Scott Lawrence Names Two Uncapped Talents For Tonga Clash
Scott Lawrence Names Two Uncapped Talents For Tonga Clash
The USA Eagles prepare for a tough test against Tonga. Fueled by a gritty 21-17 win over Portugal, the Eagles aim to secure back-to-back victories.
USA Eagles head coach Scott Lawrence has named the uncapped duo of Mikey Grandy and Mark O’Keefe on the bench for Saturday’s clash with Tonga.
- Subscribe to Watch Every Minute Of The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup
- Who's The Best Rugby Team In The World? Here Are The Top 50 Rugby Clubs
- 100 Best Rugby Players In The World: Here's The Full List
The Eagles head into their upcoming match against Tonga, riding the momentum of a hard-fought 21-17 win over Portugal.
The recent clash showcased the Eagles’ resilience and defensive grit, both critical elements to what Lawrence is looking to instill in his team.
In their match against Portugal, the Eagles opened with a strong line-out and staved off relentless early pressure from their opponents, who retained possession for much of the opening exchanges.
A penalty goal by Portugal initially put the hosts ahead, but the Eagles responded decisively.
Paddy Ryan’s break through the Portuguese defense for a try, coupled with AJ MacGinty’s accurate conversion, put the USA on top 7-3.
The lead exchanged hands, as Portugal’s quick penalty play led to a try, but the Eagles struck back swiftly.
Nate Augspurger’s wing try, off a crisp counterattack, reclaimed the lead 14-10, where it remained at halftime.
The Eagles’ ability to defend under pressure, particularly as Portugal advanced with a late line-out, set the tone for a tenacious second half.
The game intensified after the break, with Portugal rallying, and eventually crossing the line, to take a narrow lead.
Yet the Eagles were unshaken. Kapeli Pifeleti’s late try, spurred by a penalty tap-and-go, reclaimed the lead at 21-17 with just minutes to spare. The Eagles’ defence held firm in the final moments, fending off a tense Portuguese maul to secure the victory.
As they prepare to face Tonga, the Eagles will look to carry forward the lessons from this thriller, aiming to combine their defensive tenacity with disciplined, patient attacking play.
USA Eagles
1. Jack Iscaro, 2. Shilo Klein, 3. Alex Maughan, 4. Jason Damm, 5. Greg Peterson (C), 6. Viliami Helu, 7. Cory Daniel, 8. Paddy Ryan, 9. Ruben de Haas, 10. AJ MacGinty, 11.Nate Augspurger, 12. Tavite Lopeti, 13. Dominic Besag, 14. Conner Mooneyham, 15. Mitch Wilson
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
How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.