USA Eagles claim rare win over Tonga

The USA Eagles claimed their first win over Tonga in 25 years with a convincing 36-17 victory at the neutral venue of Chambéry in southeast France on Saturday.

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The victory marks another important step in the USA Eagles’ ongoing cohesion and development, as they continue to show improvement under head coach Scott Lawrence.

The team’s emphasis on disciplined defence, set-piece, and the inclusion of younger players into key roles is paying dividends.

Several players stepped up to make a significant impact, and this win will be a benchmark as the team continues to evolve.

When asked about the improved attack, Lawrence said, “I think when we keep it simple, when we just keep ahold of the ball and go forward we’re pretty athletic in the middle of the field, so we were able to get some purchase in this game.”

Lawrence added about the physicality, “I think early on in the game Tonga was winning the collisions and it took us a little while to get into the game. As we did, we became more accurate in the contact area and I think that was the difference in the collisions.”

In terms of work-ons for the next match against Spain, Lawrence said, “It’ll be around sustaining pressure, we had three 22 entries that we didn’t convert so I think we have some opportunities there, with the pressure we’re putting on teams and our entries in the 22.”

Click HERE for the full match report

Next weekend the USA Eagles head to Madrid where they will face Spain on Saturday, 23 November.

SCORERS

USA

Tries: Dom Besag, Jason Damm, Jack Iscaro, Ruben de Haas, AJ MacGinty
Conversion: MacGinty
Penalty: MacGinty

Tonga

Tries: Fetuli Paea, Tima Fainga’anuku, Nginingini
Conversions: Patrick Pellegrini, Havili

TEAMS

USA

15 Mitch Wilson, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 13 Dom Besag, 12 Tavite Lopeti, 11 Nate Augspurger, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Paddy Ryan, 7 Cory Daniel, 6 Vili Helu, 5 Greg Peterson, 4 Jason Damm, 3 Alex Maughan, 2 Shilo Klein, 1 Jack Iscaro

Replacements: 16 Kapeli Pifeleti, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 Paul Mullen, 19 Tomas Casares, 20 Mikey Grandy, 21 Ethan McVeigh,, 22 Mark O’Keeffe, 23 Luke Carty

Tonga

15 Wlliam Havili, 14 Taniela Filimone, 13 Fine Inisi, 12 Fetuli Paea, 11 Tima Fainga’anuku, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Aisea Halo, 8 Lotu Inisi, 7 Sione Havili, 6 Tupou Afungia, 5 Harison Mataeie, 4 Semisi Paea, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Sam Moli, 1 Tau Koloamatangi

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Luc Ramos (France) and Adam Leal (England)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)