Getting the tries sometimes requires taking a chance when it's on offer, and sometimes it requires patience.

Against Samoa, the Eagles players, stymied early, were probably guilty of being a bit impatient, sometimes hoping an isolated forward would break through (twice they left a forward tackled and with no support and close to the Samoan tryline). But one play highlighted the issue - we've got the photos, which is one reason we are talking about it. Not to pick on Phil thiel - he's the guy with the ball here, but there are players who could have had his back.

This was a maul that was surging to the Samoan line in the second half. the maul was going beuatifully, and if the USA players had just rotated around behind Thiel, they cuold have driven him over for the try. Instead, Thiel was forced to break off and dive for the line. This works for 6-7 Samu Manoa, but Thiel is a shate shorter, and it didn't work. Thanks to David Barpal for the outstanding photo work.