USA make it two from two with second-half surge past Zimbabwe
The USA came from behind to beat Zimbabwe 31-15 in the World Rugby Nations Cup at American Legion Memorial Stadium, a result that keeps the Eagles unbeaten after two rounds and leaves the Sables still searching for their first win.
It was a game of two very different halves. The USA raced out of the blocks, then let Zimbabwe back into the contest, and only in the second period did they take proper control. The scoreline may look comfortable in the end, but the Eagles had to work for it.
A fast start that didn’t last
The Eagles could hardly have asked for a better opening. Conner Mooneyham crossed inside three minutes, and by the sixth Perry Mayo had the second, with Chris Hilsenbeck converting the first to make it 12-0 before many in the crowd had settled.
Then the game changed. Zimbabwe did the hard yards to get back into it, Edward Sigauke finishing on the left on 12 minutes before Aiden Burnett powered over from the base on 21. Bruce Houston, who came off the bench, added the conversion to Burnett’s try and then a 27th-minute penalty to put the Sables ahead.
The USA’s afternoon was made trickier by Makeen Alikhan’s yellow card on 29 minutes, and they went in at the break trailing 15-12. On the balance of that first half, Zimbabwe deserved their lead.
Where the match was won
The decisive spell came just after the hour. Nathan Den Hoedt crashed over on 55 minutes to put the Eagles back in front at 17-15, and from there they controlled the scoreboard. Luke Carty, on off the bench, was central to it, knocking over three penalties across the final 20 minutes to stretch the lead and keep Zimbabwe at arm’s length. Cory Daniel added the late fourth try on 77 minutes to settle it.
Discipline told in the end. The USA conceded 13 penalties to Zimbabwe’s eight, which is not a figure they will be proud of, but the visitors gave away enough kickable chances late on for Carty to make them pay.
Standout performers
- Perry Mayo was the most dangerous man on the pitch, making 103 metres from just four carries with two clean breaks and four defenders beaten. Every time he touched it, something looked possible.
- Luke Carty changed the game from the bench, his nine points from the tee doing the quiet work of pulling the result clear.
- Jason Damm led the home defensive effort with 13 tackles, while Lance Williams (12) and Cory Daniel (11) also got through plenty of work.
- For Zimbabwe, fullback Tapiwa Mafura was a constant threat with 70 metres, a clean break and five defenders beaten, and flanker Tinotenda Mavesere carried hard, making 34 metres from ten carries.
Zimbabwe left with regrets
There is plenty here for the Sables to build on, even in defeat. They out-carried the USA 95 to 78 and beat more defenders, 14 to eight, so the effort and ambition were there. Their lineout also functioned well, winning 16 of 17.
The problem was holding onto the ball and staying on the right side of the referee. Twelve turnovers conceded, against the Eagles’ nine, tells the story of a side that kept working openings and then coughed them up. Their scrum also came under pressure, losing one of five feeds against a USA set-piece that was flawless on its own ball. Having led at the break, they will feel this was a game they let slip rather than one they were outplayed in.
What it means
The win lifts the USA to two from two and keeps them firmly in the mix near the top of the standings after two rounds. Zimbabwe, by contrast, sit on one point after two defeats thanks to a losing bonus point from their opening-round defeat to Tonga.
The Eagles turn their attention to Spain next, while Zimbabwe face Canada. On this evidence, the USA have the finishers and the set-piece to keep winning tight games, but they will know they made this one harder than it needed to be.