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Elite | 12.10.10
The Eagles started their third and final pool game in South Africa like
they were still hungover from the 43-5 shellacking Fiji delivered earlier
in the day, and allowed Namibia to take the early 7-0 lead.
The Americans responded quickly when Miles Craigwell found playmaker Shalom
Suniula, who then deferred to a switching Colin Hawley for the rebuttal
try. The conversion... Read More
International | 12.09.10
USA captain Todd Clever will start at blindside flanker for the Suntory
Sungoliath as his cub takes on Sanyo in the clash of two of the top three
teams in the Japan Top League.
Clever was one of the few USA players who went right back into his club's
starting lineup a week after the end of the November tour. Clever started
in the #6 jersey for Suntory as they defeated Kintetsu... Read More
Elite | 12.09.10
One of the USA 7s team's mantras is that they don't want to look on making
the Cup Quarterfinals as an end, but as a beginning.
They want to go from hoping to make the Top Eight to expecting to.
Such expectations are a luxury. Five teams made every Quarterfinals last
season, leaving three spots every tournament for others. Of those 24 spots
(three in each of eight... Read More
Elite | 12.06.10
It’s been a week since the USA finished their November tour of Europe,
and players have had time to reflect on the good parts and the bad.
No player RUGBYMag.com talked to was particular happy about losing to
Georgia, but none thought it was a death blow to their self esteem (or team
esteem) either.
There’s more to the plan for the team, said the players, than winning or
losing one game.
“It'... Read More
Elite | 11.28.10
By Alex Goff
You can read a lot into actions, and putting aside for now whether you feel
the USA played well or not on tour (most observers are mixed on the issue),
have a look at who Head Coach Eddie O'Sullivan has been using.
We at RUGBYMag.com tracked the
minutes of every player on tour, giving us an idea of who O'Sullivan likes,
who he isn't sure about, and who changed his mind.
Players who... Read More
Elite | 11.27.10
The
USA Men’s National Team did everything that was asked of them Saturday, and
still came up short, said USA Head Coach Eddie O’Sullivan. But the coach
told RUGBYMag.com that he was discouraged – disappointed, yes, but not
discouraged.
“I was disappointed the way we ended,” O’Sullivan told RUGBYMag.com,
referring to Georgia’s try at the end of the game that won if for the... Read More
Elite | 11.27.10
Georgia pulled off a dramatic and improbable victory over the USA in
Tiblisi Saturday, scoring in the 89th minute to win 19-17 over a brave
Eagles team.
The USA led for most of the match and played a tough-minded game in a match
that saw little open, running rugby.
In fact the Americans led throughout the second half... Read More
Elite | 11.25.10
Saturday's test match between the USA and Georgia will carry all sorts of
importance - the winner gets to jump up in the IRB rankings; the USA will
want to finish the tour with a sweep in their tests, while Georgia wants to
sweep the North American teams - but in the end it's just a game the
players have to get ready for.
Georgia benefitted from some fairly attrocious referee... Read More
Elite | 11.24.10
The tour is almost over, but the toughest part is just beginning.
Georgia showed everyone they mean business Saturday by beating Canada
22-15. They want to beat the USA, too. The Eagles, who have endured a
difficult tour affected by rough weather, unsympathetic referees, and
plenty of travel.
But a somewhat pleasant surprise awaited the Americans in Tbilisi, where
the... Read More
Elite | 11.19.10
The Eagles four matches on their November Tour should really be split into
two categories; full rankings test matches and other. Friday’s 25-0 loss to
Scotland A, like the London bout with Saracens, should be filed under
‘other’.
Against Saracens, the Eagles were on their back foot much of the match and
coach Eddie O’Sullivan was pleased with his defense. Against Scotland A,... Read More