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2013 Pacific Nations Cup: Japan v USA
- Thread starter dudeabides
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dudeabides
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Japan won by 18, and they deserved that playing the way they did.
FINAL MATCH REPORT:
JUNE 23, 2013 - PRINCE CHICHIBU MEMORIAL STADIUM, TOKYO, JAPAN
USA 20-38 JAPAN (3T, 1C, 1P) - (6T, 4C)
USA
1 Shawn Pittman (78'), 2 Chris Biller (65'), 3 Eric Fry (74'), 4 Brian Doyle, 5 Lou Stanfill (76'), 6 Scott LaValla, 7 Peter Dahl (40'), 8 Todd Clever (captain), 9 Mike Petri (71'), 10 Toby L'Estrange, 11 James Paterson (41'), 12 Andrew Suniula (71'), 13 Adam Siddall, 14 Luke Hume, 15 Chris Wyles
Reserves: 16 Zach Fenoglio (65'), 17 Nick Wallace (50'-60'; 78'), 18 Phil Thiel (74'), 19 Cam Dolan (40'; 50'; 60'), 20 Liam Murphy (76'), 21 Robbie Shaw (71'), 22 Seamus Kelly (71'), 23 Blaine Scully (41')
Coach: Mike Tolkin
Try: Chris Wyles (16'), Eric Fry (21'), Luke Hume (68')
Con: Chris Wyles 1/3 (18')
Pen: Chris Wyles 1/1 (31')
YC: Eric Fry (50')
JAPAN
1 Masataka Mikami (73'), 2 Shota Horie (79'), 3 Hiroshi Yamashi,ta (36'), 4 Hitoshi Ono (53'), 5 Shoji Ito (61'), 6 Hendrik Tui, 7 Michael Broadhurst, 8 Takashi Kikutani, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka (73'), 10 Harumichi Tatekawa, 11 Yoshikazu Fujita (79'), 12 Craig Wing (26'), 13 Male Sa'u, 14 Toshiaki Hirose (captain), 15 Ayumu Goromaru
Reserves: 16 Takeshi Kizu (79'), 17 Yusuke Nagae (73'), 18 Kensuke Hatakeyama (36'), 19 Shinya Makabe (53'), 20 Justin Ives (61'), 21 Atsushi Hisawa (73'), 22 Yu Tamura (26'), 23 Yuta Imamura (79')
Coach: Eddie Jones
Try: Yoshikazu Fujita (7'), Male Sa'u (25'), Hendrik Tui (38'), Toshiaki Hirose (44'), Penalty try (53'), Fumiaki Tanaka (62')
Con: Ayumu Goromaru 4/6 (8', 39', 53', 63')
FIRST HALF:
7' JPN try 11 Yoshikazu Fujita - USA 0-5 Japan
8' JPN con good 15 Ayumu Goromaru - USA 0-7 Japan
16' USA try 15 Chris Wyles - USA 5-7 Japan
18' USA con good 15 Chris Wyles - USA 7-7 Japan
21' USA try 3 Eric Fry - USA 12-7 Japan
23' USA con no good 15 Chris Wyles
25' JPN try 13 Male Sa'u - USA 12-12 Japan
26' JPN con no good 15 Ayumu Goromaru
26' JPN 22 Yu Tamura on 12 Craig Wing off
31' USA pen good 15 Chris Wyles - USA 15-12 Japan
36' JPN sub 3 Hiroshi Yamashi-ta off 18 Kensuke Hatakeyama on
38' JPN try 6 Hendrik Tui - USA 15-17 Japan
39' JPN con good 15 Ayumu Goromaru - USA 15-19 Japan
40' USA sub 7 Peter Dahl off 19 Cam Dolan on
--END OF FIRST HALF, USA 15-19 JAPAN (2T, 1C, 1P) - (3T, 2C)--
SECOND HALF:
41' USA sub 11 James Paterson off 23 Blaine Scully on
44' JPN try 14 Toshiaki Hirose - USA 15-24 Japan
45' JPN con no good 15 Ayumu Goromaru
50' USA YC start 3 Eric Fry off (repeated infrigement at scrum)
50' USA 17 Nick Wallace on 19 Cam Dolan off
53' JPN try 24 Penalty try - USA 15-29 Japan
53' JPN con good 15 Ayumu Goromaru - USA 15-31 Japan
53' JPN sub 19 Shinya Makabe on, 4 Hitoshi Ono off
61' USA YC end 3 Eric Fry on
61' USA sub 19 Cam Dolan on 17 Nick Wallace off
61' JPN sub 20 Justin Ives on 5 Shoji Ito off
62' JPN try 9 Fumiaki Tanaka - USA 15-36 Japan
63' JPN con good 15 Ayumu Goromaru - USA 15-38 Japan
65' USA sub 16 Zach Fenoglio on 2 Chris Biller off
68' USA try 14 Luke Hume - USA 20-38 Japan (took pass from 13 Adam Siddall, both my club mates at Old Blue RFC of NY)
69' USA con no good 15 Chris Wyles
71' USA sub 21 Robbie Shaw on 9 Mike Petri off
71' USA sub 22 Seamus Kelly on 12 Andrew Suniula off
73' JPN sub 21 Atsushi Hiwasa on 9 Fumiaki Tanaka off
73' JPN sub 17 Yusuke Nagae on 1 Masataka Mikami off
74' USA sub 18 Phil Thiel on 3 Eric Fry off
76' USA sub 20 Liam Murphy on 5 Louis Stanfill off
78' USA sub 17 Nick Wallace on 1 Shawn Pittman off
79' JPN sub 16 Takeshi Kizu on 2 Shota Hori off
79' JPN sub 23 Yuta Imamura on 11 Yoshikazu Fujita off
--END OF SECOND HALF, USA 5-19 JAPAN (1T) - (3T, 2C)--
--END OF MATCH, USA 20-38 JAPAN (3T, 1C, 1P)-(6T, 4C)--
JUNE 23, 2013 - PRINCE CHICHIBU MEMORIAL STADIUM, TOKYO, JAPAN
USA 20-38 JAPAN (3T, 1C, 1P) - (6T, 4C)
USA
1 Shawn Pittman (78'), 2 Chris Biller (65'), 3 Eric Fry (74'), 4 Brian Doyle, 5 Lou Stanfill (76'), 6 Scott LaValla, 7 Peter Dahl (40'), 8 Todd Clever (captain), 9 Mike Petri (71'), 10 Toby L'Estrange, 11 James Paterson (41'), 12 Andrew Suniula (71'), 13 Adam Siddall, 14 Luke Hume, 15 Chris Wyles
Reserves: 16 Zach Fenoglio (65'), 17 Nick Wallace (50'-60'; 78'), 18 Phil Thiel (74'), 19 Cam Dolan (40'; 50'; 60'), 20 Liam Murphy (76'), 21 Robbie Shaw (71'), 22 Seamus Kelly (71'), 23 Blaine Scully (41')
Coach: Mike Tolkin
Try: Chris Wyles (16'), Eric Fry (21'), Luke Hume (68')
Con: Chris Wyles 1/3 (18')
Pen: Chris Wyles 1/1 (31')
YC: Eric Fry (50')
JAPAN
1 Masataka Mikami (73'), 2 Shota Horie (79'), 3 Hiroshi Yamashi,ta (36'), 4 Hitoshi Ono (53'), 5 Shoji Ito (61'), 6 Hendrik Tui, 7 Michael Broadhurst, 8 Takashi Kikutani, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka (73'), 10 Harumichi Tatekawa, 11 Yoshikazu Fujita (79'), 12 Craig Wing (26'), 13 Male Sa'u, 14 Toshiaki Hirose (captain), 15 Ayumu Goromaru
Reserves: 16 Takeshi Kizu (79'), 17 Yusuke Nagae (73'), 18 Kensuke Hatakeyama (36'), 19 Shinya Makabe (53'), 20 Justin Ives (61'), 21 Atsushi Hisawa (73'), 22 Yu Tamura (26'), 23 Yuta Imamura (79')
Coach: Eddie Jones
Try: Yoshikazu Fujita (7'), Male Sa'u (25'), Hendrik Tui (38'), Toshiaki Hirose (44'), Penalty try (53'), Fumiaki Tanaka (62')
Con: Ayumu Goromaru 4/6 (8', 39', 53', 63')
FIRST HALF:
7' JPN try 11 Yoshikazu Fujita - USA 0-5 Japan
8' JPN con good 15 Ayumu Goromaru - USA 0-7 Japan
16' USA try 15 Chris Wyles - USA 5-7 Japan
18' USA con good 15 Chris Wyles - USA 7-7 Japan
21' USA try 3 Eric Fry - USA 12-7 Japan
23' USA con no good 15 Chris Wyles
25' JPN try 13 Male Sa'u - USA 12-12 Japan
26' JPN con no good 15 Ayumu Goromaru
26' JPN 22 Yu Tamura on 12 Craig Wing off
31' USA pen good 15 Chris Wyles - USA 15-12 Japan
36' JPN sub 3 Hiroshi Yamashi-ta off 18 Kensuke Hatakeyama on
38' JPN try 6 Hendrik Tui - USA 15-17 Japan
39' JPN con good 15 Ayumu Goromaru - USA 15-19 Japan
40' USA sub 7 Peter Dahl off 19 Cam Dolan on
--END OF FIRST HALF, USA 15-19 JAPAN (2T, 1C, 1P) - (3T, 2C)--
SECOND HALF:
41' USA sub 11 James Paterson off 23 Blaine Scully on
44' JPN try 14 Toshiaki Hirose - USA 15-24 Japan
45' JPN con no good 15 Ayumu Goromaru
50' USA YC start 3 Eric Fry off (repeated infrigement at scrum)
50' USA 17 Nick Wallace on 19 Cam Dolan off
53' JPN try 24 Penalty try - USA 15-29 Japan
53' JPN con good 15 Ayumu Goromaru - USA 15-31 Japan
53' JPN sub 19 Shinya Makabe on, 4 Hitoshi Ono off
61' USA YC end 3 Eric Fry on
61' USA sub 19 Cam Dolan on 17 Nick Wallace off
61' JPN sub 20 Justin Ives on 5 Shoji Ito off
62' JPN try 9 Fumiaki Tanaka - USA 15-36 Japan
63' JPN con good 15 Ayumu Goromaru - USA 15-38 Japan
65' USA sub 16 Zach Fenoglio on 2 Chris Biller off
68' USA try 14 Luke Hume - USA 20-38 Japan (took pass from 13 Adam Siddall, both my club mates at Old Blue RFC of NY)
69' USA con no good 15 Chris Wyles
71' USA sub 21 Robbie Shaw on 9 Mike Petri off
71' USA sub 22 Seamus Kelly on 12 Andrew Suniula off
73' JPN sub 21 Atsushi Hiwasa on 9 Fumiaki Tanaka off
73' JPN sub 17 Yusuke Nagae on 1 Masataka Mikami off
74' USA sub 18 Phil Thiel on 3 Eric Fry off
76' USA sub 20 Liam Murphy on 5 Louis Stanfill off
78' USA sub 17 Nick Wallace on 1 Shawn Pittman off
79' JPN sub 16 Takeshi Kizu on 2 Shota Hori off
79' JPN sub 23 Yuta Imamura on 11 Yoshikazu Fujita off
--END OF SECOND HALF, USA 5-19 JAPAN (1T) - (3T, 2C)--
--END OF MATCH, USA 20-38 JAPAN (3T, 1C, 1P)-(6T, 4C)--
Last edited:
psychic duck
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Japan keep the Raeburn Shield then. Quite comprehensively. New Zealand will be the next match.
USA scrum is a joke, if Japan shunted it about even more than Ireland did. Japan have improved a bit at scrum this year, but you wouldn't expect them to take them apart like that.
Fiji has been probably the best scrum of the tournament (Yanuyanutawa seems a lot lot better than props they've had before, ditching Deacon Manu seems to have helped as well). Which sums up how lacking these teams are in that department.
By the way, how good was Fumiaki Tanaka? Immense in this game, I can see why he is challenging very hard for the starting position with the All Blacks first choice for the Highlanders.
Not much positive for USA, but Luke Hume had a very good game. For their largely first choice team to get taken apart like that by Japan for 6 tries is not good signs for healthier Canada team to face in August. They've played really poor since the Ireland match. But still no reason they can't get back to the form from the Romania match (the best Eagles performance ever).
USA scrum is a joke, if Japan shunted it about even more than Ireland did. Japan have improved a bit at scrum this year, but you wouldn't expect them to take them apart like that.
Fiji has been probably the best scrum of the tournament (Yanuyanutawa seems a lot lot better than props they've had before, ditching Deacon Manu seems to have helped as well). Which sums up how lacking these teams are in that department.
By the way, how good was Fumiaki Tanaka? Immense in this game, I can see why he is challenging very hard for the starting position with the All Blacks first choice for the Highlanders.
Not much positive for USA, but Luke Hume had a very good game. For their largely first choice team to get taken apart like that by Japan for 6 tries is not good signs for healthier Canada team to face in August. They've played really poor since the Ireland match. But still no reason they can't get back to the form from the Romania match (the best Eagles performance ever).
Canadian_Rugger
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I feel like I am watching a Ric Suggitt coached team when I watch the Eagles play. They have some really talented athletes but they need to hire a foreign coach and stop the bleeding.
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Could wrestling's exclusion from future Olympics have knock on benefits for US rugby in this regard? With no Olympic involvement, wrestling loses it's ability to showcase the sport. Rugby Union has a widely watched World Cup and Sevens is now an Olympic event. Maybe wrestlers can be lured to this sport. They have the skill set to scrummagers at least.
LittleGuy
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Wrestling still has a chance at being retained, it is one of three sports left applying for the 2020 games, which will be decided on in September, the other two are softball/baseball and squash. I would think that baseball/softball only has a limited chance, baseball has moved on to the World Baseball Classic which is a thousand times better than the Olympic comp they used to have. I would rate Wrestlings chances pretty highly though Squash could be a darkhorse of the three. I think removing it in the first place was one of the dumbest things the IOC has ever done.
Here is my first thought breakdown on the match now that I was finally able to sit and watch the whole 80. I'll watch the whole match again when it's up at some point because memory is fuzzy from 2am...anyway, here's my take:
1. Shawn Pittman - Part of a terrible front row. Got isolated in attack I think on a couple of runs, did nothing outstanding that I can recall. Grade: C-
2. Chris Biller - Very strong first half, good carries, solid defense, missed 1 or 2 in lineout but Japan competed well on those. Second half was a lot quieter, part of terrible scrum. Fitness still needs work, need to keep up for the whole 80. Part of awful front row scrum though. Grade: C+
3. Eric Fry - Only bright spot was his try, right place right time. Scrummed terribly, warned by ref multiple times, binned as a result of repeat infringement and cost team 7 points. First half ok, second half forgettable. Grade: C-
4. Brian Doyle - Was pretty good carrying the ball, made some tackles around the park. I'd have to look at film to see lineout play again but I don't think the US lost any so that's good. Quiet second half, think he might have taken a knock or cramp in 2nd half. Fitness/strength going to have to come up, especially since he has had previous injuries. Grade: C+
5. Louis Stanfill - Didn't do a whole lot I can recall. Set up Fry's try, he just happened to be there at the time and gave the pass.Grade: C
6. Scott LaValla - Disappointed in his performance only because he really didn't do much. He had some good carries, made some nice tackles, had some good work in the breakdown, supported well at times (set up first try) but it wasn't throughout the whole match. Being quiet is one thing, but he just wasn't making much of an impact in that second half. Grade: C+
7. Peter Dahl - Only got 40 minutes, might have sustained another injury. Was around the park with a few tackles, but average nonetheless and unfortunately typical for Dahl. #7 needs to be above average all the time.Grade: C
8. Todd Clever - As a captain and getting cap 50, it didn't end particularly well. Did a lot of yeoman work. He had a ton of strong carries, breaking tackles, staying on his feet, making some nice hits, getting ball out of messy scrum. Discipline seems to be an issue though, and team just seems to relax/give up at times, get out of patterns, etc. and as a captain that is on him. Grade: B
9. Mike Petri - Shock of the summer so far for me, most underwhelming player based on expectations. Hasn't been on form really at all, I don't know if his confidence is down after his injury in the club season in spring, or whether he's just playing softer. His passing has been inconsistent, kicking is average, and spends time looking to the ref for calls instead of just digging the ball out. I was the biggest supporter of Petri at 9, but I think Tolkin needs to change it up. He has few bright spots and too many palm to face moments.Grade: D+
10. Toby L'Estrange - I've grown old of seeing him here. He hasn't been able to get anything really going with the backs this summer, kicking hasn't been as good as it could be, he cannot kick goals. Certainly not the same guy we saw stepping and creating plays in the fall. I've been saying that Adam Siddall needs/should get time at 10 because he is much more dangerous playmaker. Grade: C-
11. James Paterson - Injured presumably, only got 40 mins.
12. Andrew Suniula - I've never been huge on him, and he hasn't had many good games, but he played alright vs. Japan. He had a lot of great run, almost set up Louis Stanfill for a score but just knocked on trying to offload. Lots of good busting runs and wasn't too shabby defensively. Grade: B-
13. Adam Siddall - One of the few bright spots in the match, played well all match long. Made the hit of the summer in the first half on some poor sucker (Craig Wing or Male Sa'u I think). Was very strong with the ball in hand, defense as well, kept up the intensity all match. Sometimes gets sucked into contact too much when pass could be made, but Siddall proved he deserved to be in starting XV in my opinion. Grade: B+
14. Luke Hume - With Siddall, probably the most dangerous attack player in the match. Unfortunately his only real chance to shine was on counter attack, never saw much of the ball in phase play. And when he did, he scored a try from a brilliant individual effort. Almost had a couple of others darting around the breakdown or on kick return. Made a couple of tackles. Another one of the few bright spots. Grade: B+
15. Chris Wyles - 2/4 at goal, could've had 3/4. Ran well, scored a try of his own running good support line, made a few mistakes kicking, handling, tackling (I think?) but nothing major. Grade: B
16. Zach Fenoglio - 15 mins. Hit the lineouts, wasn't great in scrum. No impact. Grade: C-
17. Nick Wallace - 12 mins. Tough situation to come into, but gave up penalty try. Can tell why USA doesn't try to sub front rows if it doesn't have to. Grade: C-
18. Phil Thiel - 6 mins. No impact, no chance really. Just out of retirement so we'll see if he has any impact in the future, but wasn't bad in past. Grade: INC
19. Cam Dolan - 30 mins. Was decent at base of scrum, needs more time at 8 since he played the club season on the wing. Big difference playing college rugby and test rugby. Has potential. Grade: C
20. Liam Murphy - 4 mins. Not much time for anything. Grade: INC
21. Robbie Shaw - 9 mins. Not given any real possession. Grade: INC
22. Seamus Kelly - 9 mins. Not given any real possession, didn't do much. Grade: INC
23. Blaine Scully - 40 mins. Relatively quiet, missed tackles that allowed points, not too much with the ball. Need to make an impact of bench.Grade: C
Forwards - Disappointing is word that comes to mind. They had an ok first half, but just fell apart in the second. Grade: D
Lineout - I think they were perfect statistically but they were off on a couple of calls and throws. Not the typical domination in the lineout we're used to seeing. Defense disrupted a few, competed well. Grade: B
Scrum - 5 or 6 penalties plus a knock on in just one sequence starting around 6-7 mins into second half. Was not good before in first half, then just went down from there (no pun intended). Stood up when not collapsing, even commentators noticed the lack of effort and strength in scrum. Nick Wallace wasn't much help (then again there isn't anyone eligible for the US that would be right now). It says something when a team like Japan opt for the scrum in penalties, scrum you to death and into the ground, and get a penalty try. If there was a grade lower than an F then I'd give it. Grade: F
Open play - Too often got isolated in same way punch structure, forwards not working hard enough to get around the corner and support. Breakdown intensity was great at the start, but then just disappeared and the whole pack outside of Clever was quiet. And that's only because Clever was constantly having to chat with the Sir. And these handling errors need to stop.Grade: C-
Defense - Missing too many tackles, not setting up properly at the breakdown allows Tanaka to just walk through when he wants. Committing too many numbers and not working out hard enough to let backs cover the wide patterns. Grade: C
Backs - Not bad, not great. Not given much of a chance to shine, a lot of individual brilliance and not enough good team set play. Grade: B-
Set plays - Didn't really get many, most off set piece featured a forward crashing midfield. Grade: C+
Phase play - Some pieces of individual brilliance (Siddall step, Hume return/dart/grubber, Wyles support run). Toby wasn't spectacular kicking, Wyles had a good boot on him. Again a lot of the pattern seemed to be hitting the midfield or hinge so not too much quality ball for backs to shine with. Still too many handling errors though, and that's got to be killing the confidence. Grade: C+
Defense - Couldn't recover to mark out wide, missed a few tackles here and there (still too many if they want to be elite) but they did lay some thumping hits. If forwards were able to provide a little better support line defensively then maybe these guys get in better positions.Grade: B
Bench - Made no positive impact really, most not given time to do so, and others just weren't fantastic. I've always looked at the reserves as players that when called to come on need to make an impact because they are fresh, understand game situation, and should know what to do. Grade: D
Overall - As a poster put before, tale of two halves. US was right there in the first, and in the second it was a completely different team. Fitness is still an issue, and I think it's time to try out/move personnel for the August tests. Defensively they've been solid almost all summer but this was their weakest defensive game in the Tolkin era in my opinion. They just didn't seem ready for the pace and organization of Japan. Japan as a fully professional and together side (together since March) really kind of gave the US a lesson in how you need to stick it out the full 80, not 60 or 40, as if Tonga and Fiji couldn't put it in enough. The US has played well in first halves, they just disintegrate in the second 40. We know they can play great and can challenge for top 10-12!
Based off this, I don't know how they are going to beat Canada over 2 legs. Confidence must be lacking, questions are being asked. USA-Canada matches are usually tight because it's a rivalry game but with the scrum issues, penalty problems, and a halfback combination not allowing the backs to run over teams, can anyone see the USA winning the series? Grade: C-
1. Shawn Pittman - Part of a terrible front row. Got isolated in attack I think on a couple of runs, did nothing outstanding that I can recall. Grade: C-
2. Chris Biller - Very strong first half, good carries, solid defense, missed 1 or 2 in lineout but Japan competed well on those. Second half was a lot quieter, part of terrible scrum. Fitness still needs work, need to keep up for the whole 80. Part of awful front row scrum though. Grade: C+
3. Eric Fry - Only bright spot was his try, right place right time. Scrummed terribly, warned by ref multiple times, binned as a result of repeat infringement and cost team 7 points. First half ok, second half forgettable. Grade: C-
4. Brian Doyle - Was pretty good carrying the ball, made some tackles around the park. I'd have to look at film to see lineout play again but I don't think the US lost any so that's good. Quiet second half, think he might have taken a knock or cramp in 2nd half. Fitness/strength going to have to come up, especially since he has had previous injuries. Grade: C+
5. Louis Stanfill - Didn't do a whole lot I can recall. Set up Fry's try, he just happened to be there at the time and gave the pass.Grade: C
6. Scott LaValla - Disappointed in his performance only because he really didn't do much. He had some good carries, made some nice tackles, had some good work in the breakdown, supported well at times (set up first try) but it wasn't throughout the whole match. Being quiet is one thing, but he just wasn't making much of an impact in that second half. Grade: C+
7. Peter Dahl - Only got 40 minutes, might have sustained another injury. Was around the park with a few tackles, but average nonetheless and unfortunately typical for Dahl. #7 needs to be above average all the time.Grade: C
8. Todd Clever - As a captain and getting cap 50, it didn't end particularly well. Did a lot of yeoman work. He had a ton of strong carries, breaking tackles, staying on his feet, making some nice hits, getting ball out of messy scrum. Discipline seems to be an issue though, and team just seems to relax/give up at times, get out of patterns, etc. and as a captain that is on him. Grade: B
9. Mike Petri - Shock of the summer so far for me, most underwhelming player based on expectations. Hasn't been on form really at all, I don't know if his confidence is down after his injury in the club season in spring, or whether he's just playing softer. His passing has been inconsistent, kicking is average, and spends time looking to the ref for calls instead of just digging the ball out. I was the biggest supporter of Petri at 9, but I think Tolkin needs to change it up. He has few bright spots and too many palm to face moments.Grade: D+
10. Toby L'Estrange - I've grown old of seeing him here. He hasn't been able to get anything really going with the backs this summer, kicking hasn't been as good as it could be, he cannot kick goals. Certainly not the same guy we saw stepping and creating plays in the fall. I've been saying that Adam Siddall needs/should get time at 10 because he is much more dangerous playmaker. Grade: C-
11. James Paterson - Injured presumably, only got 40 mins.
12. Andrew Suniula - I've never been huge on him, and he hasn't had many good games, but he played alright vs. Japan. He had a lot of great run, almost set up Louis Stanfill for a score but just knocked on trying to offload. Lots of good busting runs and wasn't too shabby defensively. Grade: B-
13. Adam Siddall - One of the few bright spots in the match, played well all match long. Made the hit of the summer in the first half on some poor sucker (Craig Wing or Male Sa'u I think). Was very strong with the ball in hand, defense as well, kept up the intensity all match. Sometimes gets sucked into contact too much when pass could be made, but Siddall proved he deserved to be in starting XV in my opinion. Grade: B+
14. Luke Hume - With Siddall, probably the most dangerous attack player in the match. Unfortunately his only real chance to shine was on counter attack, never saw much of the ball in phase play. And when he did, he scored a try from a brilliant individual effort. Almost had a couple of others darting around the breakdown or on kick return. Made a couple of tackles. Another one of the few bright spots. Grade: B+
15. Chris Wyles - 2/4 at goal, could've had 3/4. Ran well, scored a try of his own running good support line, made a few mistakes kicking, handling, tackling (I think?) but nothing major. Grade: B
16. Zach Fenoglio - 15 mins. Hit the lineouts, wasn't great in scrum. No impact. Grade: C-
17. Nick Wallace - 12 mins. Tough situation to come into, but gave up penalty try. Can tell why USA doesn't try to sub front rows if it doesn't have to. Grade: C-
18. Phil Thiel - 6 mins. No impact, no chance really. Just out of retirement so we'll see if he has any impact in the future, but wasn't bad in past. Grade: INC
19. Cam Dolan - 30 mins. Was decent at base of scrum, needs more time at 8 since he played the club season on the wing. Big difference playing college rugby and test rugby. Has potential. Grade: C
20. Liam Murphy - 4 mins. Not much time for anything. Grade: INC
21. Robbie Shaw - 9 mins. Not given any real possession. Grade: INC
22. Seamus Kelly - 9 mins. Not given any real possession, didn't do much. Grade: INC
23. Blaine Scully - 40 mins. Relatively quiet, missed tackles that allowed points, not too much with the ball. Need to make an impact of bench.Grade: C
Forwards - Disappointing is word that comes to mind. They had an ok first half, but just fell apart in the second. Grade: D
Lineout - I think they were perfect statistically but they were off on a couple of calls and throws. Not the typical domination in the lineout we're used to seeing. Defense disrupted a few, competed well. Grade: B
Scrum - 5 or 6 penalties plus a knock on in just one sequence starting around 6-7 mins into second half. Was not good before in first half, then just went down from there (no pun intended). Stood up when not collapsing, even commentators noticed the lack of effort and strength in scrum. Nick Wallace wasn't much help (then again there isn't anyone eligible for the US that would be right now). It says something when a team like Japan opt for the scrum in penalties, scrum you to death and into the ground, and get a penalty try. If there was a grade lower than an F then I'd give it. Grade: F
Open play - Too often got isolated in same way punch structure, forwards not working hard enough to get around the corner and support. Breakdown intensity was great at the start, but then just disappeared and the whole pack outside of Clever was quiet. And that's only because Clever was constantly having to chat with the Sir. And these handling errors need to stop.Grade: C-
Defense - Missing too many tackles, not setting up properly at the breakdown allows Tanaka to just walk through when he wants. Committing too many numbers and not working out hard enough to let backs cover the wide patterns. Grade: C
Backs - Not bad, not great. Not given much of a chance to shine, a lot of individual brilliance and not enough good team set play. Grade: B-
Set plays - Didn't really get many, most off set piece featured a forward crashing midfield. Grade: C+
Phase play - Some pieces of individual brilliance (Siddall step, Hume return/dart/grubber, Wyles support run). Toby wasn't spectacular kicking, Wyles had a good boot on him. Again a lot of the pattern seemed to be hitting the midfield or hinge so not too much quality ball for backs to shine with. Still too many handling errors though, and that's got to be killing the confidence. Grade: C+
Defense - Couldn't recover to mark out wide, missed a few tackles here and there (still too many if they want to be elite) but they did lay some thumping hits. If forwards were able to provide a little better support line defensively then maybe these guys get in better positions.Grade: B
Bench - Made no positive impact really, most not given time to do so, and others just weren't fantastic. I've always looked at the reserves as players that when called to come on need to make an impact because they are fresh, understand game situation, and should know what to do. Grade: D
Overall - As a poster put before, tale of two halves. US was right there in the first, and in the second it was a completely different team. Fitness is still an issue, and I think it's time to try out/move personnel for the August tests. Defensively they've been solid almost all summer but this was their weakest defensive game in the Tolkin era in my opinion. They just didn't seem ready for the pace and organization of Japan. Japan as a fully professional and together side (together since March) really kind of gave the US a lesson in how you need to stick it out the full 80, not 60 or 40, as if Tonga and Fiji couldn't put it in enough. The US has played well in first halves, they just disintegrate in the second 40. We know they can play great and can challenge for top 10-12!
Based off this, I don't know how they are going to beat Canada over 2 legs. Confidence must be lacking, questions are being asked. USA-Canada matches are usually tight because it's a rivalry game but with the scrum issues, penalty problems, and a halfback combination not allowing the backs to run over teams, can anyone see the USA winning the series? Grade: C-
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