United States Eagles lose to Irish Club in RWC Warm Up
The United States Eagles Rugby side have lost their final Rugby World Cup warm up match to an Irish club called Munster. The game was by no means one-sided by the Irish, in fact the USA Eagles dominated most of the match but the final score was 10-6 to Munster.
A crowd of about 8600 turned up in Chicago to watch the match. The USA Eagles were first on the scoreboard with a penalty kick from captain Mike Hercus in the 25th minute, to put the score at 3-0 to the Eagles. Another penalty kick by Hercus 9 minutes later put the score at 6-0 to the Eagles, with the half time whistle blown 5 minutes later.
The Irish club got on to the scoreboard immediately in the first minute of the second half with a drop-goal from flyhalf Paul Warwick. The Irishmen fought hard in the second half and managed to find a gap in the Eagles defence, and in the 52nd minute the Irishman Anthony Horgan managed to score a try which was converted and put the final score at 10-6 to Munster.
The Eagles played a superb game, and will be very unhappy with the final result. The US Eagles are in Pool A for the Rugby World Cup and will play their opening Rugby World Cup match against Defending Champions’ England -on the 8th of September in the Stade de Bollaert in Lens.
Full time scorecard of Rugby World Cup warm up match between USA and Munster:
United States Eagles: 6
Penalties: 2 by Mike Hercus (3 pts each)
Munster: 10
Try: Anthony Morgan (5 pts)
Penalty: Paul Warick (3 pts)
Conversion: Paul Warick (2 pts)
Stay tuned to the Rugby World Cup website for more information building up to the Rugby World Cup which starts on the 7th of September 2007.
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Robert Mac Elhinney said,
August 27, 2007 @ 3:24 am
A second string Munster side, at that. If the world cuip were not around the corner and Munster had fielded their full team, it would have been a slaughter
Peter O'Dennis said,
August 27, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
The Eagles did NOT play a ’superb’ game. It could be seen before the game that the Eagles were a much bigger team than the Munster lads (many of who do not normally play in the ‘first’ team). However, Munster demonstrated that size and strength are no match for speed and skill, especially the latter. The Eagles’ left winger is certainly speedy, but he couldn’t catch a cold, let alone the ball. The Eagles lost because of their lack of basic skills - especially not looking where they are passing, and the resultant knock-ons. If they improved their basic rugby skills, and realized that being muscle-bound (and a couple of the Eagles, including the #8, were obviously carrying 20 lbs more than they should for international rugby) doesn’t necessarily contribute to good rugby, then the Eagles might have a chance to compete. The fly-half had a great game.
Sean O reilly said,
August 28, 2007 @ 3:08 am
If the Setanta team had more cameras and better commentary I may have watched the whole game. Given the fact that there was one camera on the roof , with Irish commentators more concerned about how Munster would do in the local club champinship, and a deadly silence between set pieces, I decided to watch something else. Absolutely disappointing coverage. I guess that is why Gridiron and baseball still rule in the USA.