USA

The USA Men’s National Team put forth a valiant effort against the Argentina Jaguars in the Eagles’ first match of the Churchill Cup, Wednesday night, but the USA couldn’t hold on in the second half as Argentina rallied near the end, scoring 16 points in the final 20 minutes to win 35-14.

“I’m happy with a lot of stuff,” USA Coach Eddie O’Sullivan said. “Our scrums and our physicality at the breakdowns were among the best that we have. But we gave up 21 points from the ground, which makes tries irrelevant.

“I think a lot of the players are a bit confused at some of those calls and we will just have to watch the video and try to make sense of it,” he added.

Argentina started scoring off U.S. penalties almost immediately, as the U.S. committed two within the Jaguars’ range in the first 10 minutes. Argentina’s kicker Benjamin Urdapilleta was only able to convert one of those, but his team would get on the board first, 3-0.

With Captain Todd Clever at the helm, and the strongest kickers the U.S. has on the field, the young Eagles got a several good looks at the try line and were able to compete fairly well with the characteristically strong Argentinean kicking game. 

The USA’s fullback Gavin DeBartolo would dominate the scoring for the U.S. in the first half, successfully slotting both penalty kicks through the uprights and scoring the only USA try of the game at the 31 minute mark as he dove in the corner off a pass from scrumhalf Tim Usasz.

However, Argentina was given several opportunities to use Urdapilleta, and scored six additional points off penalties and three more off a drop goal to bring the halftime score to 12-11 at the whistle.

Despite allowing 13 points to be scored by the Argentinean side within the five minutes surrounding halftime, the Eagles’ flyhalf Dan Power was able to keep the U.S. in it with his powerful boot, slotting a penalty from just within mid-field range to bring the U.S. to within five points in the 56th minute.

From there on out, though, the Jaguars took over from the field, securing three penalty kicks within 10 minutes and touching down a try in the 74th as Belisario Agulla saw a bit of space on the outside.

"In the end, it was somewhat of a harsh scoreline,” O’Sullivan said. “But we will continue to learn those lessons and work on things we need to improve on. I feel like we stuck to our shape really well in this game, but we are still developing and we continue to learn from our mistakes.”

The U.S. will face the England Saxons next on Sunday, June 14 at 1 p.m. at Infinity Park, in Glendale, Colo.

Argentina Jaguars (35)
Tries: Gosio, Agulla
Conversions: Urdapilleta (2)
PKs: Urdapilleta (6)
Drop Goal: Oro

USA (14)
Tries: Gavin DeBartolo
Penalties: DeBartolo 2, Power

USA Lineup: 1. Mike MacDonald (repl. by Mate Moekiola at 55 min) 2. Brian McClenahan (repl. by Chris Biller 70:07) 3. Shawn Pittman 4. Patrick Danahy 5. Courtney Mackay 6. J.J. Gagiano 7. Todd Clever (repl by Stanfill at 65:59) 8. Scott LaValla  9. Tim Usasz 10. Dan Power (repl. by Ata Malifa 72:34) 11. Justin Boyd 12. Junior Sifa 13. Tai Enosa (repl. by Alipate Tuilevuka at 65:59) 14. Colin Hawley 15. Gavin DeBartolo.