USA Rugby South vs. Austria

The USA Rugby South defeated the 75th ranked Austria National team 51-0 on August 29 in Vienna in a match that they controlled from the onset. The team won their first match of the Central European tour over the 68th ranked Hungarian National team 35-12 on August 26 and are now 2-0 on the tour. The team concludes their tour on September 1 against the Czech Republic National team.

The match against Austria was hosted by the Rugby Union Donau Wien, who also sponsored the reception following the match.

The match against the 32nd ranked the Czech Republic will be the team’s greatest challenge on the tour. Playing three matches within a week is challenging, especially against a team ranked above them to conclude the tour. According to Rugby Redefined the USA Rugby South is unofficially ranked 49th in the world.

The match against Hungary also depleted player availability. Colton Cariaga sustained a broken arm and two other players sustained a shoulder and a foot injury. This left the team with 28 available players for the remaining two matches. Players that did not play in game one were selected for the match against Austria.

The match between USA Rugby South and Austria was a reunion of coaches, as David John Conyers, the head coach of Austria previously coached the USA Rugby South Panthers. The post-match dinner will provide them with a chance to discuss rugby and changes in their lives.

Being on a rugby tour involves being hosted by local teams. The Vienna Celtic RFC hosted the team at training on 28 August and the True South Rugby Union bought dinner for the players. The team has been enjoying the tour and been exploring the cultural aspects of Budapest and will continue to do so in Vienna and in Prague.

Match Recap

The USA Rugby South Panthers led the Austrian National team from start to finish taking a 24-0 lead at the break and extending it to 51-0 for the win. During the match, Austria’s defense was tested against the more athletic USA side.

USA Rugby South opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a try by inside center Cormac Keenan which was then converted by Lucas Baistrocchi to lead 7-0. Three minutes later, wing Willis Hardaway added another try with Baistrocchi again converting.

In the 23rd minute, lock John Bryant scored the third try of the half and Baistrocchi continued to be perfect with his kicking to push the lead to 21-0. He then added a penalty kick three minutes later for a 24-0 lead that held until the break.

During the second half, the Panthers continued their momentum with Baistrocchi adding another penalty kick in the 46th minute increasing the lead to 27-0.

In the 50th minute, discipline was an issue for the Panthers with Zach Miller being sent to the bin. Despite being down a man, outside center Ross Depperschmidt added a try a minute later with Baistrocchi converting.

With teams at full strength, Zach Blalock added the team’s 5th try in the 62nd minute with Zach Miller converting for a 41-0 lead. Five minutes later Miller added a penalty kick pushing the lead to 44-0.

The Panthers would add a 6th try in the 73rd minute by Zach Blalock, his second of the match. After Miller’s conversion, the score was 51-0 and that is the way the match would end.

With the win, USA Rugby South’s record improves to 2-0 on the tour. The team can turn their attention to socializing with Austria and then resume sightseeing in Vienna before they leave for Prague, Czech Republic.

A rugby tour is a cultural exchange and that experience is invaluable. The team will have many memories that will be everlasting.

The team will go through their training routine when they arrive in Prague and then try to implement the coaching plan against the Czech Republic on 1 September. Expect a real battle against a formidable opponent! Regardless of the outcome, the tour has been a successful one.

USA Rugby South Squad vs. Austria

1 Jamal Hadley 2 Austin Dacanay 3 Zach Jessell 4 Calvin Storey (C) 5 John Bryant 6 Ian Lehn 7 Jordan Gunderson 8 David Williams 9 Jarrett Gartin 10 Lucas Baistrocchi (VC) 11 Nathan Ring 12 Cormac Kenan 13 Ross Depperschmidt 14 Willis Hardaway 15 David Coleman 16 Trey Eason 17 Bradley Yandle 18 Keenan Kayser 19 Hein Erasmus 20 Amro Gouda 21 Cameron Tompkins 22 Ben Foley 23 Steve Cappello 24 Zach Miller 25 Zach Blalock 26 Irving Carcamo + Head Coach: Rene Daniel, Ass’t Coaches: Francesco Balsas, Renaldo Arroyo, Pete Redmond, Shawn Elms & Jody Hensley, Medical: Fred Reynolds, President: Kevin Kitto, Manager: Gary Kent

The expanded squad includes Brendan Smith, Colton Cariaga, Jason Riekena, Michael Martinez, & Waymon Cassell.

Austria Squad

1 Omar El Agrebi 2 Michael Klaffenböck 3 Mark Adam 4 Simon Hofstätter 5 Bernhard Scharer 6 Paul Hruschka 7 Frederik Olivanti 8 Thomas Oppl 9 Anatol Ehrlich 10 Daniel Walker 11 Christopher Graf 12 Laurence Edwards 13 Alex Marka 14 Clemens Mostbeck 15 Stephan Reiseneder 16 Alexander Radomirov 17 Adi Kresna Prapsilo 18 Hubertus Strachwitz 19 Lukas Fruehstueck 20 Tobias Habres 21 Moritz Hopp 22 Christopher Hauzeneder 23 Lorenz Hammerschmidt 24 Roland Kober 25 Florian Ortis 26 Bogdan Mihajlovic + Head Coach: David John Conyers