USA identifies where Eagles must ‘be better’ amid unbeaten Nations Cup run

USA Eagles captain Jason Damm has identified missed opportunities in the attacking 22 as an area for improvement, despite the team extending their unbeaten run in the World Rugby Nations Cup with a nail-biting 28-26 win over Hong Kong China.

Chris Hilsenbeck knocked over a match-winning shot at goal for the second time in the Nations Cup this season, as the Eagles snatched the result late against another team that has punched their ticket to Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.

Hilsenbeck slotted a clutch long-range penalty as the USA survived Portugal in a season-opening thriller earlier this year, before the Eagles went on to defeat Zimbabwe and Spain. Georgia are the only other undefeated side left, while two other teams have only lost once.

The USA only led for 28 minutes in total, but dominated possession in the dying stages as they chased go-ahead points. Replacement hooker Kaleb Geiger levelled the scores with a try with less than four minutes left, before Hilsenbeck added the conversion.

As Damm highlighted post-game, the USA remained patient and continued to back themselves, surviving a nerve-wracking end to the Test. The Eagles had more than 60 per cent possession and territory overall, and were rewarded on the scoreboard in the end.

“We gave them some opportunities there, we didn’t execute on our own. I think we had eight 22 entries in the first half and we came away with only 14 points. We’ve got to be better in that area,” Damm said post-game.

“It’s just the resolve. You look at the end there, continued belief and just leaning on each other, knowing that as 15 we can get it done.

“No one was trying to shoot out and make the big play on their own. We just sat in patient in defence and knew that if we keep whacking them and whacking them and whacking them, eventually we’ll get the ball back.”

Romania will face the USA in the last match of round five, which will be played at Stadionul Arcul de Triumf on Saturday evening. They are looking to bounce back from a tough defeat to Tonga in a high-scoring shootout, and have a 1-2-1 record across the season.

Chile handed Romania an opening-round loss on July 4, before the European side played out a dramatic 36-all draw with Uruguay. Only one point separated Romania and Samoa in the third round, bringing the first Nations Cup phase to an end.

But their most-hit-out with Tonga was one to remember, with the teams playing out an 81-point Test on Friday. Romania made it a one-score game in the dying stages but Tonga held on, improving their competition record to 2-2.

“We got to watch them play the other day and we’ve seen their set-piece strength so we’ve got to put our strength out here tonight and use our set-piece a bit,” Damm added.

“It’ll be a good match-up against those big forward packs.”