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The USA made it two wins from two in the World Rugby Nations Cup, edging out Spain 29-22 at WakeMed Soccer Park to stay right in the hunt at the top of Pool B. It was a scrappy, ill-disciplined contest at times, but the hosts had enough in the key moments to see it through.
M. Wilson (10'), P. Ryan (17'), J. Roberts (37'), P. Mayo (65')
Tries
T. Bay (12'), J. Manteca (31'), M. Cian (47')
C. Hilsenbeck (11', 18'), L. Carty (65')
Conversions
G. Bontempo (13', 48')
L. Carty (72')
Penalties
G. Bontempo (59')
This was the third meeting between the sides in a year, and the pattern held: another tight, low-margin win for the Eagles, who have now beaten Spain in all three recent encounters. Los Leones, so often close, again found themselves just short.
The USA got their noses in front early. Mitch Wilson crossed inside the first ten minutes, Chris Hilsenbeck converted, and when Paddy Ryan burrowed over on 17 minutes the hosts led 14-0 and looked in control.
Spain, though, refused to go away. Tani Bay darted through for a scrum-half's try on 12 minutes, and Jaime Manteca, only just introduced off the bench, finished on 31 minutes to level the tie at 14-12. Gonzalo Lopez Bontempo was accurate off the tee and kept Spain within touching distance throughout.
The USA's cause was not helped by a yellow card to Perry Mayo on 27 minutes, but they still managed to reassert control before the break. Julian Roberts crossed on 37 minutes to make it 19-12 at half-time, a lead that felt about right given the balance of territory and possession.
Spain came out with intent after the interval. Martiniano Cian, comfortably the game's most dangerous carrier, sliced through for a try on 47 minutes, and Bontempo's conversion tied it at 19-19. When the same man landed a penalty on 59 minutes, Spain led 22-19 and had the momentum.
That period is where the match was really decided, though not the way Spain would have wanted. The USA bench made the difference. Luke Carty, on at fly-half, steadied things, and it was Perry Mayo — earlier in the bin — who atoned by scoring on 65 minutes. Carty converted to nudge the hosts back in front at 26-22, then added a penalty on 72 minutes to stretch the margin to seven.
Spain had chances to respond but could not find a way back. Ruben de Haas missed a late drop-goal attempt for the hosts, but by then the USA were managing the clock and the scoreboard with reasonable calm.
The numbers point to a USA side that carried harder and made more happen with ball in hand. They ran the ball 87 times to Spain's 58, made five clean breaks to two, and beat 23 defenders to 13. That volume of carrying kept Spain on the back foot for long spells.
The set-piece told a similar story. The USA scrum went at 100% on their own feed, and their lineout returned 94%, giving them a reliable platform. Spain's lineout, at 82%, was less secure, and their scrum came under some pressure.
Discipline was the one blot for the hosts — ten penalties conceded and that Mayo yellow card — but Spain could not make it count. The visitors also missed 26 tackles to the USA's 14, and that leakiness in defence is what let the Eagles' carriers do their damage.
CARRIES
CLEAN BREAK
DEFENDER BEATEN
TACKLE
MISSED TACKLE
TURNOVER WON
TURNOVERS CONCEDED
PENALTY CONCEDED
YELLOW CARD
POSSESSION
SCRUMS
LINEOUTS
Spain will be frustrated rather than despondent. They matched the USA for much of the contest, led early in the second half, and had the game's outstanding runner in Cian. Bontempo's goal-kicking kept them in it and their forwards worked hard in the tackle. But the missed tackles and a second-half wobble in the set-piece cost them, and once the USA bench swung the momentum back, Spain never quite got going again.
For the USA, this was a workmanlike win rather than a polished one. The discipline needs tidying up, but two from two is exactly where they wanted to be.
| # | Team | PL | W | L | D | PD | BP | PTS | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Georgia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 2 | 14 | W W W |
| 2 |  Portugal | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 4 | 12 | W W L |
| 3 |  Romania | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -16 | 3 | 09 | W D L |
| 4 |  Spain | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 07 | W D |
| 5 |  Hong Kong | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -66 | 1 | 05 | W L L |
| 6 |  Zimbabwe | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -26 | 1 | 01 | L L L |
Both sides now turn their attention to Round 3, with plenty still to play for in the pool.
