by Nigel Melville
Nigel Melville Direct

Not long now to our much awaited clash with Italy, the players had their jersey presentation earlier this afternoon, completed their pre-match briefing and are currently running through line-outs and back moves at the hotel. They then have their pre-match meal, spend some time on their own and at 5.55 leave for the ground.

The USA support I have been telling you about have been arriving steadily during the last 24 hours, on a variety of modes of transport including boats, camper vans, planes and coaches. The inner city roads have been closed off for the evening, the US Ambassadors tailgate party will be underway shortly and the music starts...

Just met a few of the Harvard Alumni party heading into town...all seemed to be enjoying what new Zealand has to offer.

Now the long wait begins....hanging around making polite conversation ahead of kick off is torture for me!

Good luck to all the Eagles

With an impressive resume as player, coach and administrator, Nigel David Melville took over as CEO and President of Rugby Operations of USA Rugby, the National Governing Body of the sport in America, in 2006.  In addition to his full time job promoting the sport in the U.S., Melville has launched his own blog, Nigel Melville Direct, to further the discussion and his passion for what it will take to make the U.S. a great rugby playing nation.