Thanks to a 31-5 defeat of Romania in Bucharest, the USA Men's National Team has risen to 13th in the World Rugby Rankings.

This is the highest the USA has ever been in the rankings. Thanks to a winning margin over 15 points while playing at Romania's home ground, the Eagles got enough of a boost to leapfrog both Georgia (who won) and Italy (who lost).

Next up the USA plays Ireland, a team that just beat #1 New Zealand but didn't garner enough of a boost to actually overtake the All Blacks. Ireland won 16-9 over the All Blacks, holding New Zealand to no tries in the process. But playing at home mitigates the rankings shift. Ireland did gain on New Zealand, though, cutting the All Blacks' points lead to 1.37.

This weekend, win or lose, it will still have been a season to remember for the USA. The Eagles are 10-1, with two of those matches non-test internationals, a 17-10 win over Argentina XV, and a 59-22 loss to the Maori All Blacks. The Eagles' 9-0 record in full internationals in a calendar year is unprecedented.

In 2003, the Eagles won seven games, going 7-6. In 2017, the USA finished 6-3-1. Since Gary Gold officially took the reins at the beginning of 2017, the USA team has won 15 test matches and lost three, while tying one. No other coach is anywhere near this level of success.

Of course, many of those opponents were not as strong as opponents in other years, but this has been the argument for the Eagles for some time - regular competition, including games where the Eagles can win - will help them develop and help them move up in the rankings. It's working.