Kickoff 6:35 PM by USA.

Australia tries to run it out of their end but a blitz from Taku Ngwenya forces a knock-on.

The scrum, though, looks shakey for the USA. The Eagles are driv en back and on a second scrum, Australia gets a penalty. They kick to touch, take a lineout, and while the Eagles are aggressive in defense, they keep giving up penalties. The Eagles almost get a turnover but Greg Peterson gets two quick penalties and a yellow card.

Australia takes the scrum five meters from the USA line, and Foley gets the pass and is in under the posts. 

9th Minute Australia 7 USA 0.

The Eagles settle things down after that by staying away from penalty trouble and defend well. But after that defense forces a kick ahead by the Wallabies, the resulting 22 dropout by the Eagles is returned for a fairly easy try by the Aussies. Scrumhalf Nick Phipps scores it.

17th Minute 14-0 

The USA got the ball after the restart and ran several phases, with Samu Manoa and AJ MacGinty asking questions of the Australia defense. Eventually they get a penalty and MacGinty sails it through. Blaine Scully goes off for what appears to be a concussion check, and Folau Niua comes on. But that's only for a short period.

The Eagles keep playing defense and do it quite well. Some big hits thrown around by the Eaqgles. But their defense is called for offside. Australia goes for another attacking lineout, but a tackle from Mike Petri jars the ball loose. A wild scramble ends with a scrum for the USA ten meters from their own line. The scrum holds and the Eagles clear. About half an hour gone and it's 14-3. for Australia.

 

Still on defense, the Eagles get some broken play chances. The ball is out of the Wallaby ruck and Andrew Durutalo goes around and steals it. He pops to Eric Fry, who is in the open field but, as a prop, has no chance to run. So he recycles and it's out to Dolan. Another phase and out wide. Ngwenya breaks a few tackles and is almost away. He's hauled down but Mike Petri is in for a brilliant try. MacGinty converts and at the 34th minute it's 14-10.

The Eagles get a free kick on a scrum after some more big hits force a knock-on. But a bad high ball from AJ MacGinty gives the ball away. Two minutes left in the half and the Eagles keep battling. Australia having a tough time getting ground. Kurtley Beale kicks but it goes into touch on the full. Samu Manoa and Taku Ngwenya making big tackles.

The USA takes that lineout and mauls it, but Australia stops the drive and gets a scrum just as the hooter goes. The Wallabies make a break on the weakside and look to have numbers to score, but another big tackle from Kelly forces a knock-on and ends the half.

40 minutes 14-10.

Big plays for USA: Mike Petri makes two turnover tackles and scores a try. Taku Ngwenya makes a couple of key defensive plays and helps set up try. Andrew Durutalo causes turnover that leads to try. MacGinty, Wyles, and Scully all make huge plays rescuing scary, near-goalline situations. 

Second Half

Scully takes the restart and the Eagles run a good offense through the phases. Thretton Palamo almost breaks through, but Australia handles MacGinty's kick ahead.

But things turn quickly. The Eagles get a lineout near the Australia line, but John Quill can't control the ball. Australia gets a penalty from the ensuing scrum, and then a mual, another penalty, and a maul over for Sean McMahon. Kick is good 

50th Minute 21-10 Australia leads.

With more momentum going into contact, Australia starts to push the tackle line back. The USA gets called for offside again, and the Wallabies kick to the corner, send it wide, and after a few phases Dean Mumm powers over. Foley kicks the conversion and it's 28-10 after 56 minutes

 

The game slows down as both teams hit really hard and force drops. There's a bit of a dust-up, but the referee basically tells everyone to calm down.

The Eagles have a shot to make a break, but an offload from MacGinty goes through Kelly's hand.

 

But then a big break. A bad pass from the Wallabies allowed Chris Wyles to break through, nab the ball and almost get to the tryline. But he was caught. The Eagles swarmed in, but slowly. They ran some phases and Australia were penaltized. But you got the feeling that the Eagles needed to score.

They took the lineout, the throw went over the end of the lineout, and the Wallabies took it, and spun it wide and scored almost untouched 95 meters. What could have been a 28-17 scoreline becomes 35-10.

71st Minute Austraia 35 USA 10

Moments later it becomes 42-10 when the Wallabies run a play off the scrum and Quade Cooper bulls over. Scully is there but Cooper gets the ball down.

And then another turnover at the lineout gifts Australia a try on the wing for Taqele Naiyaravoro.

But the Eagles are a bit tired and unfortunately just can't keep the ball. Kick no good. 47-10 with time almost up.

 

USA v Australia Lineups

USA 1. Eric Fry 2. Zach Fenoglio 3. Titi Lamositele 4. Cameron Dolan 5. Greg Peterson 6. Al McFarland 7. Andrew Durutalo 8. Samu Manoa 9. Mike Petri 10. AJ MacGinty 11. Chris Wyles (C) 12. Thretton Palamo 13. Seamus Kelly 14. Takudzwa Ngwenya 15. Blaine Scully Reserves 16. Phil Thiel 17. Olive Kilifi 18. Chris Baumann 19. Louis Stanfill 20. John Quill 21. Danny Barrett 22. Shalom Suniula 23. Folau Niua

Australia 1. James Slipper (C) 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau 3. Greg Holmes 4. Kane Douglas 5. Rob Simmons 6. Ben McCalman 7. Sean McMahon 8. Wycliff Palu 9. Nick Phipps 10. Bernard Foley 11. Rob Horne 12. Matt Giteau 13. Henry Speight 14. Joe Tomane 15. Kurtley Beale Reserves 16. James Hanson 17. Scott Sio 18. Toby Smith 19. Dean Mumm 20. Sam Carter 21. Quade Cooper 22. Will Genia 23. Taqele Naiyaravoro