No Luck Involved as Ireland Beat the Eagles

June 11, 2017

No Luck Involved as Ireland Beat the Eagles

Photo: Doug Coil

Doug Coil

USA Men’s Eagles opened the Emirates Airline Summer Series opener against No. 4 Ireland at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey on June 10. The match was televised on the NBC Sports Network.

Following this test, the team will conclude the Summer Series against Georgia on June 17 at the Fifth Third Bank Stadium at Kennesaw State University. The team then will face Canada in Toronto June 24 and again on July 1 in San Diego in the Rugby World Cup 2019 Qualifiers to determine the Americas 1 team.

Head Coach John Mitchell is leaving the Eagles for the Bull Bulls after the Rugby World Cup qualifiers against Canada conclude on July 1, however in the post match press conference, he indicated that the USA Rugby Men’s Eagles program is not about him, it has always been about the players. The Eagles have improved under his leadership and his USA Rugby legacy would be enhanced with quality performances in the Summer Series leading to beating Canada in the Rugby World Cup 2019 Qualifiers. Numerous newly capped Eagles will also benefit form their international experience and for some, the professional opportunities it brings.

Nic Civetta addressed the opportunities of playing for rugby professionally after the match, saying that his experience  training and playing for the Newcastle Falcons in the Aviva Premiership gets you prepared for test matches like these. The USA has been steadily increasing the number of players that having gained valuable experience as professionals. The impact is apparent as the USA seeks to contend in the future with Tier 1 nations.

Eagles v. Ireland

The Eagles faced a challenge of playing against the fourth ranked team in the World in a nearly packed house of 22,370 fans at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. The Eagles excited the crowd moving the ball to within five meters of the line in the opening minute, but Ireland showed how difficult an opponent they were in winning 55-19 in the opening match of the Emirates Airlines Summer Series.

The Eagles scored three tries as Nick Civetta and John Quill blocked kicks and subsequently went in for tries. Ryan Matyas also added a try after an 11 phase attack. A.J. MacGinty converted the first two tries. Ireland scored five tries during the first half for a 29-7 lead and added four more in the second half for a 55-19 win.

A.J. MacGinty kicked deep to open the match with Josh Van Der Flier taking the ball into contact at the Irish 22 meters. A subsequent turnover lead to Mike Te’o moving the ball to within five meters of the try line. The opportunity was wasted however, as the USA lost the ball and Ireland cleared for another attack by Te’o from outside the 22 meters. A penalty by the USA once again twarted another scoring opportunity as Joey Carbery kicked to touch setting up an Ireland lineout just inside USA territory. Fullback Tiernan O’Halloran then split USA defenders and offloaded to Keith Earls for the opening try and a 5-0 lead after four minutes.

The Eagles then went on the attack swinging the ball right, then left and right again. Ireland was penalized for a high tackle on Ben Cima, but elected against MacGinty kicking for points, opting to kick for touch and try to even the score after an attack from a lineout. The Eagles went through multiple phases, but again lost the ball. Ireland’s O’Halloran found a gap and then grubbed the ball into touch. This led to an Eagles lineout at their 22 meters and MacGinty cleared the ball resulting in an Ireland lineout. The ball sent long and Nate Augspurger stole possession with David Tameilau then breaking through the defense. A penalty by the USA was then used to get the ball wide to newly capped Jacob Stockdale, who dotted the ball down in the corner. After Garry Ringrose converted, the lead increased to 12-0.

Keith Earls, who was clearly the MVP of the match,  took a chip and raced to within five meters of the line, as Martin Iosefo made a try saving tackle. This set up a USA lineout and MacGinty’s clearance kick did not find touch, but went into the hands of the dangerous Earls, who ran and drew in a defender offloading to Kiernan Marmion and back again to Earls for the try and a 17-0 lead.

The Eagles finally gained their first try, after Joey Carbery’s clearance kick was blocked by Nic Civetta, who then took the ball over for a try. AJ MacGinty converted to narrow the lead to 17-7.

The USA can not afford to give up possession and with the ball within their own half, Augspurger executed a box kick to relieve pressure. The kick was long and allowed Ireland to attack. A penalty by the Eagles resulted in an Irish lineout about 15 meters from the try line. A possible concussion assessment was required for Marcel Brache at 30 minutes by Will Magie.  After play continued the Eagles were penalized for a no wrap tackle. Ireland opted against going tfor points and a lineout turned into a maul resulted in a Nial Scannell try. Carbery’s conversion hit the posts, but Ireland lead was 22-7.

The Eagles moved the ball inside the Irish 22 meters, but lost the ball forward. Ireland then capitalized from the scrum as Kieran Marmion attacked weak and offloaded to Earls. Marmion then picked the ball from the tackle and went in for Ireland’s fifth try of the half. After Carbery’s conversion the score was 29-7 and would be the score at halftime.

The Eagles would use all their reserves during the second half. Joe Taufete’e and James Hilterbrand started the second half at loosehead prop and hooker, respectively, with Andrew Durutalo entered at No. 8.

It took all of four minutes for Ireland to add to their total, as Jack Conan scored a try after a lineout from 5 meters. John Quill then blocked another Ireland clearance kick, resulting in a second Eagles try. MacGinty’s slotted the conversion to narrow the lead to 36-14.

Two more substitutions were made by the Eagles (48-50 minutes) with Matt Jensen entering at lock and newly capped Paddy Ryan at tighthead prop. The Eagles excited the crowd as the ball went wide to Martin Iosefo, who stepped inside for an apparent try. The referee thought otherwise. waving off the try and signaling an infraction for an Ireland scrum. Shaun Davies entered the match at scrumhalf, with martin Iosefo exiting and Nate Augspurger shifting to wing.

The Eagles went on a sustained attack and after 11 phases Ryan Matyas touched down for a try, 36-19.

Ireland added three more tries in the last 20 minutes of the match as Keith Earls passed inside to newly capped James Ryan for a try, while the conversion by newly capped Rory Scannelll, hit the post. Luke McGrath added a try after a pick form the breakdown and Rory Scannell slotted the conversion. The final try from Ireland came after a cross kick by Rory Scannell that was not handled by Te’o, resulting in a Simon Zebo try after recovering the ball. Scannell’s conversion was good resulting in a final score of 55-19 to Ireland.

With Bryce Campbell entering the match at the 61st minute and Will Magie entering the at 67 minutes (Note Magie was a concussion assessment substitute at 30′), the entire 23 man squad experienced quality time against the fourth ranked team in the world.

Men’s Eagles v. Ireland:  1. Ben Tarr 2. Peter Malcolm 3. Chris Baumann 4. Nate Brakeley 5. Nic Civetta 6. John Quill 7. Tony Lamborn 8. David Tameilau 9. Nate Augspurger(C) 10. AJ MacGinty 11. Martin Iosefo 12. Marcel Brache 13. Ryan Matyas 14. Mike Te’o 15. Ben Cima 16. James Hilterbrand 17. Joe Taufete’e 18. Paddy Ryan 19. Matthew Jensen 20. Andrew Durutalo 21. Shaun Davies 22. Will Magie 23. Bryce Campbell

Ireland v. USA (Ireland Squad Article)
1. Cian Healy 2. Niall Scannell 3. John Ryan 4. Quinn Roux 5. Devin Toner 6. Rhys Ruddock (C) 7. Josh van der Flier 8. Jack Conan 9. Kieran Marmion 10. Joey Carbery 11. Jacob Stockdale 12. Luke Marshall 13. Garry Ringrose 14. Keith Earls 15. Tiernan O’Halloran 16. Dave Heffernan 17. David Kilcoyne 18. Andrew Porter 19. James Ryan 20. Dan Leavy 21. Luke McGrath 22. Rory Scannell 23. Simon Zebo

Replacements: 1. Cian Healy (Kilcoyne @ 50′) 2. Niall Scannell (Heffernan @ 50′) 3. John Ryan (Porter @ 50′) 4. Quinn Roux (Ryan @ 61′) 9. Kieran Marmion (McGrath @ 61′) 12. Luke Marshall (R. Scannell @ 40′) 15. Tiernan O’Halloran (Leavy @ 72′)

Read the DJCoil Rugby article for the USA Eagles Expanded Squad for Ireland, Georgia and Canada.

Post Match Press Conferences (DJCoil Rugby You Tube Channel)

USA Press Conference: Nate Augspurger (C)& John Mitchell (HC)

Ireland Press Conference: Rhys Ruddock (C) & Joe Schmidt (HC)