USA U20s Put Emphatic Stamp on Qualifier Series, Book World Trophy Spot
USA U20s Put Emphatic Stamp on Qualifier Series, Book World Trophy Spot
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.
So the USA's scrum woes remained, but little niggly things the Canadians were doing were also getting attention. No. 8 Olly Wiseman was not staying bound during scrum shoves, and not controlling the ball. And the Canadian front row was potentially guilty of backing off the engagement, ensuring the USA front row would fall to the ground. They succeeded in drawing a penalty this way, but would be penalized for backing off later in the game.
Canada continued to push their advantage in the scrums, forcing penalties, and kicking for the corner. Another lineout and maul led to flyhalf Matthew Bennett lofting a kick to his University of Victoria teammate Cotie, who did superbly well to catch the kick and touch it down. Bennett converted and it was 24-21.
But the factors that led to a strong finish in the first game remained. With the ball the USA was very dangerous, and if they could figure out a way to get the ball out of the scrum quickly, they were in business.
Some good work through the phases and a half break from Santos got the USA, finally, in the Canadian 22 and then a nifty little inside pass from Saunders to wing Jordan Vassel coming in up the middle changed the momentum somewhat. And then a penalty goal from Ollie Cline added to that try to make it 34-21.
Defensively they were all over the Canadians, with Besag, George Engels, Dylan Fortune, and others making key tackles. It was a solid team effort on defense, and the USA were smart about not trying to jackle the ball unless the chance was really there.
As the game drew to a close Canada started to get warnings for not taking the hit on scrum the engagement. This finally led to a penalty and the lineout-and-maul produced a nice try for hooker Cade Crist. The Americans almost produced another on a weakside run from Besag, but it in the end they had done plenty.
It wasn't a beautiful game. The constant scrum resets and penalties took the luster out of it, but for the USA it showed they have many of the pieces of a very useful rugby team. Clearly the scrums need work, but with many of the forwards going straight back to training camp in Spartanburg, SC, that aspect of the game will get some attention. Lineouts were a little hit-and-miss, but when it came to open play, the USA looked very strong on both sides of the ball.
1st Match:
USA 33, Canada 18
2nd Match:
USA 41
Tries: Hahn, Santos, Wagner, Vassel, Crist
Convs: Saunders 4, Cline
Pens: Saunders, Cline
Canada 21
Tries: Penalty Try (2), Cotie
Convs: Penalty Try (2), Bennett
