Facing the first of two top-15 rugby opponents in a week, the US Eagles Rugby side fell to the fourth-ranked team in the world, Ireland, allowing nine tries and losing by a scoreline of, 55-19.
Ireland jumped out to a quick 17-0 lead in the first 18 minutes of the match maintaining control and keeping the Eagles away from the wings, forcing them to the middle of the pitch.
With his 68th cap tonight, Cian Healy became Ireland’s most-capped loosehead.
Keith Earls of Young Munster was vital in wreaking havoc down the right wing of the US defense. His two tries in those first twenty minutes set the tone for the rest of the half for Ireland.
The US responded in the 21st minute scoring their first try of the match as captain Nate Ausburger of Old Blue of New York powered through the Ireland defense. The conversion was a success as well, shortening the gap for the Eagles to just ten at 17-7.
Ireland scored two tries in the final ten minutes of the first half, one off a maul and the other off Earls’ third try of the half.
Ireland took a 29-7 lead into halftime.
US Head Coach John Mitchell was dismayed by his team’s play in the first half saying they didn’t match the energy necessary to keep pace with a strong side such as Ireland.
“It exposed a couple guys in our system and our first half scrum lost inches almost every time, I didn’t expect that. They found the front 50 very easily and we couldn’t find a lot of the attack.”
Mitchell went on to speak about the importance of cleaning those issues up before taking on a 12th-ranked Georgia side next week.
“We’ll look at our recovery strategy and have the healthiest athletes out on the pitch. We’ve got to become a lot more connected.”
The first 15 minutes of the 2nd half started far more positive for the US than first twenty-minutes of the first half.
The Eagles scored two tries by the 54th minute sparking life back into the American side.
The first of those two being scored by the Eagles’ most-capped American, left flanker John Quill of Glendale Raptors.
Ireland killed off the match scoring 19 points unanswered wearing down the Eagles with their speed and also helped by a number of substitutes providing fresh legs.
Ireland captain, Rhys Ruddock of St. Mary’s College was impressed by the intensity and volume of the crowd at Red Bull Arena.
“The atmosphere was incredible, depending on who was winning, you could hear the volume rise and definitely feel it.”
US Men’s National Team
- Ben Tarr
- Peter Malcolm
- Chris Baumann
- Nate Brakely
- Nic Civetta
- John Quill
- Tony Lamborn
- David Tameilau
- Nate Augspurger ©
- AJ MacGinty
- Martin Losefo
- Marcel Brache
- Ryan Matyas
- Mike Te’o
- Ben Cima
RESERVES
- James Hilterbrand
- Joe Taufete’e
- Paddy Ryan
- Matt Jensen
- Andrew Durrutalo
- Shaun Davies
- Will Magie
- Bryce Campbell
Ireland National Team
- Cian Healy
- Niall Scannell
- John Ryan
- Quinn Roux
- Devin Toner
- Rhys Ruddock ©
- Josh van der Flier
- Jack Conan
- Kieran Marmion
- Joey Carbery
- Jacob Stockdale
- Luke Marshall
- Garry Ringrose
- Keith Earls
- Tiernan O’Halloran
RESERVES
- Dave Heffernan
- Dave Kilcoyne
- Andrew Porter
- James Ryan
- Dan Leavy
- Luke McGrath
- Rory Scannell
- Simon Zebo
