Another steal: The USA ruled the line-outs
The USA held on for a 13-6 win over World Cup debutants Russia in an enthralling encounter in New Plymouth on Thursday.
Intensity was the name of the game as the protagonists went at each other hammer and tongs.
The USA led 10-3 at the break thanks to a fantastic try from scrum-half Mike Petri but had to wait until deep in the second half to add a penalty to give themselves some breathing room.
A late penalty from Russian however set up a grandstand finish.
Despite what the scoreline might suggest, there was plenty of good rugby on offer. Unfortunately the very wet conditions did not help as driving rain, in the second half in particular, made handling very difficult.
The Bears made a storming start to the game and looked dangerous when putting some of their big runners in space.
But the World Cup newcomers were half a yard behind their rivals for much of the game and one would imagine that in more favourable conditions the USA would have won more confortably.
After being handed a beating in the scrums against Ireland, the Americans would have enjoyed holding the upper hand in the set pieces, particularly in the line-outs.
Indeed, the Russians were denied a handful of opportunities as they failed to secure possession on their own throw. In total, the USA stole six of the opponents' throw-ins, enough to stifle the red armada's momentum.
Russia opened the scoring after just three minutes when fly-half Yury Kushnarev slotted a penalty. The Russians had come racing out of the blocks and had the American defence working overtime.
A penalty from USA full-back Chris Wyles levelled matters before the more experienced team struck with the game's only try from a flowing move started inside their own half to put Petri over the line under the posts at the end of the first quarter. Centre Andrew Suniula put fly-half and brother Roland through a hole and the ball was worked back inside for Petri to drag Igor Klyuchnikov over the line, Wyles added the conversion.
That gave the Americans a seven-point led but despite largely controlling the match, they were not able to move further ahead until the 64th minute due to a combination of gallant defending from the Russians and some below-par handling from the blue-clad outside backs.
Russia finished strongly and a silly shoulder charge from US skipper Todd Clever allowed Kushnarev to add his second three-pointer and set up a nail-biting finish.
The Bears were unable to produce the accuracy needed to come up with a try however and must settle for a losing bonus-point in their first RWC appearance.
Man of the match: The US dominated the breakdown zone and Mike MacDonald put in plenty of graft as well as being solid at scrum time.
Moment of the match: No doubt about this one, the USA try was one of the best we've seen in the tournament so far as they turned on the gas to break from their own territory.
Villain of the match: A few fisticuffs, as you would expect, but a villain award seems a bit harsh.
The scorers:
For Russia:
Pens: Kushnarev 2
For USA:
Try: Petri
Con: Wyles
Pens: Wyles 2
The teams:
Russia: 15 Igor Klyuchnikov, 14 Vladimir Ostroushko, 13 Konstantin Rachkov, 12 Alexey Makovetskiy, 11 Vasily Artemyev, 10 Yury Kushnarev, 9 Alexander Shakirov, 8 Vyacheslav Grachev, 7 Artem Fatakhov, 6 Andrey Garbuzov, 5 Denis Antonov, 4 Alexander Voytov, 3 Ivan Prishchepenko, 2 Vladislav Korshunov (c), 1 Sergey Popov.
Replacements: 16 Valery Tsnobiladze, 17 Alexander Khrokin, 18 Vladmimir Botvinnikov, 19 Adam Byrnes, 20 Victor Gresev, 21 Alexander Yanyushkin, 22 Andrey Kuzin.
USA: 15 Chris Wyles, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Paul Emerick, 12 Andrew Suniula, 11 James Paterson, 10 Roland Suniula, 9 Mike Petri, 8 Nic Johnson, 7 Todd Clever (c), 6 Louis Stanfill, 5 Hayden Smith, 4 John van der Giessen, 3 Matekitonga Moeakiola, 2 Chris Biller, 1 Mike MacDonald.
Replacements: 16 Phil Thiel, 17 Shawn Pittman, 18 Scott LaValla, 19 Pat Danahy, 20 Tim Usasz, 21 Nese Malifa, 22 Blaine Scully.
Venue: Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Comments
5Lock4ward says...
@Brands, in all honesty I haven't seen the match yet but what you described of Clever didn't sound like what I'm used to from him. That said I wake up this morning to see him cited for a dangerous tackle so I'm sure you're probably right then.
@Rugbyphile, Did we really just get into economics and politics on a rugby site? These players aren't bankers or politicians my friend. If they were poor sportsmen then shame on them but what does that have to do with all the stuff you bought up?
Posted 12:41 16th September 2011
brands says...
@ 5Lock4ward
would love to give him the benefit of the doubt but the body language tells a different story, his cheap shots and average demeanour kinda tells what kind of player he is...........average and cheap.
Posted 05:08 16th September 2011
KiwiLad says...
Brands, same Russian player that was pointing to his head earlier in the game to infer that clever was nuts, Whatever it was, it had been going on a while...
Posted 20:58 15th September 2011
5Lock4ward says...
@Brands, it might be a bit unfair for you to judge Todd Clever based on what happened at the end of the match. There could have been some things done or said at the bottom of a ruck that may explain Clever's reaction. Also just because the Russian was talking to him doesn't mean he was saying something pleasant or sportsmanlike. He could have been trying to tell Clever that the Eagles were lucky there wasn't another minute on the clock. Then Clever waiving him off would be a legit response. Something to consider at least.
Posted 14:46 15th September 2011
louis77 says...
@ chicka it feels great , us and the superpowers eh !!! its about right i guess given rugby is at best our 4th sport behind our national sports and football ! and the fact we have about 56 people living in our country helps our sporting endevours immensley ! hows your country getting along ?
Posted 12:07 15th September 2011
l00sehead says...
@ Melkdave, I seem to remember there was talk of the 2015 being divided between cup and shield comps a la Rugby 7's. Would be great to have teams involvement not ended with the pool stages. Can't find the bit about it but I'm sure I remember that being an element of the hosting plan for 2015. No doubt someone else can put me straight on it.
Posted 12:04 15th September 2011
coronach says...
along with the France Japan game, the best match of the tournament so far, thought both sides played some good rugby in the rain, was hoping for a Russia try and a 13-13 draw would have been a fair outcome; congrats to both teams. 14000 people, good turnout for a minor game, the Taranaki Stadium looks a good place
Posted 11:48 15th September 2011
melkdave says...
Annother fantastic game to watch Russia did well really pushed the USA.The IRB has to get teir 1 games for Canada /USA and other so called minnows IIts been the best tourament yet by miles just think what 2015 could be like if the IRB can help the smaller nations improve again lol
Posted 11:26 15th September 2011
Chicka says...
How does Ireland feel to be keeping company with Russia and the US?
Posted 11:01 15th September 2011
brands says...
entertaining game but USA what a shocking display of sportsmanship, @ full time a Russian player went to talk to that pony tailed freak #7 USA have as a captain and he waives him away, wish they All Blacks/Aus/SA/Samoa/Tonga/Sydenham under 8s were playing them, smash them to.............
Posted 10:28 15th September 2011
l00sehead says...
Todd Clever lucky to stay on the park as was the absurdly belligerent USA Nr6. Russia made a pretty fair go of their first match at the World Cup proper.A really entertaining match.
Posted 10:25 15th September 2011