In a result that was at once a pleasant surprise and, in the end, achingly frustrating, the USA tied Argentina 35-35 in the Americas Rugby Championship opening weekend.

The game, played at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston was riddled with early-season errors, but was exciting throughout. The Eagles got on the board early by taking the game to Argentina, and flyhalf James Bird hit two penalties for a 6-0 lead.

Then from a scrum, debutant David Tameilau picked up, fed scrumhalf Niku Kruger, who unleashed Taku Ngwenya for a try. The wing, who has been an Eagle since 2007, eluded several tacklers to touch down from about 25 meters out. Bird his the tough conversion for an improbably13-0 USA lead.

But Argentina replied, punishing the Eagles for repeated penalties and scoring on a quick tap. Then they almost made it 14-13, when center Joaquín Paz broke through and was al alone on his way to the line. But Ngwenya, who is a little bit faster than Paz, somehow hauled him in and prevented a try.

Argentina did get a five-meter scrum, however, and eventually did score, going ahead by a point.

The Eagles replied quickly, with Bird once again good from a tough angle.

It was a very physical game and one in which Canadian referee Chris Assmus had a hand, as he was a fairly even administrator, and allowed advantage to play to keep the game flowing.

The Eagles continued to defend relatively well, but were caught out of position on a few occasions. On one of those, Paz stepped back and scored to make it with Domingo Miotti’s conversion, 21-16.

The USA had a shot at inching closer after they - of all things - pummeled the Argentina scrum to earn a penalty. Bird missed, but Miotti also missed just before the break and the score stayed 21-16.

A little bit of self belief goes a long way, and the USA put everything into getting that lead back. Kingsley McGowan was set on a run up the wing, but didn’t have enough support with him. More scrum power led to a penalty that eventually saw the Eagles kick to the corner once more to try to get a try.

Todd Clever was held up after a very effective maul. But once again, Argentina had infringed. So back to the lineout, where Joe Taufete’e was on target, Brodie Orth was in in the air, and this time Eric Fry was held up. Repeat infringements by Argentina, and a warning, but no card, from Referee Assmus. 

So back to the lineout, back to the maul, and this time Clever was over for his 12th USA try and a tied ballgame.

McGowan, Tameilau, and Blaine Scully all had their runs as the USA tried to regain the lead, but it remained tied into the 66th minute. Eventually some very good teamwork from Argentina put the Pumas down near the USA line, and from a penalty, scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou just made it to the line. Miotti’s kick was good to give Argentina a 28-21 lead.

At this point, the Eagles looked somewhat tired, and, with the subs coming on, not quite as unified. And as Argentina contracted another attack, to appeared that this might be the end of the dream result. But as the Argentina backs spun the ball, flanker Cam Dolan anticipated the pass perfectly and picked it off, rambling 55 meters untouched for a crucial score. Bird kicked the easy conversion and it was 28-28.

That seemed to energize the Eagles, and with the subs getting used to the pace of the game, they once again found themselves down in Argentina territory. There, with the ball right on the line, Fry picked up and snaked over for the try. Bird hit the conversion, and the Eagles, incredibly, led 35-28.

But Tomas Carrio exploited odd numbers out wide and a missed tackle to score with about two minutes remaining, and Miotti’s conversion locked it up again, 35-35.

Both teams had opportunities to win it. Bird missed a makable, but long-range, kick. Miotti was short on an even longer one after time had expired. Because that kick was short, the Eagles kept it and tried to attack once more. It was a risky proposition, because one isolated ballcarrier could lose the game. In the end, the mistake was a knock-on, and, fairly, the game ended in a tie.

Taku Ngwenya made one or two small errors, but overall was defensively aggressive, scored an excellent try, and was one of the USA’s best players.

The veterans - Ngwenya, Clever, Dolan, Fry - scored the USA tries, but some lesser-known players, notably Chris Baumann and Taufete’e up front, and especially Tameilau at No. 8, were excellent.

In the backs, Bird did very well in his debut, getting the team working together on attack, for the most part, and kicking some clutch kicks to keep his team in it. While he missed a potential game-winner, he was also hurt by the fact that, as he set up a potential game-winning drop goal, the referee had to stop play for a suspected concussion. The midfield of London and Filikitonga didn’t set the field alight with their running, but they had a lot of work to do tackling.

Making his Eagles debut in his home town, Kingsley McGowan would probably like a couple of passes as do-overs in the first half, but he got stuck in at the breakdown and asked questions of the Argentina defense.

The scrum and lineout functioned superbly for such little preparation time available to the team.

The Eagles earn three points from the tie and four tries - the same as Argentina - and with that performance perhaps put themselves in the conversation when we talk about who could win the ARC.

 

USA 35

Tries: Ngwenya, Clever, Dolan, Fry

Convs: Bird 3

Pens: Bird 3

 

Argentina 35

Tries: Paz, Bertranou, Carrio 2, Baez

Convs: Miotti 5