Eagles Win 2018 Americas Rugby Championship

The USA Rugby Men’s Eagles went undefeated in the 2018 Americas Rugby Championship, the first team to ever do so. They now have won consecutive titles and are unbeaten in 10 matches. The team will also rise on Monday to 15th place in the World rankings.

Uruguay was the last team to beat the Eagles in the Americas Rugby Championship on March 5, 2016, at the same Estadio Charrúa. The Eagles topped the standings with 24 points, with Argentina XV (21), Uruguay (14), Canada (11), Brazil (4), and Chile (1).

Uruguay v USA Men’s Eagles Recap

The Eagles began the match against Uruguay as a team possessed. They controlled both possession and territory. This resulted in a try by Tony Lamborn, converted by Will Magie after the 5th minute and a second after a Lamborn steal and a Mike Te’o break for a try 3 minutes later. Magie again converted for a 14-0 lead.

The USA continued to pressure Los Teros and after touches by Te’o, Lasike, and Campbell, Dylan Fawcitt scored his first Eagles try in the 22nd minute. Magie slotted the kick to increase the lead to 21-0.

Cam Dolan was a force in the lineouts and around the pitch and after a lineout steal and a lineout win, Nate Augspurger found a gap and then chipped ahead in-goal. The ball bounced back and Hanco Germishuys was struck as Santiago Arrata intentionally tried to stop a try. After a TMO, Arata was sent to the bin and a penalty try was awarded for a 28-0 lead in the 26th minute.

In the 29th minute, Uruguay’s Rodrigo Silva cleared and Will Magie offloaded to Dylan Audsley, who cross kicked to Nate Augspurger for an easy try. Magie slotted his 4th kick and it was 35-0.

The Eagles kept the pressure on and from a 5-meter lineout, mauled their way in for a Hanco Germishuys try, his 4th for the tournament. He led all scorers in the ARC.

The first half shell-shocked Uruguay as the Eagles took a 40-0 lead into the break.

Second Half

Dominant teams keep the pressure on and the Eagles began the second half just as they played during the first. After a penalty by Uruguay, Magie kicked to touch and from the ensuing lineout, the team mauled with Lamborn, Dolan and then Jensen advancing to within the 22-meters. The quick ball then went wide and Mike Te’o grounded the ball in the corner and Magie slotted another to push the lead to 47-0.

The restart was not defended well and a Kessler offload to Santiago Arrata resulted in Los Teros first score under the posts. Germán Albanell added the conversion to narrow the lead to 47-7.

Uruguay added a second try as they used the quick ball with Rodrigo Silva offloading to Juan Manuel Cat, who cut back inside to a try. Albanell converted again to cut the Eagles lead to 47-14.

The Eagles struck back as Bryce Campbell gathered a loose ball and after a Brendan Daly touch, Josh Whippy went in for the try. Magie continued his perfect streak with conversions for a 54-14 lead.

The frustration continued to mount for Uruguay and Carlos Pombo was sent to the bin for a no wrap tackle as Ben Cima was executing a clearing kick.

Los Teros added their final try in the 70th minute from a Juan Manuel Cat to Gaston Mieres for a try and it was 54-19 after the unsuccessful kick.

The Eagles would also add another try as the team camped near in-goal. After several forwards pick and go, Psalm Wooching went in and Ben Cima added a conversion for a 61-19 lead.

This result would hold up for the remaining six minutes and the Eagles would leave Uruguay with the 2018 Americas Rugby Championship trophy as two time winners.

Squads

Uruguay: 1 Mateo Sanguinetti 2 Germán Kessler 3 Juan Echeverría 4 Ignacio Dotti 5 Rodolfo Garese 6 Juan Manual Gaminara (cap) 7 Manuel Diana 8 Juan Diego Ormaechea 9 Santiago Arata 10 Germán Albanell 11 Nicholás Frietas 12 Andrés Vilaseca 13 Juan Manuel Cat 14 Leandro Leivas 15 Rodrigo Silva 16 Matías Benítez 17 Carlos Pomba 18 Felipe Inciarte 19 Diego Ayala 20 Diego Magno 21 Joaquín Prada 22 Tomás Inciarte 23 Gastón Mieres

USA: 1 Huluholo Mo’ungaloa, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Chris Baumann, 4 Brendan Daly 5 Ben Landry 6 Hanco Germishuys, 7 Tony Lamborn, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Shaun Davies, 10 Will Magie, 11 Nate Augspurger (cap), 12 Paul Lasike 13 Bryce Campbell, 14 Mike Te’o 15 Dylan Audsley, 16 Peter Malcolm, 17 Tony Purpura,18 Din Waldren 19 Matt Jensen, 20 Psalm Wooching, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Ben Cima, 23 Josh Whippy

Gary Gold: Head Coach
Greg McWilliams: Assistant Coach – Backs & Attack
Scott Lawrence: Assistant Coach – Defense
Shawn Pittman: Assistant Coach – Set Piece
Chris Hanson: Team Manager
Dave Hodges: Men’s Eagles General Manager
Jimmy Harrison: Performance Analyst
Kevin Ng: Head ATC
Dr. Jeff Mjaanes: Team Doctor (Feb. 18 – Mar. 4)