USA Races Past Brazil; Mano Scores 3 On Debut

11.11.2023Eagles

The USA Men's 15s team showed well in defeating Brazil 48-3 Saturday in the Vila International Rugby Cup in Villajoyosa, Spain.

With the victory the Eagles play in the final Saturday, Nov. 18, at 2 pm ET against Spain after the Spanish defeated Canada 42-20.

The Eagles played some fast, open, entertaining rugby and ran out to an early lead. Debutant Joe Mano scored three tries in the first half.

“We’re pleased for Joe Mano in scoring a hat trick on debut. Eagle #569 showed up to play this evening," said USA Head Coach Scott Lawrence.

The Eagles began with the early attacking opportunity to strike within the first two minutes. Mano was waiting on the wing and scored with his first touch of the ball. He went on to score two more tries to earn a hat trick in his first international cap for the USA, in part thanks to some strong support work by his teammates.

Brazil worked hard to put USA under pressure and punish Eagle mistakes. They opted for goal on two kickable penalties, connecting on one.

The Eagles’ dominance continued in the first half, with a textbook lineout-to-maul that transitioned to the backs where center Tommaso Boni went over. With Brazil struggling to win their set piece, the USA had the run of play.

In the second half Brazil looked to start quickly and were in USA territory. They got close but failed to capitalize and the Eagles got the turnover. Eventually Nate Augspurger scampered away and got out of some contact to pass to Boni, and the former Italy international was in for another.

Things got worse for Brazil. Both of their hookers went down with injury forcing them to go to uncontested scrums. If you do that, then you have to submit to a yellow card, it's a rugby rule. The Eagles punished them. Thomas Tu’avao was in for a try, Lauina Futi raced in for one, and then a snappy backline move put Dominic Besag in to end the game.

It was a follow-on from the USA's win over a Stade Toulousain XV in September, with the Eagles trying to play with the ball in hand and use their athleticism.

It worked.

USA 48
Tries: Mano 3, Boni 2, Tu'avao, Futi, Besag
Convs: Carty 3, Mattina

Brazil 3
Pens: Spago

Meanwhile, Spain defeated Canada 42-20. Canada got an early lead but two tries from Tani Bay put the Lions ahead and Spain used their elusiveness and counter-attacking to punish Canada. With Iñaki Mateu converting every single try, they kept the pressure on.

“It’s disappointing. Going into the shed I thought our warm-up looked really crisp, I thought our prep all week looked really good. When the pressure came on, we didn’t respond well,” said Canada captain Lucas Rumball, who earned his 50th cap on Saturday. “We had a big goal line stand right at the start of the second half, an unwillingness to give up. We go a man down, we stick it out. We do our job, we work hard and we get somewhat back into the game. Now if we can do that from square one, it’s a completely different story.”

Spain 42
Tries: Bay 2, Imaz, Gimeno, Cian, Muñiz
Convs: Mateu 7

Canada 20
Tries: Keith, Richardson
Convs: Nelson 2
Pens: Nelson 2