not counting the 21-0 win in 1919 between a USA military team and a Romanian mostly military team).
The Eagles accomplished the win thanks to a hard-nosed forward performance against a legion of big, imposing Oaks runners, a maul defense that came up big, and some excellent kicking.
The USA started with the ball and made some small breaks, testing the Oaks' D. Eventually the Romanians dove over the ball and were penalized by Sam Grove-White. Luke Carty slotted the relatively easy kick and the Eagles were ahead 3-0.
Romania were in penalty trouble throughout the game and got repeated warnings. Their next major penalty, for not rolling away, set up an attacking lineout for the Eagles. However, Romania got the ball back and burst through using their massive runners such as Niclas Immelman and captain Andrei Mahu.
Somehow the Eagles survived the attack, stripped the ball, and countered. The USA showcased some snappy ball movement through their pods, and almost got wing Rufus McLean to the line. Eventually another Oaks penalty allowed Carty to put another kick over and it was 6-0.
The Oaks got some points back when the Eagles were guilty for no tackle release and scrumhalf Alin Conache put a kick through the posts.
Once again the Oaks tested the American defense with their big runners, the locks, flannker Christi Chrica, and No. 8 Adrian Mitu all smashing into multiple tacklers.
During that series, Carty put in a needless shoulder charge as a tackler assist. It was clearly a yellow card offense and, after some debate between Grove-White and his TMO, off he went.
But the Eagles survived the pressure here, too, and after getting the ball back ran their big men fairly well, also. Marno Redelinghuys, Cory Daniel, and Tevita Naqali all got involved, with Ruben de Haas organizing at scrumhalf. A smart pick-and-go from Tonga Kofe at prop got them close and Daniel finished it off. Try USA, and with Carty in the sin bin it was de Haas who would slot the conversion to make it 13-3.
Romania Won't Go Away
Romania went back to what was working and figured, reasonably, that they could wear down the USA team. They exploited a scrambling USA defense and a penalty to go wide where big winger Tevita Manumua got up a head of steam. He was met face-to-face by fullback Toby Fricker, who was thumped onto his back. To his credit Fricker held on to make the tackle, but Manumua landed on the USA fullback, leaving a Toby Fricker-shaped divot in the ground, and then stretched over to score.
That was a big play for Romania as it gave them some momentum, but the Eagles got three back when the Oaks were penalized for an illegal clearout and Carty added another penalty goal.
That ended the first half with the Eagles leading 16-8. But they had to be concerned about silly penalties, giving Romania too many chances to get their big men running, and maybe getting tries instead of penalties.
