EOS's USA suffer Heavy Defeat!

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England Saxons hammered USA 87-8 in Churchill Cup this evening. Cannot have helped Eddie O'Sullivan's World Cup preparations. See - http://www.espnscrum.com/churchill-cup-2011/rugby/story/140983.html
This report suggests they were fielding a less than full strength side -

HARSH LESSONS FOR USA AGAINST SAXONS

Northampton, ENGLAND – The USA Eagles took on the England Saxons on Saturday in their opening match of the 2011 Churchill Cup and ended up on the rough end of an 87-8 score line. The USA started mostly domestic players to give them experience against a Saxons team that was fully professional.

Head Coach Eddie O’Sullivan tried some experimental combinations and gave domestic players an opportunity to play at a very high level. The Eagles were starved of possession by the Saxons and the English side was able to capitalize on turnovers, scoring seven tries from turnover ball.

USA struck first after solid phase play resulted in a penalty which outside center, Tai Enosa, converted with ease in the 3rd minute. England answered back quickly through the very lethal Miles Benjamin, who ended up scoring a hat trick in the encounter.

The first 20 minutes would see the Saxons run rampant and the Eagles were up against it to the tune of 33-3 at halftime.

“The game got away from us early on and we were struggling early. On some occasions we held onto the ball and did some good things,” said O’Sullivan.

“It was a very big ask of our team to go against the fully professional England Saxons side and a lot of our problems were of our own making.”

The coach continued to say that mistakes and turnovers were compounded by the Saxons’ speedy backs and defensive lapses by the Eagles.

The scrums were also an issue for the Eagles and the Saxons were able to drive the American forwards back, compromising the USA’s attacking platform when awarded scrums.

Even under immense Saxons pressure and a unfavorable score line, the Eagles kept fighting as Scott LaValla pushed over for a try in the 72nd minute after the USA forwards built on strong phase play to get the Saxons back pedaling.

Colin Hawley and John van der Giessen played well for the Eagles and were very gritty in their defense. Van der Giessen was also very good in the lineouts and was able to provide a threat in the air to that set piece.

Tonga is up next for the Eagles, which is a full test match and a ranking test so fans can expect to see a very different Eagles team on Wednesday as the talents of several seasoned internationals will be called on.

The USA v. Tonga match will kick off at 12:30 ET and will be broadcast live online at www.universalsports.com and on tape delay on Universal Sports at 8 p.m. ET.

USA EAGLES

15 Mike Palefau (Utah Warriors)

14 Mile Pulu (San Francisco Golden Gate)

13 Tai Enosa (Belmont Shore)

12 Junior Sifa (Nottingham RFC)

11 Colin Hawley (Olympic Club)

10 Troy Hall (New York Athletic Club)

9 Mike Petri (New York Athletic Club, captain)

1 Eric Fry (Las Vegas Blackjacks)

2 Phil Thiel (Life University)

3 Will Johnson (London Irish)

4 John van der Giessen (Utah Warriors)

5 Scott LaValla (Stade Francais)

6 Pat Danahy (Life University)

7 Danny LaPrevotte (San Francisco Golden Gate)

8 JJ Gagiano (Univ. of Cape Town)

Reserves:

16 Chris Biller (San Francisco Golden Gate)

17 Shawn Pittman (London Welsh)

18 Louis Stanfill (Mogliano)

19 Inaki Basauri (L' Aquila)

20 Tim Usasz (Nottingham RFC)

21 Roland Suniula (Boston Rugby)

22 Andrew Suniula (Chicago Griffins)

USA Tries: LaValla (78’) Penalties: Enosa (3’)

Substitutions: Pittman on for Fry (50’), Biller on for Thiel (50’), Stanfill on for LaPrevotte (55’), Basauri on for Gagiano (62’), Usasz on for Petri (70’), A. Suniula on for Sifa (77’)

England Saxons

15 Mike Brown (Harlequins)

14 Topsy Ojo (London Irish)

13 Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby)

12 Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers)

11 Miles Benjamin (Worcester Warriors)

10 Rory Clegg (Harlequins)

9 Micky Young (Newcastle Falcons)

1 Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)

2 Joe Gray (Harlequins)

3 Matt Stevens (Saracens)

4 Mouritz Botha (Saracens)

5 Dave Attwood (Gloucester Rugby)

6 James Gaskell (Sale Sharks)

7 Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)

8 Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers, captain)

Reserves:

16 David Paice (London Irish)

17 Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)

18 Graham Kitchener (Worcester Warriors)

19 Jamie Gibson (London Irish)

20 Paul Hodgson (London Irish)

21 Alex Goode (Saracens)

22 Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby)

Saxons Tries: Benjamin 3 (4’, 10’, 57’) Brown 2 (6’, 42’), Hodgson (73’), Johnson (49’), Kitchener (71’), Sharples (67’), Trinder (60’), Twelvetrees (52’), Young (24’) Conversions: Clegg 11

Substitutions: Goode on for Brown (53’), Sharples on for Ojo (53’), Brookes on for Mullan (60’), Paice on for Gray (55’), Brookes on for Stevens (40’), Kitchener on for Botha (60’), Gibson on for Gaskell (17’)

thomond2006

Ouch!

theboss80

Holy sh#t thats harsh

durkadurka

Wasit their As or the first team?

CIARAN_BOYLE

durkadurka wrote: »

Wasit their As or the first team?

Its their senior team. I don't know enough about the USA to know if they sent out their first choice team. They could have rested a few players. A few of the Saxons were out to lay down proper markers for inclusion in the senior team for the WC.

In related news former Ireland U20 international Kieran Brookes played for the England's second highest representative team today in a game against the USA's highest representative team.

This means that he is now tied as an English player and as such can never play for Ireland.

jolley123

They were missing Chris Wyles, Todd Clever, Mike Hercus, Ngwenya and Paul Emerick.

They still would have been beaten with those guys though, but by a less embarrassing margin.

BarackPyjama

Won't do the Eagles any favours in confidence travelling to NZ.

Badgermonkey

Head Coach Eddie O’Sullivan tried some experimental combinations

Surely a misprint.

CiaranMT

Miles Benjamin is an absolute flyer. Would be interesting to see if he's developed and promoted to the Senior team. Won't be at the WC but has serious potential.

CatFromHue

this is a strange tournament. look at the players the english have available to them. now look at the players all the other nations have available to them.

its severly lopsided in the english's side (amlin cup winners, english premiership winners and runners up make up a large portion of the team)

the real competition in this tournament is to come second. the english have first already.

it just further highlights the difference in the major teams and the minor teams in world rugby.

David900

jolley123 wrote: »

They were missing Chris Wyles, Todd Clever, Mike Hercus, Ngwenya and Paul Emerick.

They still would have been beaten with those guys though, but by a less embarrassing margin.

Were these guys not yet available to the team? I thought I saw Clever there before the match holding the trophy?

He's a good player, did some decent things in Super rugby. Does an even meaner swan dive than Ashton though...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnKZE1VwhJU

Edit: Not sure how to insert a video into the message!

Ciaran-Irl

Now Mouritz Botha is playing for England?

How soon before England can play a full 15 of people that weren't born or raised in the country, don't have parents from the country and have no connection with it other than playing there?

Getting bizarre.

Ciaran-Irl

Now Mouritz Botha is playing for England?

How soon before England can play a full 15 of people that weren't born or raised in the country, don't have parents from the country and have no connection with it other than playing there?

Getting bizarre.

Teferi

I was watching this. In fairness to the American crowd, they really got off their feet and cheered the Eagles when they scored their consolation try in the last few minutes. Seriously loud for the whomping they had just recieved.

Canada beat Italy A too. I thought they took their chances very well, especially after the Italian captain was binned.

Conas

Wow what a thrashing lets hope we can do a similar thing to them in the World Cup.

I wouldn't look into this too much, actually I'd be worried about playing the USA in the opening match STILL. Eddie O'Sullivan will know the Irish players inside out, he'd also know Declan Kidney very well. Tactically he'll know how to play us, and I personally think our match with the US will be a tough one. I'd be expecting a few injuries to be honest.

Complacency can put you in a vulnerable position in any sport, especially on a rugby field.

wonton

I don't think it's exactly a harsh lesson. I mean it would have been hard for them to compete even with some of the bigger names there, but without them I cant imagine they expected much less.

BarackPyjama

Conas wrote: »

Eddie O'Sullivan will know the Irish players inside out, he'd also know Declan Kidney very well. Tactically he'll know how to play us

I'm not so sure. We have a lot of younger players that EOS hasn't had much exposure to and we're trying to play a very different game than we did under EOS's tenure. Thankfully.

WeeBushy

The USA could have our line up and book of tactics a week before the game and we would still beat them comfortably imo.

sickpuppy

Would the second string usa team be full time pros? or semi pro.
England hammering them by a cricket score is fairly pointless
huge gulf in class between top 8 teams and chasing pack seems to be widening.

thomond2006

BarackPyjama wrote: »

I'm not so sure. We have a lot of younger players that EOS hasn't had much exposure to and we're trying to play a very different game than we did under EOS's tenure. Thankfully.

I think it's been said by many coaches/players that video analysis is now so advanced that "insider knowledge" is pretty overrated these days.

irishbucsfan

Let's wait to see the real USA team play before deciding on how poor they are.

Podge_irl

sickpuppy wrote: »

Would the second string usa team be full time pros? or semi pro.

The USA first team isn't even all pro!

It's a big defeat but the USA seemed to be missing pretty much all their pro players. That's gonna make a big difference.

PhatPiggins

BarackPyjama wrote: »

I'm not so sure. We have a lot of younger players that EOS hasn't had much exposure to and we're trying to play a very different game than we did under EOS's tenure. Thankfully.

If by very different you mean a far worse brand of rugby then under O'Sullivan then you're spot on.

Very good coach who was a Paul O'Connell knock on away from a Grand Slam but got it badly wrong in the end. Neil Fanny was linking him with the Munster job in 2012. I'd welcome him if it happened.

Considering the try scorer for the USA plays AIL Division 2 with Trinity College (Captain and on his way to Stade Francais to be fair) I don't think this was ever going to be a fair fight.

I also don't think that that's near the USA's full team either. A useful exercise for England I feel, but ultimately irrelevant for USA.

BarackPyjama

PhatPiggins wrote: »

If by very different you mean a far worse brand of rugby then under O'Sullivan then you're spot on.

You think so, yeah? Personally I think Kidney is trying to play the kind of game we should be playing. With any luck he'll learn to pick on form and use the bench during this WC. If not, we're doomed. We can live in hope I suppose.

sickpuppy

Deleted User wrote: »

Considering the try scorer for the USA plays AIL Division 2 with Trinity College (Captain and on his way to Stade Francais to be fair) I don't think this was ever going to be a fair fight.

I also don't think that that's near the USA's full team either. A useful exercise for England I feel, but ultimately irrelevant for USA.

How can smashing someone out the gate be of any use enlighten me.
I guess the players get some game time together in an international set up but its never fun or much use being or recieving a hiding like that

sickpuppy

sickpuppy wrote: »

How can smashing someone out the gate be of any use enlighten me.
I guess the players get some game time together in an international set up but its never fun or much use being or recieving a hiding like that

This exactly, not many of these guys will get a chance to play together again very often, simply being in camp together for the few days beforehand is beneficial, as there wont be many times that they'll be able to do it again.

PhatPiggins

BarackPyjama wrote: »

You think so, yeah? Personally I think Kidney is trying to play the kind of game we should be playing. With any luck he'll learn to pick on form and use the bench during this WC. If not, we're doomed. We can live in hope I suppose.

I thought the rugby that Ireland played in the 2007 6N's was the best we've ever produced consistently over a tournament. I'll be honest I don't really know what type of game Kideny is trying to promote as it seems to change with every fixture.

Eoin

Some people have very short memories.

tolosenc

There's an actual Life University?

BarackPyjama

PhatPiggins wrote: »

I thought the rugby that Ireland played in the 2007 6N's was the best we've ever produced consistently over a tournament. I'll be honest I don't really know what type of game Kideny is trying to promote as it seems to change with every fixture.

I'd agree. I'd say a combination of how we played against NZ last November and England in March. Although better... including better selection on form and a better use of the bench. I'm willing to give Kidney a break until I see how things go and what decisions are made during the WC.

pickarooney

Billy Twelvetrees is my new favourite name for a player.

durkadurka

Peter winterbottom will be gutted.

Crash

As will Winston Churchill Mafi.

durkadurka

And Danny grewcock

thomond2006

and Robbie Robinson!

BarackPyjama

Schalk Burger and Steele Retchless are also both very upset by this revelation.

pickarooney

BarackPyjama wrote: »

Schalk Burger and Steele Retchless are also both very upset by this revelation.

Whoah, how come I never heard of this guy before?

theboss80

thomond2006 wrote: »

and Robbie Robinson!

I'd say his side profile in that photo would be like a human version of your Mo avitar Thomond:D

GerM

pickarooney wrote: »

Billy Twelvetrees is my new favourite name for a player.

Or as the Leicester fans call him when typing: 36.

profitius

The USA will need plenty of games to get ready. With all their big players back they'll be tougher but should not worry Ireland.

duckysauce

They have conceded 131 points in just 2 games.

Judgement Day

That was another bloodbath tonight. EOS's team were still in touch at halftime only 13-10 down but they never looked like winning and got off lightly at 44-13. I don't know whether it was just my stream but it looked to be a dull, dull game despite the 4 tries by Tonga's #11. The USA and EOS would need to go back to the drawing board before the RWC. If this team turns up you would have to expect Australia, Ireland and even Italy to humiliate them.

http://www.espnscrum.com/churchill-cup-2011/rugby/story/141246.html

CatFromHue

the us dont have the players just look at some of the clubs the tonga players play for

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonga_national_rugby_union_team#Current_squad

north harbour, counties manukau, leicester, agen, perpignan, cardiff blues, newcastle

look at the teams some of the us play for

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_national_rugby_union_team#Current_players

most are based in the states, a few more in the championship in england

frankly the fact that the us were only down by 3 at half time is pretty good. also the tonga players in theory should be fitter and so should finish strong.

Stev_o

Kevin Swiryn winger for the US and Agen. Absolute class act and probably one of the best players they have. Love to see him play in the P12.