GRR: National Teams
Settled in at Leeds, the USA Men’s National Team has had little time for reflection on Sunday’s loss to Samoa, what with Sunday bringing another stern test, Scotland.
The team traveled from Portsmouth to Leeds on Monday and spent Tuesday reviewing film and training. The coaches provided a preview of Scotland on Wednesday, and then Thursday they rested.
The USA team trained during Scotland’s 45-10 victory over Japan on Wednesday, so the players didn’t get to watch a game between two of the teams they are still to play.
In fact, the Eagles face Scotland on the 27th, and maybe the coaches figured they wanted the players to concentrate on their own performance, not that of the opposition.
Chris Baumann’s try for the USA against Samoa was probably the first time that many rugby fans have heard his name.
The University of Wyoming, Steamboat Springs, Aspen, Life, Tempe Santa Monica, and NYAC player has certainly been all over the place, working and playing and trying to make it.
This year, he finally got his first cap, and Sunday his first USA try.
Of World Cup glory little things are made. The USA Men’s National Team had it all together to beat Samoa, and didn’t do so. Why? Let’s look:
Samoa had a good game plan, which combined physical play and working the pick-and-names, and then exploiting the USA defensive push with grubber kicks. The kicks worked very well, leading to 13 points, including two tries.
BRIGHTON, UK - The USA’s bid to win two or three pool games at the Rugby World Cup was dealt a massive blow Sunday as the Eagles were defeated by Samoa 25-16 in Brighton.
Man of the match Tim Nanai-Williams was brilliant as an attacking forced from fullback, while the Eagles kept getting into penalty trouble, giving up 11 penalties while Samoa was penalized just four times.