USA Men’s Eagles Edges Canada

The USA Rugby Men’s Eagles scored a try in the 79th minute to edge Canada 30-25 in the finale of the Americas Rugby Championship 2019  on Mar 8 at Starfire Sports in Seattle, WA.

The USA moved to second place with a 3-2 record and 17 points, pending the outcome of Uruguay versus Brazil. An Uruguay win would give them second place.

Canada finished the ARC in fifth place with a 1-4 record and 7 points.

Match Recap

The U.S. struck first with a penalty kick by Will Magie for a 3-0 lead. Canada answered back after attacking from a 5-meter lineout and after going through multiple phases, Nick Blevins scored a try. Gordon McRorie then slotted the conversion for a 7-3 lead.

The USA executed a peel from a maul for a try by Joe Taufete’e and a conversion by Magie to reclaim the lead, 8-7. A Canadian maul then brought Luke Campbell over the line for a 12-8 lead.

Just prior to the break, the USA went through multiple phases with Cam Dolan try and a Will Magie conversion for a 15-12 lead at the break.

The USA extended their lead to 20-12 after Taufete’e mauled over the line for his second try and his fifth in the last two matches.

Canada answered back with Luke Campbell’s second try from short range and after McRorie’s conversion, the score was 20-19. Will Magie then slotted a penalty kick and McRorie answered with two giving Canada a 25-23 lead.

Kyle Baillie was then sent to the bin for a high tackle and Magie’s kick was wide right. From the 22-meter drop, Mike Te’o had a long break and a USA player was held up in-goal. The USA drove from the ensuing 5-meter scrum and Ruben de Haas dove over the line for a try. Tadhg leader slotted the kick to close out a 30-25 win.

USA vs Canada Squads

USA: 1 David Ainuu (Toulouse) 2 Joe Taufete’e (Worcester Warriors) 3 Paul Mullin (Houston SaberCats) 4 Ben Landry (Ealing Trailfinders) 5 Nick Civetta (Doncaster Knights) 6 John Quill (Rugby United New York) 7 Hanco Germishuys (Glendale Raptors) 8 Cam Dolan (NOLA Gold) 9 Shaun Davies (Glendale Raptors) 10 Will Magie (Glendale Raptors) 11 Mike Te’o (San Diego Legion) 12 Paul Lasike (Harlequins) 13 Bryce Campbell (London Irish) 14 Blaine Scully (C)(Cardiff Blues) 15 Marcel Brache (Western Force) 16 Kapeli Pifeleti (San Diego Legion) 17 Olive Kilifi (Seattle Seawolves) 18 Dino Waldren (London Irish) 19 Greg Peterson (Bordeaux Bégles) 20 Malon Al-Jiboori (Glendale Raptors) 21 Ruben de Haas (Free State Cheetahs) 22 Tadhg Leader (New England Free Jacks) 23 Gannon Moore (Utah Warriors)

Canada: 1. Hubert Buydens (NOLA Gold) 2. Benoit Piffero (Blagnac Sporting Club) 3. Cole Keith (Toronto Arrows) 4. Conor Keys (Rotherham Titans) 5. Kyle Baillie (NOLA Gold) 6. Justin Blanchet (Bedford Blues) 7. Lucas Rumball (C)(Toronto Arrows) 8. Luke Campbell (James Bay AA) 9. Phil Mack (Seattle Seawolves) 10. Gordon McRorie (Calgary Hornets) 11. Kainoa Lloyd (Toronto Arrows) 12. Ciaran Hearn (London Irish) 13. Nick Blevins (Calgary Hornets) 14. Andrew Coe (Markham Irish) 15. Theo Sauder (Toronto Arrows) 16. Jordan Olsen (Northland) 17. Noah Barker (Glendale Raptors) 18. Ryan Kotlewski  (Westshore RFC) 19. Josh Larsen (Austin Elite) 20. Dustin Dobravsky (Castaway Wanderers) 21. Jamie Mackenzie (Toronto Arrows) 22. Pat Parfrey (Unattached) 23. Doug Fraser (Austin Elite)