The USA U20s were better than Canada U20s in almost every aspect (aside from the scrums) in winning the second game of the two-match World Rugby Trophy series 41-21.
With the victory, the USA wins the series on aggregate 74-39. The win was predicated on some excellent defense in open field and also near their goalline. But overall the USA were generally better with the ball in hand, adequate in the lineouts, and just barely hung on, eventually, in the scrums.
The junior Eagles started the game on the front foot and running through the phases. That play all led to a penalty for not rolling away, and flyhalf Ben Saunders of Grand Canyon University smacked over a 39-meter penalty goal to open the scoring.
Coming into the game with a 15-point lead, the USA team has certainly just happy to extend it.
Canada came back and were right on the USA goalline. But some big tackles, notably from lock Maseah Young, kept them out. Eventually the midfield defense forced a drop and the ball was toed ahead, and then toed ahead again to put Canada back in their half. This was some smart rugby and an indication of how far the USA age-graders have come, as in previous years they would have tried to pick up the ball rather than put a boot to it.
The pressure from the Americans finally forced a turnover, and then a penalty. This time the USA took the lineout, and after their maul was stopped, they kept up testing the line before flanker Holden Hahn picked up and was over for the try. Saunders converted nicely and it was 10-0 USA.
Soon it was 17-0. Canada's clearance kick went out on the full and the USA attacked from there, eventually scoring when fullback Reed Santos unleashed two outrageous sidesteps to create and exploit a gap. Saunders converted.
Canada's efforts to get through the USA line usually involved penalties, and there was certainly plenty of those in the next sequence. Canada got a penalty, took, the lineout, set the maul, got a penalty, took another lineout, and set another maul. Repeated offsides calls also saw No. 8 Logan Ballinger sin-binned. Finally another collapsed maul produced a penalty try for Canada to make it 17-7.
The USA U20s responded well. Hahn blocked a clearance kick which was rescued by Keelan Farrell, and as the support poured in to win the ruck, prop Thomas Wagner, the Californian now playing his rugby at Randwick in Australia, picked up and powered through wing Spencer Cotie for the try. Saunders converted once again and it was 24-7.
As the half came to a close, more penalties for the USA.This time it was the scrum. Canada seemed to be able to shove at will and the USA pack unity was disintegrating. After a warning from the ref, tighthead Asbjorn Lau Ross was shown yellow and the USA was down to 13 men. Right after that one more scrum penalty under the posts resulted in a second penalty try for Canada. The Canadians had momentum now and looked to score once more. But some excellent goalline defense led by captain Dom Besag made the stops, and the half ended when Canada was held up in-goal.
