Penalties Kill USA Chances Against Ireland
Penalties Kill USA Chances Against Ireland
Vancouver, BC - The USA lost 26-14 to Ireland in their final WXV 1 game, and it was a tough way to end it.
The Eagles were definitely on the wrong side of the referee's whistle and as the penalties piled up a 14-7 lead with about 20 to go evaporated in a series of whistles, cards, and discipline breakdowns.
Hope Rogers celebrated her 50th cap, becoming only the second USA Women’s Eagle to reach this milestone; Jamie Burke retired with 51. Past and present collided at the jersey ceremony, where Jamie Burke presented Rogers with her jersey. Captain Kate Zackary also made history, earning her 40th cap and joining an elite group as only the sixth player to achieve this mark.
Despite the results of the last three weeks, the squad made history appearing in their first WXV 1 and playing against the top teams in the country. Major lessons learned will give them work-ons as players separate until the new year as they prep for the Rugby World Cup 2025.
Comments from Head Coach Sione Fukofuka:
"We were really confident, but unfortunately discipline and the yellow cards made it really hard against a really good Irish team. We've had four weeks together, a WXV 1 tournament against some of the best teams in the world. We're really pleased at we're we've grown to, but back in the game we could've been a little smarter and our discipline was a challenge.
"A majority of the players will go back into playing for the PWR and playing for their clubs before we transition into our World Cup prep starting in January."
Comments from Captain Kate Zackary:
"There were just too many penalties. In the first half alone, eight, and I'm sure we gave up more than that in the second half. A lot of them were just off our own devices. Ireland was quick over the ball, but there were plenty we could've worked harder. Our attack moments were really good. Our defense moments were really good. And we would give away a cheap penalty somewhere.
"WXV 1 is where we want to be. Coming out of PAC 4, our intent was to win that last game against Australia and seal the deal to get into WXV 1. Because we want to play against the best teams; there's nothing like competing against the top teams in the world. And Ireland's on the come up. It's great to see the investment they have and work hard on and that's something we're chasing in the States."
While the USA discipline does need to be better, the Eagles were also
Rogers led the USA team out to celebrate her 50th, and then got the Eagles on the scoreboard in the 18th minute. Some good work from Cheta Emba on the wing and the forwards were very active in recycling down to the line where Rogers picked up and drove over. Ireland was able to get a try back after a silly penalty by the American backs for advancing on a kick while offside. The USA was slow to get back and organize for the penalty and flanker Erin King tapped and found space to go over. That made it 7-7.
Just before halftime the Eagles got close again as Rogers tapped quickly at halfway, and she finished off the movement with a pick-and-drive from a meter out. McKenzie Hawkins converted and it was 14-7.
It remained there until about 17 minutes to go. Ireland were threatening and as flanker Tahlia Brody was getting back onside the ball was passed at her head. She reflexively grabbed at it—it would have been better if she had ducked. But it was clearly accidental. Despite that, and despite the fact that there were two defenders in the vicinity, referee Maggie Cogger-Orr awarded a penalty try. The decision hinged on the fact that while wing Lotte Clapp was also there and could have stopped a try, she had not retreated onside, and so didn't count. Seven points for Ireland and a yellow card for Brody.
Moments later, as Ireland threatened once more, Rachel Ehrecke was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on. It was unfortunate but fairly clear. Ireland took the lineout and mauled it to the line. It looked as if the Irish had knocked the ball on, but really there were problems all over for this play. The USA's Rachel Johnson was offside when she grabbed the loose ball. From the TMO eventually a try was award—many similar plays have been called a knock-on and it was certainly very close. We at GRR will save that video for the next time a similar play is ruled a knock-on.
That made it 21-14 and as time wound down Ireland were able to suck in defenders and create space for wing Aimee Leigh Murphy Crowe to make it 26-14. Rachel Johnson also got a yellow card for a tackle where he shoulder struck an Irish player's head—the Irish player ducks her head right before the tackle but it didn't matter.
So three yellow cards. Were the Eagles hard done by? Certainly it seemed like their discipline failed them late. But there were moments when they deserved better from Cogger-Orr. Fullback Bulou Mataitoga turned her body sideways to catch a kick (like you're taught to do) and the ball rolling off her arms, clearly backward, and yet a knock-on was called. That was a horrible call and led to Ireland's third try. That try also should have been prevented by a poach from Alev Kelter, but Cogger-Orr did not award a relatively obvious holding-on penalty.
And finally there was a rather comical refusal to award a penalty for not rolling, saying the Eagles were holding the player in when the Irish player had had plenty of time to at least start to roll.
All of those calls, or non-calls, in the final 13 minutes or so, had a direct influence on the scoreline. Still, the Eagles committed far, far too many avoidable penalties—the offside on that clearance kick in the first half, diving onto their own ball in the ruck when there was no need to, and being a step too slow to the breakdown opening up turnover chances for King, which she took. In the end the USA gave up more than twice as many penalties as Ireland, and were shorthanded for virtually the entire final 17 minutes.
USA 14
Tries: Rogers 2
Convs: Hawkins 2
Ireland 26
Tries: King, Moloney, Murphy Crowe, Penalty Try
Convs: O'Brien
