Pumas Beat USA Falcons but Positives in Falcons Effort

10.21.2022

The Currie Cup champion Airlink Pumas defeated the USA Falcons 33-15 Friday in Bloemfontein in a game that actually held several positives for the Americans.

The Pumas dominated field position and ball possession in the first half but couldn’t get points. Despite that, they produced several useful sequences and put the Pumas under considerable pressure. Only some little ball handling errors undercut them.

In the second half, the Falcons gifted the Pumas with a couple of tries, but then battled back to score two tries and ticked one crucial box—to play to the end.

Both teams caught a bit of a break in that hugely respect international referee Jaco Peyper, who lives in Bloemfontein, was available to officiate. This provided expert game management for a USA Falcons team that needed it.

The Falcons started well with a Ryan Rees box kick taken into touch by the Pumas. Their lineout and maul was good and a weakside run from Rees brought another penalty and another lineout. The backs got involved this time and wing Chris Mattina raced to the line. He was however, caught and turtled so that he was held up—had he been able to lay the ball back the Falcons potentially have scored. As it was the Pumas were able to kick free.

This was part of the story as the Falcons were attacking much of the first part of the game. It wasn’t until 18 minutes were gone that anyone scored.

The Pumas exploited a couple of penalties and then went wide, where a bobbled ball was just gathered and over they went.

More pressure from the Falcons put them in a scoring position, and this time they took the penalty goal option. Duncan van Schalkwyk was good on the attempt to make it 7-3.

The Pumas pressured again. Captain Bryce Campbell, who had an excellent game, made a tackle and poach near his line. But then as the Falcons forwards tried to consolidate before anyone could kick clear, they lost the ball and the Pumas went wide and were over.

That made it 14-3 at halftime despite the Falcons winning 60% of ball and field position. Small mistakes hurt them, though.

Wild Second Half

In the second half both teams looked to open up what had been a pretty open and entertaining game.

In the second half the Falcons started committing penalties and were justly punished with a lineout and maul drive. After a good attack from the US players, they lost the ball and the Pumas kicked deep. Fullback Mitch Wilson took off to counter, but his pass went behind his support and no one else was there; the Pumas walked in.

That made it 26-3. But after that the Falcons settled down a bit and with the reserves on found some additional energy.

A brilliant backline move from their own 22 got the Pumas their last try.

Airlink Pumas takes the victory 33-15 against the USA Falcons pic.twitter.com/fXe3KGOBT1
— FloRugby (@FloRugby) October 21, 2022

But then defensive pressure forced a Pumas mistake. Off a scrum the Falcons ran a move and Paul Lasike made ground and drew several defenders in. Jamason Fa’anana-Schilz picked up quickly and took the Falcons further before Rees sent it quickly back to the left where Mattina, now playing flyhalf, sold a dummy and was over.

The former University of Delaware captain slotted the conversion and it was 33-10.

Moments later Nate Augspurger made a superb cover tackle and poach to stop a potential Puma try. From that penalty the Falcons attacked and some lovely hands from Fa’anana-Schulz to Mattina to Tavite Lopeti saw the former Saint Mary’s center take the hit as he fed Connor Mooneyham. The former Life University star took off from 30 meters out and was in.

(The Pumas subs were training in-goal and prevented Mooneyham from curving around near the posts; as a result Mattina just missed the conversion.)

That’s how the game ended.

Yes the Falcons needed to have garnered points from all of that first-half pressure; yes they should have been more clinical; yes they should have avoided the mistakes and penalties that gifted at least 19 points. But … the Falcons played some good continuity, broke some tackles, and scored tries that were more than just penalty-lineout-maul.

In addition, the set piece was very strong. The scrum monstered the Pumas on a couple of occasions and earned several penlties. The lineout functioned well.

As for individuals. Still new-to-rugby Kaleb Geiger at hooker was a presence. He made a try-saving tackle kind of out of nowhere, threw well in the lineout, and made some good cleanup plays.

Wilson, one of four starters from the championship Life University side of 2018 and 2919, was solid at fullback and continues to bely his size with bravery and a willingness to tackle. Campbell was given more of a playmaking role and did well with that. Getting him more involved in the tactical side of the game is a good move for the USA.

Several other players showed well; Mattina with a try and an almost-try; flanker Moni Tonga’uiha just getting work done; the front row, starters and reserves, in the scrum.

So a loss, but positives, and perhaps some players showing they have learned what it takes to truly compete at an international level.

USA Falcons 15
Tries: Mattina, Mooneyham
Convs: Mattina
Pens: Van Schalkwyk

Pumas 33