ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Monday Oct 25, 2021

Questions remain for rugby in USA in wake of All Black thrashing

The USA Eagles were little more than a speed bump in their record 104-14 loss at the hands of a high-powered All Blacks machine in Maryland on Saturday afternoon. 

The US were desperately missing top players due to various club commitments in Europe. Thus, the team was made up exclusively of MLR players.

Meanwhile, the All Blacks went with a more experimental side. It didn’t matter. The All Blacks scored their fastest try ever and never let off the gas.

Speaking of the outcome, US coach Gary Gold said:

ADVERTISEMENT

“Yeah, I am devastated by the result… I am going to try and find the positive in it, but it’s going to be clouded by the fact that there was a horrendous scoreline.”

The scoreline was far worse than the 74-6 result in Chicago in 2014. Hopefully, Saturday will provide a crucial experience to help the MLR raise the standard going forward.

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster seemed to share these sentiments.

He said: “I think the biggest challenge for the Eagles is when you’re trying to have access to their top team when it’s an outside the window game. It’s not easy for them to attract all their best players with some of them tied up in European clubs.

“Flipside of it is that you think about them as a group, the chance to play a big game in their home country, in an iconic stadium, it’s a pretty special occasion.

“I know there’ll be plenty made of the scoreline but in order for them to grow, these sort of games are probably really important for them.”

WATCH: USA captain scores miracle try against Canada

The silver lining is that it wasn’t too long ago that the USA were thrashing Japan. Japan has since gone on to fully embrace the sport by nurturing a high-quality professional league and are now banging on the door of the Rugby Championship.

Perhaps this is what Saturday can bring out of the MLR and ultimately, the overall game in the USA at large.

All Blacks’ Sean Wainui Haka dedication:

Full match highlights:

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: Brilliant footage shows old school...

  • 45 WEEKS AGO

    Crazy scenes as player deliberately kicks...

  • 46 WEEKS AGO

    Jokester has field day with Chris Latham's...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 14 HOURS AGO

    Watch: Antoine Dupont outrageous no-look pass sets up Toulouse try

  • 14 HOURS AGO

    Toulouse Rugby's version of 'total football' try

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    The latest member of the Tuilagi Rugby dynasty dominates in the Top 14 promotion play-off

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Springbok winger with the most athletic non-try of the season

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Jack Crowley drops the ball on dime for brilliant Munster try in URC Final

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    Marcos Kremer shown red card for reckless shot on Finn Russell

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Heroic tackle from Spanish 7s player goes viral

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    No sanction handed down by SANZAAR for tackle that left Reds player with a fractured neck

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: Cheslin Kolbe Dominates Sebastian Cancelliere with back-to-back big tackles

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Ben Curry's World Cup hopes dashed as he becomes the latest victim of the crocodile roll

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Barbarians Vs World XV highlights

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Silly Skill From Toulouse Fullback Highlights French Confidence

  • 16 WEEKS AGO

    Ardie Savea Moment Of Magic In Super Rugby Aotearoa

  • 16 WEEKS AGO

    'Armchair athletes' berate Arundell's seriously impressive bench press

  • 17 WEEKS AGO

    Worcester Warriors - The End

View All

Funnies

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Watch: Savagely cruel bounce see’s Canada U20 concede brutal try

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell’s face tattooed on leg

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    "Hey Manie oh ah I wanna know if I can block that kick" – Munster's hilarious new song

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Munster Rugby loving life in Cape Town Following URC Final Victory

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: La Rochelle Players Gate Crash O’Gara Interview

View All

Amateur

  • 21 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 22 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 45 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 45 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 45 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Legendary playmaker announces new move

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Horrific footage has emerged of Mohamed Haouas attack on wife

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell’s face tattooed on leg

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    French international receives prison sentence for attack on wife

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    John Afoa breaks record on return to Super Rugby

View All