The USA Rugby Men’s National Team XVs beat rival-Canada 47-19 in their opening match of the 2019 Pacific Nations Cup on Saturday, July 27 at a sold-out match at Infinity Park in Glendale, CO. Following the match against Canada, the United States will face Samoa and Japan, while Canada plays Fiji and Tonga.
Preceding the match between the USA and Canada, the Men’s Collegiate All-American XVs beat an All-Canadian University XVs 23-22.
Match Recap
The USA capitalized on a clearance kick that was knocked on by Conor Trainor. After several phases and a Canadian penalty, Dylan Fawsitt scored a try from close range following a lineout. AJ MacGinty then slotted the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
The USA extended their lead after a Will Hooleychip which hit the right corner post and Blaine Scully reached around the post and grounded for a try. MacGinty converted again from touch, 14-0.
With four minutes remaining before the break, AJ MacGinty slotted a penalty goal to push the lead to 17-0.
Conor Trainor gathered the ball after Martin Iosefo was stripped of the ball on contact by Lasage and raced the length of the pitch for an apparent try. The try was disallowed with Trainor offsides and MacGinty instead, added another penalty goal for a 20-0 lead at the break.
During the first half, the USA used excellent line speed and stellar defense to place Canada under pressure. Canada had several good attacking phases, but it did not result in points.
Second Half
Canada opened the scoring in the second half with captain Tyler Ardron picking off a Will Hooley pass for a long try with Peter Nelson slotting the conversion to cut the lead to 20-7.
The USA then answered back with an AJ MacGinty penalty goal, 23-7. He had another opportunity shortly after, but the kick was wide.
At the 61st minute, Ben Landry powered in for a try with MacGinty converting to lead 30-7. The team attacked again from the restart with Hooley offloading to Gannon Moore for a try in the left corner, 35-7.
The Eagles did not let up with Kapeli Pifeleti mauling his way in-goal for a try for a 40-7 lead. Hooley’s conversion attempt then was wide.
Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz entered the match at No.8 and gained his first cap for the USA. Peter Nelson and Andrew Quattrin earned their first caps for Canada.
Unfortunately, Nick Civetta suffered an injury and Kapeli Pifeleti was sent to the bin for a tip tackle. The USA would play the remainder of the match down a man.
Canada’s attempt to score from a scrum about 7-meters from in-goal ended with Shane O’Leary stepping on the touchline prior to grounding.
Canada added points in the 77th minute after a penalty try, cutting the lead to 40-14. Ruben de Haas then answered right back with an intercept of a pass for a try under the posts. Hooley then slotted the kick to lead 47-14. Canada added a last-minute try in the right corner by Conor Trainor for a final score of 47-19.
Next for the USA is Samoa in Suva, Fiji on August 2. Canada will also play there that same day against Fiji.
USA & Canada Squads & Match Preview
USA: 1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Ben Landry, 5 Nick Civetta, 6 Malon Al-Jiboori, 7 John Quill, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Shaun Davies, 10 AJ MacGinty, 11 Martin Iosefo, 12 Bryce Campbell, 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Blaine Scully (capt.), 15 Will Hooley 16 Kapeli Pifeleti, 17 David Ainu’u, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Greg Peterson, 20 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Gannon Moore, 23 Madison Hughes
Canada: 1 Hubert Buydens, 2 Benoît Pifféro, 3 Cole Keith, 4 Evan Olmstead, 5 Conor Keys, 6 Kyle Baillie, 7 Matt Heaton, 8 Tyler Ardron (capt.), 9 Phil Mack, 10 Peter Nelson, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Conor Trainor, 15 Patrick Parfrey 16 Andrew Quattrin, 17 Rob Brouwer, 18 Jake Ilnicki, 19 Justin Blanchet, 20 Luke Campbell, 21 Gordon McRorie, 22 Shane O’Leary, 23 Nick Blevins
2019 Pacific Nations Cup Matches
Fri, Jul 26 – 19:00 PT / 22:00 ET – Samoa 25-17 Tonga (Apia)
Fri, Jul 26 – 22:50 PT / 01:50 ET – Japan 34-21 Fiji (Kamaishi)
Sat, Jul 27 – 17:00 PT / 20:00 ET – USA 47-19 Canada (Glendale)
Fri, Aug 2 – 19:30 PT / 22:30 ET – USA vs Samoa (Suva)
Fri, Aug 2 – 22:15 PT / 01:15 ET – Fiji vs Canada (Suva)
Sat, Aug 3 – 03:10 PT / 06:10 ET – Japan vs Tonga (Osaka)
Thu, Aug 8 – 20:00 PT / 23:00 ET – Tonga vs Canada (Lautoka)
Fri, Aug 9 – 21:35 OT / 00:35 ET – USA vs Japan (Suva)
Sat, Aug 10 – 00:15 PT / 03:15 ET – Fiji vs Samoa (Suva)
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