Australia defeated the USA 47-10 in front of over 21,000 fans at Soldier Field Saturday night in Chicago, and while it was a fairly convincing win for the Wallabies, it was also a real test match for the USA.

Photos by Judy Teasdale. Click to enlarge.

The Eagles started poorly, with their scrum getting dismantled twice and a series of penalties leading to a scrum right at the USA line. The Wallabies won that scrum, too, and flyhalf Bernard Foley had a nice gap and was in under the posts. The USA put in some impressive tackles, especially from Taku Ngwenya, Samu Manoa, Seamus Kelly, and Thretton Palamo, but mismatches on tackling hurt them. From a 22 dropout by the USA, the Aussies put backs against props and burst through for scrumhalf Nick Phipps to score and a 14-0 lead.

After that, the Eagles changed things drastically. Somehow they straightened out the scrum, and when they got the ball they started to test the Australian defense. Both Manoa and AJ MacGinty almost broke free, and eventually they get a penaty, which MacGinty put over to make it 14-3.

Some scrambling defense and a tackle from Mike Petri that loosened a ball kept it close, and then a big break - Andrew Durutalo saw the ball was out of an Australia ruck. While Phipps was slow to pick up the ball, Durutalo took it and fed Eric Fry. Fry took contact, and the forwards swarmed in. Cam Dolan took it up, and then the ballk went wide, where Ngwenya broke a tackle, and then another, before offloading to a trailing Petri who scored a brilliant try.

MacGInty converted to make it 14-10, and for the rest of the first half it seemed that the Eagles were winning the physical battle, and the teams wnet into the locker rooms only four points apart.

But in the second half, the USA momentum was undone by their own mistakes. Twice the Eagles had a penalty lineout five meters from the USA line; once John Quill tried to hand the ball to a fellow forward, but no-one took it, and from that knock-on Australia got a penalty, a maul, another penalty, and then a try.

The other came late in the game after Chris Wyles had almost scored on a turnover and breakaway. The Eagle forwards needed to have worked the ball more quickly, more low in contact, and more ferociously. And while the USA got a penalty (which should have been a yellow card), their lineout failed again. Phil Thiel's throw went over the end and the Wallabies recovered and put together a brilliant movement that ended with a try in the corner. That was a killer, because it could have been 28-17, but instead was 35-10.

Australia punished USA mistakes and scored another off a lineout error. When both teams were playing rugby, the Eagles looked very good. And in contact they gave more than they got. But mistakes gave Australia five second-half tries.

MacGinty said in an interview after coming off the field that his team was tired from trying to match the pace of the game, so in that sense this game was supremely useful for the Eagles. For the Wallabies, too, this was a stern test before a World Cup full of them.

As far as injuries went, Cam Dolan left with what appeared to be an arm issue. Both Blaine Scully and Al McFarland went off - Scully returned after what seemed to be a concussion test that he passed. McFarland was replaced by Danny Barrett and did not return.

Zach Fenoglio battled a bloody nose the entire game. 

As far as perofrmced went, Palamo conitnues to improve. Durutalo continued to play well. Petri was excellent, while Ngwenya, Wyles, and Scully all did well under difficult circumstances.

The Eagles now look ahead to the Rugby World Cup and Samoa, Japan, South Africa, and Scotland.

USA 10

Tries: Petri

Convs: MacGinty

Pens: MacGinty

Australia 47

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