The Eagles finally snatch one.....

[landy2a 0]

Tuesday October 28, 05:50 AM

 

 

USA finally grab World Cup win

 

Photo : AAP  

The United States camp breathed an immense sigh of relief after snapping the longest losing streak in Rugby World Cup finals history.

 

The Eagles ended a frustrating 10-game, 16-year barren run with a 39-26 denial of Japan in one of the matches of the tournament at Gosford.

 

"Rugby World Cup victories for the US have been hard to come by, but it hasn't been for a lack of want," said Eagles coach Tom Billups after their first RWC success since beating Japan 21-18 at Ballymore in 1987.

 

The star for the US was former Australian under-19 representative five-eighth Mike Hercus, who ultimately proved the difference with a try, the creation of two more and a hand in another for a personal 19-point haul.

 

Hercus applied the killer blow to Japan when he set up winger Riaan van Zyl for the converted try that thrust the Eagles eight points clear with just five minutes left on the clock.

 

"Mike is certainly a very talented footballer. He's got some unique football skills," Billups said.

 

Defeat for Japan - despite a brave second-half revival just four days after their physical, 41-13 loss to Fiji - consigned the Cherry Blossoms to the pool B wooden spoon.

 

They had enjoyed phenomenal crowd support throughout the tournament and again so at Gosford, but will leave Australia without a victory this campaign.

 

Japan's assistant coach, Wallabies legend Mark Ella, was philosophical in his assessment of his adopted team's showing throughout the tournament, which also included a 51-29 loss to France and 32-11 loss to Scotland.

 

"It's nice to be the entertainers and it's nice to get the crowd support. From the Japanese point of view, we really enjoyed the support from Australia," Ella said.

 

"But, at the end of the day, we're here to win. We've had four opportunities and we didn't come away with a win, and it's disappointing for the players and for the coaches."With both teams throwing caution to the wind in search of their first victory, a near-capacity, 19,653-strong Central Coast crowd was treated to a wonderful spectacle of thrill-a-minute, end-to-end action.

 

After trailing 20-10 at halftime, Japan emerged from the break with fresh blue jerseys and seemingly with a fresh approach to edge to within a point of the US with three penalty goals in the first 13 minutes to winger Toru Kurihara.

 

The Eagles stopped the flow briefly with a try in the 55th minute to classy flanker Kort Schubert off a clever pass from Hercus.

 

Hercus's conversion put the US ahead 27-19, but the Cherry Blossoms struck back with the 42nd Test try for winger Daisuke Ohata and Kurihara's conversion to leave Japan trailing 27-26 after an hour's play.

 

But the Japanese tired over the final quarter, van Zyl's strike and a last-minute try to hooker Kirk Khasigian securing a bonus point for the US.

 

The US had enjoyed their 10-point halftime advantage thanks to tries to Hercus in the eighth minute and fleet-footed outside centre Phillip Eloff three minutes later and two conversions and two penalty goals to Hercus.

 

A 20th minute converted try and a penalty goal to Kurihara had the Cherry Blossoms in the match at halftime.

 

The USA will play France in Wollongong on Friday in their last match.

[VoxVader 1]

Serious question, is this a joke?  Does the U.S. actually have a rugby team?

 

-Vox

[landy2a 0]

Vox,

The US are the Olympic rugby champions. They won it back in 1924 or thereabouts but rugby has not been an olympic sport since then.

 

John

[sandman81 0]

USA have quite a long history in Rugby.  I played against a team called the "Californian Bears" in 1965.  I think they were a UCLA college team.  In the early 70's Texas State had a reasonably strong team.

[VoxVader 1]

Thanks for the info guys.

 

I knew that most colleges have some sorty of club team, but I had no idea that the U.S. fielded a team for international competition.

 

It is good to know that we are the reigning Olympic Champs.  If nothing else it makes for good cocktail party trivia.

 

I wonder if we have a cricket team?

 

-Vox

[Code Monkey 0]

I wonder if we have a cricket team?

 

-Vox

 

Now that'd really be pushing your luck!! ;D

[growler 0]

As Bill McLaren used say "They will be dancing in the streets tonight" :)

[sandman81 0]

Don't get too excited about being Olympic champions.  The last time rugby was contested at the Olympics was in 1924.