By RichW
September 10 2011

Well known, little known fact number 436: The USA are the reigning Olympic Rugby Gold medallists. So there’s pedigree for you!

For a nation where the established sports are so completely interwoven into society, where they are so uniquely relevant to that nation alone and where the internal passions they invoke run high, it is no surprise that sports like Rugby struggle to gain mainstream interest - though it is perhaps worth noting that their outings this autumn will attract for the first time, network TV coverage. Which said, one rather wonders if this might be their opportunity to take a step into the mainstream. 

It is in that context that we should view the consistent appearance of the Eagles at the Rugby World – having only failed to make it just the once in 1995 – as something of a minor miracle whilst at the same time fearing that failure at this tournament given that greater exposure, might set back US Rugby years. 

Compared to their near constant presence in the World Cup their success at the tournament itself has been rather less marked, winning only twice (in the inaugural ‘87 tournament and then again in 2003) both times defeating Japan. They have however featured well in a number of close games coming close against Romania in 1999, memorably against Fiji in 2003 and Samoa in 2007 – when they also provided a stiffer than expected test for the Brian Ashton ‘inspired’ England. 

Of course this gives us the real illustration of where the Eagles sit in world Rugby– and provides our starting point for assessing their prospects this time around. Without putting it too bluntly – their expectations should not run too high! 

Given how our sport has developed in the last 15 years it has become increasingly difficult for the so called minnows like the US to achieve more than to make up the numbers at the Big Show though in recent times, thanks, in part, to the effect of the RFU driven Churchill Cup and, in part, to the US Collegiate system’s ability to find and nurture athletic talent they have been, at least, able to sustain themselves in that group of so called third tier nations with the likes of Japan, and Canada, Namibia, Georgia, Roumania and critically, Russia. 

So what do we know of the current convocation of Eagles? 

They aren’t a team to scare too many senior opponents but there is a core of talent there that if nurtured and given the opportunity to develop will not disgrace the home of Apple Pie. I rather think though, that now is not the time and this is not the place. They will not lack for courage or even endeavour but as we saw in this years [final] Churchill Cup in June, the building blocks on which to base an attacking game are not there. Their set-piece creaked and groaned and splintered and their attempts to move the ball through backs suffered from the sort of imprecision one encounters when a team comes together so infrequently. It was also a consequence of their set-piece woes that they had so little possession and found themselves embroiled in the sapping, exhausting defensive duties for so much of every game bar the last and thus were quite unable to usefully use what little the did secure. But - their driving game held up surprisingly well and it is around that that they must base any attempt to threaten their more illustrious opponents. If they can keep it tight and defend like the very devils they might have enough to give Italy and Ireland pause for 40-60 minutes but I simply cannot see them prevailing and against Australia… 

Their appearance in the Churchill Cup gave us an opportunity to see some of their lesser known and upcoming talent and if their campaign was essentially unsuccessful in that competition, coach Eddie O’Sullivan (oh yes – him) will have learned plenty about his charges. Whether he is the man to do anything with them is, in my humble opinion, very much a matter of debate. 

Denuded of their small number established stars The Eagles battled bravely through the tournament getting the mother and father of a hiding from England’s Billy Twelvetrees inspired second stringers and a further heavy defeat by Tonga before showing up well in the Bowl final to defeat Russia. Of those on parade in early June O’Sullivan will have been pleased with lock forwards John van der Giessen and Scott LaValla, number 8 JJ Gagiano, centre Junior Sifa and wing Colin Hawley all of whom will hope to combine with the experience of Mike Petri, Taku Ngwenya, Chris Wyles Mike MacDonald and Todd Clever to sustain their challenge in New Zealand. Sadly for them their numbers will not be swelled by the not inconsiderable presence of Samu Manoa (not an anagram) who has not surprisingly chosen to put his personal development and the well being of his family ahead of national duty in committing himself to his first professional contract – at Northampton Saints. His is a contribution that the Eagles may miss. 

So it is Clever and MacDonald, Wyles and Ngwenya who are the players to watch out for, with the last of those most likely to produce that spark of something to set the pulse racing. Just ask Bryan Habana! And it is on this small cadre on which their hopes must rest. 

Their fifth place in the Churchill Cup has been the highlight of their summer and since June they have lost home and away to neighbours Canada (who enjoyed a satisfactory Churchill Cup and who appear to be a team rediscovering itself) and again to Japan in Tokyo. 

Realistically The Eagles ambitions this year come down to a repeat of their Churchill Cup Bowl Final game against Russia. The rest of their group being comprised of O’Sullivan’s homeland Ireland who, despite their shambolic preparations will have too much for the Eagles; Italy whose set-piece prowess led by our own favourite restaurateur will be in stark contrast to what is an evident weakness for the Eagles and who, having recently discovered the 6 blokes who stand behind the scrum-half, will likely pose too much threat in the backs for our colonial cousins as well. The group is completed by probable second favourites (and my tip to claim custody of Bill once more) Australia and against whom I can see records tumbling! 

It is a stark prospect for the USA and one that is not, in the opinion of this correspondent, made the more appealing by the involvement of O’Sullivan in their affairs. The erstwhile Irish supremo’s erratic and often bewilderingly incompetent tenure in charge of the men in green saw the squandering of what, to many, was a golden generation in ineffectual game plans and a confusion of ill-thought selection notable more for whim than clear thinking. Maybe he is one of those coaches better suited to getting the best from a smaller, weaker group but I am yet to be convinced. 

So given the pile of chips stacked against them what prognosis can we arrive at for the men from the land of the free? 

How can we judge success at this World Cup for the USA? There is an argument to say that simply by their qualifying once again, they have sustained, at least, their place in the scheme of things but, as I alluded above, success this year must be adjudged in the result of their clash with Russia. It all comes down to that meeting. And it is that game at which they will target their efforts. Of course they will strive manfully in the way of such minnows when pitted against the heavyweights of their group – a group in which one can sympathise with their plight – and for some, more subtle measures of achievement (a try scored here and an assault withstood there, perhaps something as massive as scoring in every game) may be found in the course of what seems to me, inevitable defeat – in the endeavour and bravery shown against the odds. But such is the cruel way our sport exposes the gaps between the super-powers and the lesser lights that I can see in, simple terms, little reward for either the US or Russia in these games. 

So their attentions turn, perforce, to each other.

The danger I see for the Eagles is that whilst they and Russia are ranked similarly n the world rankings and whilst they have the greater experience, the Bears seem a team on the rise. The sport is growing it seems in Russia whereas it continues to struggle for profile despite IRB funding in the home of the Gridiron, Diamond, Basket an skate. The Russian team though inexperienced at this level looks younger and keener. Few of their squad play outside Mother Russia whereRugbyis a professional sport unlike the smaller number of American professionals who ply their trade, scattered, around Europe and Japan. Moreover Russian ambitions lie, at least in part, in the hands of a native coach unencumbered by the baggage of previous failure. I suspect that along with youthful enthusiasm the Russian’s will have a sort of unity that the O’Sullivan led American’s may not match.  Moreover for the Bears their appointment in New Plymouth on 15 September is their first outing. For the Eagles it comes hard on the heels of their encounter with the Irish just 4 days previously. What was that about the cruel way our sport exposes the gulf between the haves and have nots? So whilst their World Cup record to now is to be proud of I find myself struggling to see how it can be further enhanced this autumn. 

It is a hard – and slightly depressing thing to consider the prospects of such teams as the Eagles but sadly I see a fruitless tournament ahead for the USA with only the prospect of victory coming against Cold War foes Russia. And even that I fear may be beyond them.

USA RWC Preview

Discussion started by TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk , 10/09/2011 21:06

TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk
10/09/2011 21:06

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:09:21:19:44:29 by Stephen Bath.

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Duncan Keene
11/09/2011 10:27

Great preview Rich.

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SK 88
11/09/2011 18:50

Good review.

Looking to the future I feel a trick is being missed with the college system.

What drives sport in high schools is college scholarships, a way to increase the sport at high school level is to get individuals, companies, the IRB, the USA national body, and now we could use the USA mamouth Olypic Association to give scholarships to talented rugby players. Americans tend to be pretty savvy and if they can get a college degree by playing rugby they will.

After that they do need a better structure to go to. Perhaps a state based model would be best, with the West, central, south and north east having regional groups and then a big national final? Or perhaps a "Super League" with the four canadian provinces and, say, 16 American teams played in the spring to try to tap into those who like physical combat sports during the NFL's off season?

Even if you only had the college system improved if you did a deal with the UK, Ireland and France to remove visa/work permit/quota restrictions then the college system could become a great talent pool for the currently bigger countries to scout in.

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Tiggs
11/09/2011 18:57

Travel is just expensive to make the sport nationwide for USA.
They need a hell of a lot more funding to carry it off.

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SK 88
11/09/2011 19:02

They already do it in college, maybe that would favour the state based model? I'm just saying the American sporting system is almost entirely based on college scholarships and that is where the focus should go.

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Tiggs
11/09/2011 19:04

Probably so, but the "national system" is probably too expensive with current IRB funding.

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Rich W
11/09/2011 23:30

But that's the point - you are both right!

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Rich W
15/09/2011 10:20

USA edge it...

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Tiggs
21/09/2011 19:44

Many thanks !

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