International Rugby News
It was exactly what they needed and also exactly what they didn't want when it comes to two USA age-grade games South of the Equator Saturday.
While we will report opn the RAN U19 final later today, the tour wrapup games for the USA U23 men and the USA U18 boys were in direct contrast to each other.
The final test for the USA U23s is expected to be the toughest as the tourists face off with the Maties of Stellenbosch University Saturday at historical Danie Craven Stadium.
For Head Coach Agustin Cavalieri, this is undoubtedly going to be a more difficult game.
The USA U19s are into the final of the RAN U19 Championships after two solid wins on Thursday.
While the USA team did give up their first points of the tournament, they still have not surrendered a try.
They beat Mexico 33-9 and a quite tough Cayman Islands side 33-3 to finish Pool Play 4-0 and 156 points for and 12 against.
The Eagles face the Lions Saturday in Charlotte as the USA Men’s 15s team hosts Spain at American Legion Memorial Stadium in the Queen City.
With Sam Golla’s unfortunate injury last week there is a little shifting in the forward pack, with Vili Helu moving from flanker to lock, captain Benjamin Bonasso moving to flanker, and Jamason Fa’anana-Schulz stepping at No. 8.
The last 36 hours saw the USA age-grade teams win four games by a total score of 210-33.
The USA U23s beat Boland Academy 57-26 on Tuesday in a game in which the Americans’ power in contact told the story.
Boland struggled to contain the USA U23 maul, and as a result, any penalties inside the hosts’ half were trouble.