The 18-month era of John Mitchell as Head Coach of the USA Men's National Team will come to an end July 2 as Mitch moves on to take a job with the Blue Bulls.
So even though th Eagles have four more games to play under his tutelage - June 10 against Ireland in Harrison, NJ, June 17 against Georgia in Kennesaw, Ga., and the Rugby World Cup Qualifiers against Canada June 24 in Hamilton, Ont., and July 1 in San Diego - now would be a good time to look at the record of the Mitchell teams.
What Mitchell's Move Means
Section 1: 2016 ARC
USA 35 Argentina XV 35
Tries: Ngwenya, Clever, Dolan, Fry
Convs: Bird 3
Pens: Bird 3
Ranking: USA 16 Argentina XV not a ranked team
USA 30 Canada 22
Tries: Clever 3, London
Convs: Bird, Kruger
Pens: Bird, Kruger
Ranking: USA 16 Canada 19
USA 64 Chile 0
Tries: Baumann, Eloff, Edwards, Taufete'e, Te'o 2, Hum, Thomas, Anderson, London
Convs: Eloff 7
Ranking: USA 16 Chile 24
USA 23 Brazil 24
Tries: Taufete'e, Schirmer, Kruger
Convs: Bird
Pens: Bird, Kruger
Ranking: USA 16 Brazil 42
USA 25 Uruguay 29
Tries: Schirmer, London, Miksell
Convs: Bird 2
Pens: Bird 2
Rankings: USA 17 Uruguay 20
It was a good start for the USA, but the loss Feb 27 to Brazil was the biggest rankings upset since World Rugby started ranking teams. Overall record: 2-2-1.
Section 2: Summer 2016
USA 20 Italy 24
Tries: Penalty Try, Lamborn
Convs: MacGinty 2
Pens: MacGinty 2
Rankings: USA 17 Italy 14
USA 25 Russia 0
Tries: Te'o
Convs: MacGinty
Pens: MacGinty 6
Rankings: USA 18 Russia 20
But for a few unlucky referee calls and (perhaps) Taku Ngwenya's injury, the USA might have beaten Italy. The shutout against Russia was the Eagles' second of the year.
Section 3: Fall 2016
USA 7 NZ Maori 54
Tries: Clever
Convs: Holder
Rankings: USA 17 NZ Maori not a ranked team
USA 10 Romania 23
Tries: Holder
Convs: Holder
Pens: Holder
Rankings: USA 17 Romania 16
USA 17 Tonga 20
Tries: Iosefo, Taufete'e
Convs: Holder 2
Pens: Holder
Rankings: USA 17 Tonga 15
A chance to move up the rankings fell flat thanks to the unavailability of some overseas pros, injuries, and a poor performance against Romania.
Section 4: 2017 ARC
USA 29 Uruguay 23
Tries: Campbell, Scully
Convs: Cima, MacGinty
Pens: Cima 3, MacGinty
Rankings: USA 17 Uruguay 21
USA 51 Brazil 3
Tries: Davis, Eloff, Lamborn 2, Dolan, Te'o, Campbell, Tiberio
Convs: Cima 4
Pens: Magie
Rankings: USA 17 Brazil 34
USA 51 Canada 34
Tries: Matyas, Te'o 3, Purpura, Clever, Quill
Convs: Davies 5
Pens: Magie, Davies
Rankings: USA 17 Canada 18
USA 57 Chile 9
Tries: Dolan, Lamborn 2, Tameilau, Jensen, Clever, Maclolm 2
Convs: Cima 7
Pens: Cima
Rankings: USA 17 Chile 30
USA 27 Argentina XV 27
Tries: Tameilau 2, Magie, Dolan
Convs: Cima 2
Pens: Cima
Rankings: USA 17 Argentina XV not a ranked team.
A decent start at home backed up by some very strong performances on the road.
