Somehow the USA defeated Japan in the second match of the two-game women's test series, but they tried their best to blow it.

Playing in Shizuoka, Japan, the teams were once again victims of a very hot, humid night and that made for handling errors, fatigue, and, at the end, some head-scratching mistakes.

It was a defensive battle that resulted in just the one try for each side, and a late McKenzie Hawkins penalty goal giving the Eagles the victory 11-8. With the first match being a 17-17 tie, the USA won the series. 

The Eagles looked to take an early 5-0 lead after putting Japan under pressure. After a couple of mis-steps the USA was able to secure good lineout ball and set an excellent maul which they drove about 10 meters before hooker Kathryn Treder popped off the back to go over.

However, the maul was started when jumper Erica Jarrell handed the ball off to her teammates driving through. Lock Halli Taufoou was unconnected to Jarrell but in front of the ballcarriers, putting her in an offside position—officially this was unintended obstruction and the play was called back for a scrum to Japan.

But from the ensuing scrum the USA forwards earned a penalty, and this time they went straight to Taufoou and ran a more direct maul. Treder stayed bound and they drove into in-goal for the try.

For much of the remainder for the first half Japan had the USA backed up. The Eagles tried to get out of trouble but Japan was able to march back. Handling errors on both sides slowed the game down, and the Eagles defended a maul right on their line. A turnover close to their line when Jarrell had the ball ripped away, gave Japan another prime chance, but Bulou Mataitoga was able to cover the grubber kick through.

Eventually, the Sakura got over. Some nice interaction between fullback Sora Nishimura and center Mana Furuta almost produced a score but Sariah Ibarra was there to make the final tackle. But Japan consolidated well and bashed the phases back and forth toward the line. Finally No. 8 Seina Sato picked up and dove over to tie it up 5-5.

That patient, multi-phase approach tested the USA once more and only some desperate defense from captain Tess Feury, center Katana Howard, and scrumhalf Taina Tukuafu prevented a try. Japan might still have scored but the referee got in the way of one of Japan's passes, and the Sakura had to go back to an earlier penalty. Flyhalf Ayasa Otsuka was good on the kick and Japan led 8-5 

And that's how the first half ended.

That Time When Tess Feury Saved a Rugby Player's Life

Defenses Strengthen

The second half began with a both teams looking to force an error with some kicking. But it was a run that got the USA on the front foot. Tessa Hann had come on late in the first half for the injured Jarrell and took an inside pass from Gabby Cantorna to burst through for a good 45 meters. Her support wasn't close enough for a pass but the Eagles did get a penalty and the flyhalf slotted the kick to tie the game early in the second half.

Neither team was able to score for most of the rest of the game. Japan got an attacking lineout after Hawkins tried to prevent a 50-22 and failed. But the Japanese throw was long and the Eagles were able to get out thanks to a Hawkins chip for Cantorna to chase.

A 50-22 from Hawkins but a seeming miscommunication in open play gave the ball back to Japan. Midway through the second half the USA got right down to the tryline and the pick-and-go game seemed set to bring the inevitable try. No luck. The Americans thought they had it, but TMO review ruled a double movement. Replay showed Rachel Ehrecke had in fact turned to place the ball and then moved again to score it, so, yes, it was a double movement, and a needless one, as the USA just needed to be patient and they would have scored eventually.

As she often does, Feury saved her team's bacon on defense, dragging down Minori Tamamoto when she broke through. And that was a key play, because the USA earned a penalty soon thereafter and were able to build an attack. A chip through was chased nicely by Nana Fa'avesi, who forced a penalty 

The Eagles kept it up from there. They were held off by the Japanese but finally a penalty right in front of the posts saw Hawkins take another shot at goal, and this one went straight through to make it 11-8.

Less than three minutes remained now, and Taufoou did superbly to win the restart and the Eagles began to try to run out the clock ... except they didn't, and instead opted to kick. Japan countered and got a penalty to give them a lineout inside the USA 22. Why the Eagles didn't try to keep possession is a mystery. But the Japanese could be boneheaded, too, and in this case players from 10 meters back joined the maul before it really got going; offside, and the USA had a reprieve.

They took the lineout and the hooter sounded before the throw. OK, no problem. Win the lineout and kick to touch.

Except ... Hann decided to run the ball. This being her first cap and most of the time collegiate rugby doesn't have a hooter, this might have been a moment for a more experienced player to give her some direction. Instead, the ball was knocked out of the Hann's hands and Japan had one more shot.

The Eagle defense had been outstanding all half and it was good here. But still there were avoidable mistakes. Jenny Kronish went in down on the ball in the ruck, was told by the ref to release, and didn't release. Penalty Japan and, really, this deserved a yellow card for Kronish, who should know better.

So yet another chance for Japan. The USA defense was again pretty good, with some players firing up in a blitz to shake up the Japanese runners. A brilliant diving tackle from Ehrecke kept Japan in check  but then Kronish committed another infraction. This time she had not retreated to an onside position, and then chose to dive on a ball was that clearly still in the ruck. Penalty to Japan and, once again, the Beatown player was very lucky to remain on the field.

So now we were down to a Japanese lineout five meters from the USA tryline. If Japan scored, the Eagles would have only themselves to blame. This time the USA sacked the Japanese maul. But Japan were then penalized for sealing over the ball, and that was it. Hawkins tapped and then kicked to touch to end the game and the USA had somehow held on.

USA 11
Tries: Treder
Pens: Hawkins 2

Japan 8
Tries: Sato
Pens: Otsuka