International Rugby News
Several USA players have said this weekend that Saturday’s game again Italy was the true beginning of the John Mitchell era.
The reasoning is fairly logical - this was the first game where Mitchell got to pick his own players, as he was hired too late to do that in the Americas Rugby Championship in February.
Will Holder’s performance at fullback for the USA Saturday was a nice highlight for player, team, and fans.
The former West Point All American is in the USA 7s program, and has been capped at flyhalf, but looked very much at home in a #15 jersey.
“It was fun,” Holder told Goff Rugby Report. “It was a great new experience, and the guys made it easy for me.”
Wings Leonardo Sarto of Italy and Taku Ngwenya of the USA both left the field after four minutes on Saturday with nasty head injuries.
Italy held on to defeat the USA 24-20 in a tense, physical test match in San Jose.
The Eagles looked very capable at times and scored two tries, but penalty trouble hurt them at crucial moments.
It's down to one day for eight men's Rugby 7s teams in the quest for a spot in the 2016 Olympic Games.