The warning had been there, don't look past ZImbabwe, and while we at GRR World Headquarters wouldn't say the Eagles looked past the Sables, they certainly played as if whatever they did would flumox their opponents.
The result was that Zimbabwe took a lead into halftime and had taken the American fans out of the game and put their own fans into it.
However, some adjustments, and a recommitment to their plan, along with some good work from the bench, saw the Eagles take the lead, and then slowly build a cushion toward a 31-15 victory Saturday night in Charlotte, NC.
Dream Start
The Eagles could hardly had a more auspicious start. The Sables fumbled the kickoff and center Dom Besag swooped in to nab the ball. He also made it to the tryline right then and there. But, credit to Zimbabwe, they scrambled well and held the line through several phases. However, eventually they were penalized; the Eagles opted for the scrum, went wide, and a long pass to Conner Mooneyham put the wing over.
Chris Hilsenbeck put the conversion over and it was 7-0 just a few minutes into the match.
Following up on that a box kick from Zimbabwe went straight up ... perhaps even backwards. The ball bounced around before being snagged by prop Tonga Kofe, who popped it to Mitch Wilson. The ball was sent quickly out to wing Perry Mayo, and he did brilliantly to slip through one tackle and wrong-foot another defender before racing in from midfield.
Up 12-0, the USA allowed themselves to get sloppy. The Sables smashed into rucks to disrupt continuity and the Eagles let them. While the USA did want to play fast, they weren't careful about the ball and Zimbabwe started to get turnovers and penalties.
Sables Respond
With lock Godfrey Muzanargwo and flanker (and captain) Tino Mavesere asking serious questions of the USA tacklers, they were able to get it out to wing Edward Sigauke, who made the American defenders look silly with his sidestep.
Try Zimbabwe.
The Eagles responded by getting some good opossession at midfield and looked to launch high balls to test the Zimbabwe deep backs. But Hilsenbeck overcooked the kick three times, twice allowing the Sables to catch the ball and call for the mark, and the other time they weren't especially troubled.
On the second mark they kicked deep, forced the Eagles into touch, and from a quick lineout set up a well-taken 50-22. Zimbabwe then mauled closer before No. 8 Aiden Burnett picked up and was over. Conversion good and we had a tie ballgame at 12-12.
More silly penalties hurt the Eagles and one such penalty—a breakdown penalty in the middle of the field—and flyhalf Bruce Houston, called into the starting lineup yesterday because of an injury, put the kick over.
The rest of the first half was punctuated by the Eagles unable to take advantage of possession. They ended the first half putting almost everyone into a maul close to the Sables' line, but the ball was ripped free and the half was over.
For the USA, penalties were a massive problem. Last week the Eagles gave up four penalties in the entire game. This week they exceeded that number before the hydration break.
A Reboot
In the second half the Eagles began trying to drop contestable kicks in front of Zimbabwe's 22 meter line. That put pressure on the Sables, and a nifty counter run from Mayo put the wing in with a chance. But he opted to not use his support and in fact ran away from it, leading to a tackle in isolation and a penalty.
The Sables came back with a couple of threatening moments, thanks again to some penalties. Somehow the Eagles got out of it.
Abut 10 minutes into the second half it finally broke. A high box kick from Ruben de Haas resulted in Zimbabwe being pinged for obstruction. The Eagles took the lineout, and while their maul had been stymied a bit by Zimbabwe, this time they shook things up.
Lock Nathen Den Hoedt had been the go-to jumper most of the evening, but this time they threw to captain Jason Damm up front, and then Den Hoedt took the ball at the back of the maul and popped off the charge over. ZImbabwe wasn't prepared and the Eagles had a slim 17-15 lead (Hilsenbeck's conversion attempt hit the post).
The USA had to absorb some hard running from the Sables, and when they had a chance to get over the ball to maybe force a turnover, the Zimbabwe support just smashed into them.
Although, it must be said, referee Damian Schneider was not favorable to jacklers on either side.
Zimbabwe worked their way into USA territory, but an Eagle arm was able to rip the ball free. Down the field they ran and a grubber didn't quite make it a 50-22. But still the Eagles soon got a penalty. Luke Carty, who had been on the field for maybe a minute, was called on to kick the goal and he put it through the posts.
That made it a slightly more comfortable lead at 20-15, but Zimbabwe was still a missed tackle away from equalizing. And it almost happened immediately. Trying to catch the restart, Damm slipped on the slippery ground and the ball bounced tantalizingly for Zimbabwean hands.
The ball rolled into touch; throw-in to Zimbabwe. However, they couldn't execute and the Eagles got a penalty and were able to get out of trouble.
