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ARC Rugby is proving testing and not just for the players!

USA Select take on Canada in Round 2 of the ARC Tournament (c) Judy Teasdale

A poor result for USA saw them go down to rivals Canada after a disappointing display infront of 2200 spectators in the second round of the Tournament.  Just as the ARC Round 1 Argentina 39 – USA 3 scoreline didn’t tell the whole story neither did the final result against Canada.

We just didn’t turn up for this game and that is frustrating as the Coaches know the players are capable of so much more. The performance on Friday against the Jaguars was arguably better so why did they not perform against the hosts?

Canada broke through the USA defence  for two tries against the USA (c) Judy Teasdale

Physical

All the players on the pitch were 24 years old or less so you’d expect them to be able to run all day. Canada did most of the running and USA the defending, camped out in their own 22 for long spells. Backs put their tackles in just like the Forwards and some tries were saved through sheer will.

USA did make a few breaks against Canada (c) Judy Teasdale

Technical

If you look at the team lists 8 of the starting 15 for Canada play for the same Domestic team. The time in camp allowed Coach Tolkin to introduce his way of playing to this young group of players but this was only the second time they took this on the pitch as a team.

The lineout was an area where playing time together showed as the Canadians took their throws and quickly got the ball to their backs and running at the USA. Some aspects improved from the first game, others didn’t. New players came in and we tried different combinations and individuals in different positions as we will for the final game.

Notably there were a few periods when USA strung together the phases but frustratingly these tended to be at the end of the halves and did not result in points on the board.

Mental

Lack of motivation wasn’t an issue, both teams were up for it. USA went into this game off a poor result and wanting to prove their abilities against more equal opponents. Canada infront of a capacity home crowd and with a chance to play for the overall title should they win, came in off a victory with tries under their belt.

I’ve played in matches where history follows you onto the pitch – Leinster v Munster, Leicester v Northampton or Ireland V England spring to mind as matches where its more than just winning, its about bragging rights and undoing previous wrongs. USA v Canada is just such a rivalry. That probably explains when at times events on the pitch threatened to boil over but lack of discipline loses you games. A red and yellow resulted from such moments.

Frustratingly lack of possession meant USA played defence for the majority of the game (c) Judy Teasdale

Level Playing Field

For the USA the ARC is about finding new talent so in essence you are seeing a group of individuals on the pitch. Rugby isn’t a game for solo stars and its not lack of will or effort that is at fault for the results or because players are only playing for individual glory.

What is clear is that these are a talented group of young, inexperienced players trying to bond as a team at a higher level of the game than many have played before whilst in the international spotlight. That’s a tough ask. As I highlighted in the introduction to the ARC Tournament the teams they are facing are established domestic and international units so its not exactly a fair comparison.That being said improvement is required across the board. Its my job as coach to give them the skills and the confidence to face whatever comes at them on the field using my experience as a player and from the teams I’ve worked with.

Not back to the drawing board for us but back to the practice pitch. One last shot at reaching their rugby potential for this year’s USA Select at the Americas Rugby Championship. Bring on Uruguay.

Thanks as always to Judy Teasdale for her excellent photographs.

ARC Round 2:  Canada 23 – USA 3

ARC squads

CANADA ROSTER 1. CREAG JOHNSTON, Ontario Blues 2. RAY BARKWILL, Ontario Blues 3. DOUG WOOLDRIDGE, Ontario Blues 4. AARON FLAGG, Pacific Tyee 5. JON PHELAN, The Rock 6. TONI WODZICKI, The Rock 7. ALISTAIR CLARK, Ontario Blues 8. TYLER ARDRON, Ontario Blues (C) 9. KYLE ARMSTRONG, Ontario Blues 10. LIAM UNDERWOOD, Ontario Blues 11. CLAYTON MEERES, Pacific Tyee 12. PATRICK PARFREY, The Rock 13. NICK BLEVINS, Prairie Wolfpack 14. JORDAN WILSON-ROSS, Ontario Blues 15. CONNOR BRAID, Pacific Tyee16. OWEN PARFREY, The Rock 17. HUBERT BUYDENS, Praire Wolfpack 18. JACOB RUMBALL, Ontario Blues 19. CHRIS LONG, Prairie Wolfpack 20. SEB PEARSON, Ontario Blues 21. ZAC COUGHLIN, The Rock 22. PAT KAY, Pacific Tyee 23. JOSH HART, Prairie Wolfpack	USA ROSTER 1. NICHOLAS WALLACE St. Mary’s 2. STAN MOAALII Glendale Raptors 3. TONY PURPURA BostonRugby 4. NICHOLAS CIVETTA NYAC 5. GRAHAM HARRIMAN Chicago Griffins 6. TAYLOR MOKATE USA 7s Team 7. JOHN QUILL Boston Rugby 8. CAM DOLAN (C) Life University 9. SHAUN DAVIES BYU 10. GEAROID MCDONALD Old Belvedere 11. CHRIS CHAPMAN NYAC 12. JACK TRACY Belmont Shore 13. DEAN GERICKE Arkansas State University 14. MILES CRAIGWELL Old Puget Sound Beach 15. ZACHARY PANGELINAN OMBAC16. ZACHARY FENOGLIO Glendale Raptors 17. TIM PAULSEN Chicago Griffins 18. NOT SELECTED 19. KRIS HEADLEE Life University 20. ERIC DUECHLE Belmont Shore 21. BENNY MATEIALONA Life University 22. CASEY CLARK Unattached 23. JOE COWLEY Life University
Canada 23                                                                                                      Tries: Penalty Try, Jordan Wilson-Ross, Clayton Meeres Penalty Goals: Connor Braid x2 Conversions: Braid	USA Selects 3

MATCH OFFICIALSReferee: Juan Sylvestre (Argentina)
Assistant Referee: Joaquin Montes (Uruguay)
Assistant Referee: Chris Assmus (Canada)
#4 Match Official:  Karen Lozada (Canada)
#5 Match Official:  Kai Taylor (Canada)
#6 Match Official/Scorer:  George Van (Canada)

Match Report from ARC website

Team Canada earned the right to face two-time defending champion Argentina Tuesday night at Langford’s Westhill Stadium, defeating the US 23-3 while Argentina took the measure of Uruguay 21-10.

Canada’s Connor Braid kicked well in Round 2 of the ARC Tournament against USA (c) Judy Teasdale

Canada opened up their tournament with a win over Uruguay, while Argentina downed the US. The US and Uruguay will meet in Saturday’s opening game at 5:30pm, while the championship game goes at 7:30pm and is almost assured to be a sell out crowd. The Canadian team was lead by kicker, Connor Braid with two penalties and one conversion. It was the fourth and fifth penalty goals of the tournament for Braid. Canadian tries scored by Jordan Wilson-Ross and Clayton Meeres. Canada’s other points came late in the first half on a penalty try. The US lone points came early in the first half, when a forty yard penalty goal by Zachary Pangelinan.

Canadian Coach Kieran Crawley was disappointed in his team’s first half play, saying “We simply turned the ball over to much, unforced errors and they hurt us.” About the championship game with Argentina he said “We’re excited to be in this position, we’ll take a look at things. It’s basically a one game winner take all and we hope its us.”

Canada had the game won at halftime 13-3 due to penalty goals, by Braid and a seldom awarded penalty try when the referee ruled the US scrum purposely collapsed on the goal line, Braid kicked the ensuing conversion.

As the crowd of 2,273 looked on, Wilson-Ross took a pass from captain Tyler Ardron for Canada’s first try, 20 min into the second half. And then Wilson-Ross 3 minutes later passed to Clayton Meeres for their second try.

Two yellow cards were handed out in the second half: Meeres got 10 minutes for rough tackling a man in the air, and the US’s John Quill got his yellow for pulling the hair of Wilson Ross and pulling him to the ground.

ARC defending champs Argentina were expected to be a tough test for the USA Select at the Americas Rugby Championship. And they were.

USA had a hard opening encounter against Argentina at the ARC (C) Judy Teasdale

Rugby is a game where, if you don’t take your chances and the opposition do, you can find yourself on the wrong end of a bad scoreline. This was the case in our opening match of the ARC Tournament against the Jaguars at the Westhills Stadium.

It was never going to be easy, Argentina have never lost a game in the ARC and are favourites to retain their title. On this display it would be hard to argue against them. In attack they were quick and clever, in defence they were physical and organised and should prove formidable opposition to Uruguay and Canada in the following rounds.

Here’s my quick review of how I saw the US team perform in the 3 key aspects of the game.

(C) Judy Teasdale

Physical

The USA players were up for the challenge and at times showed real fight against a more experienced and established team. The USA squad knew that physically they would be up against a strong pack and the scrums proved a particular test. The wet and windy conditions didn’t help the flow of the game and USA got a number of penalties but couldn’t benefit from the put ins. Its difficult for any team to win with this disadvantage but we tried different combinations what we learned may be useful in the next games where we should be up against a more equal pack in terms of power.

The boys ran and fought for 80+ minutes and with our next match on Tuesday against Canada our strength and conditioning coach Tim Hanway will have his work cut-out to get the players ready for action. Injuries mean that there will be changes to the team and some fresh faces will pull on the shirt against our northern  neighbours.

(C) Judy Teasdale

Technical

Technical skills are not just about what you do with the ball but what you let the opposition do with it.

The Jaguars displayed some deft passing skill at times and defensively they were ready to engage whenever the US tried to advance. For the Eagles, the lack of playing time together showed both in attack and defence.

The scrum was so dominated by power we couldn’t judge the technical aspects but the lineout proved to be more successful of the set-piece plays, although a change at Hooker looks possible for the next game with Asburn’s knock.

Mental

Argentina score their final try in the opening match against the US at the ARC after intercepting a throw in in the dying seconds. (C) Judy Teasdale

Passion for playing for their country was never in question. You just had to be in the room when the shirts were handed out to the team to see what it meant to each man picked. A major part of this tournament for Coach Tolkin was to see how players reacted on the field, when the whistle had blown and they were up against top class opposition.

Speaking ahead of the Tournament, he said “I know guys will make mistakes but what I want are guys who are tough-minded. If they make a mistake are they ready for the challenge – do they want the ball again? It’s not the mistake so much, as how they respond to adversity.”

Physically you can improve with training. Technically you progress through practice drills. Mentally you only truly develop by being in the game. The crowd, the expectation, the scenarios, the weather conditions all contribute to test a players mental strength. Some grow in these conditions, some struggle, and this is where experience like the ARC is vital in raising the standard of play.

The USA did make mistakes. Chances to score were missed and there were tries late in both halves that could have been avoided. Rugby is unforgiving if you let your concentration drop and we paid the price on a number of occasions. Lessons we’ll need to learn for the next game.

‘When Something Bad Happens You Have Three Choices. You Can Either Let It Define You, Let It Destroy You, Or You Can Let It Strengthen You.”

The Rugby Journey

Don’t get me wrong. I hate losing and so do the players. A scoreline of 39-3 is disappointing but the ARC was always intended as a learning curve. For coaches to learn about players and the standard of the opposition. For players to learn about themselves and their potential.

Against Argentina we all learned we are playing catchup against a country that has embraced the game and earned its place at the Top Tier of the sport. Despite the defeat, it’s inspiring to see what hardwork and focus can deliver and this is what USA must look to emulate moving forward.

Our next test comes on Tuesday at 7:30pm PST (on sportscanada.tv/rugbycanada) against a Canadian side coming off a 28-10 win against Uruguay in their opening ARC encounter.

I am confident we have the players and coaches to take USA into the next match against the hosts and show who we are and what we’ve learned.

Onwards and upwards. #GoEagles

Thanks go to Judy Teasdale for use of her photographs.

ARC Round 1:  Argentina 39 – USA 3

Full Match report at RugbyMag.com

Argentina Jaguars 39                                      USA Selects 3
Tries: Rojas, Barrea, Moyano 3                          Pens: Pangelinan
Convs: Iglesias 4
Pens: Iglesias 2

ARC squads

Argentina: 1-Francisco Piccinini, 2-Bruno Postiglioni, 3-Juan Gómez; 4-Felipe Aranguren, 5-Matías Alemanno; 6-Tomás De la Vega, 7-Rodrigo Bruno, 8-Benjamín Macome; 9-Tomás Cubelli (capitán), 10-Santiago González Iglesias; 11-Manuel Montero, 12-Javier Rojas, 13-Jerónimo De la Fuente, 14-Facundo Barrea; 15-Román Miralles.

Suplentes: 16-Ignacio Sáenz Lancuba, 17-Ramiro Herrera, 18-Martín García Veiga, 19-Alejandro Campos, 20-Lisandro Ahualli de Chazal, 21-Marcos Bollini, 22-Valentín Cruz y 23-Ramiro Moyano.

      Coaches: Daniel Hourcade y Emiliano Bergamaschi.

USA: 1-Nicholas Wallace, 2-Derek Asbun, 3-Zachary Fenoglio; 4-Tom Katzfey, 5-Graham Harriman; 6-Cam Dolan, 7-John Quill, 8-Taylor Mokate; 9-Benny Mateialona, 10-Gearoid McDonald; 11-Zachary Pangelinan, 12-Jack Tracy, 13-Dean Gericke, 14-Cornelius Dirksen; 15-Chris Chapman.

Suplentes: 16-Stan Moaalii, 17-Tony Purpura, 18-Tim Paulsen, 19-Nicholas Civetta, 20-Kris Headlee, 21-Shaun Davies, 22-Zachary Mizell y 23-Miles Craigwell.

Coach: Mike Tolkin.

Match timeline from ARC website

A deep kick-off by the United States to the Argentines resulted in a knock on to start the game
.
13^th min. A USA lineout is thrown in and is played to the centre of the pitch. A penalty results and is kicked for posts by Americas #10 Gearoid McDonald from just inside the Argentines half.  The long boot misses just right.

16^th min. A penalty rewarded to the Argentines, 35m out on the right side of the pitch in the American territory is converted by #10 Santiago Iglesias resulting in the first points of the game.

18th min. A superb thrust by American #1 Nicholas Wallace gains the US territory but a forward pass gains Argentina the advantage. A kick past the US 22m line is run back due to lack of support and is held in and penalized. The Argentines go for the posts just outside the 22 and is slotted by Argentina’s #10 and the score rises 6-0.

21^st min. Penalty kick awarded to the Americans, and is missed by #10 from 40m out.

33^rd min. #13 Dean Gericke breaks up the wing for the Americans after a quick penalty. He attempts a cheeky grubber but  adds a little too much power to it and is returned.

37^th min. An Argentina line out on the USA 22 is played in, where #9 Captain Tomas Cubelli finds space in the US backline. He passes to the open #12 Javier Rojas who gets over for the first try of the game. The try is easily converted  raising the score to 13-0.

39^th min. From the following kick off the Pumas are penalized for holding the ball in a ruck.  The American fly-half once again tries to slot it through the posts and misses ever so slightly to right side.

40^th min. An American scrum is won by Argentina and finding ample room on the blindside Captain Tomas Cubelli #9 darts and finds space. A quick toss to his fly-half results in another try which he converts from the sideline, the score rises to 20-0 and the half-time whistle is blown.

Second Half
47^th min. Tempers flare just outside the Argentinian 22 and a penalty is rewarded to the US. Attempting to go for the posts is #11 Zachary Panelinan, who places the American side on the scoreboard with their first point’s game. 20-3.

50^th min. A missed US pass within their 22 gives the opposing #8 Benjamin Macome a run towards the tryzone; but a long grubber kick goes out the end and the US is bailed out with a 22m kick.

56^th min. A grubber by American #10 Gearoid McDonald is picked up by Pumas sub #22 Valetin Cruz and is swiftly run down three quarters of the pitch with the American fly half close behind but to no avail as the try is scored. The conversion is missed and Argentina rises to 25-3.

69^th min. An Argentina lineout is won and seeing the surplus numbers on the far side of the pitch, the ball is swung wide for another try by #23 Moyano Ramiro and converted by #22 Valetin Cruz. 32-3 Argentina.

73^rd min. A penalty ceded by the Argentina gives the Americans a quick tap and a valiant charge up the middle of the pitch to within 5m of a try but the Argentinian defense proves to much and a scrum is called when the ball is knocked on by the US.

Injury time. A great thrust up the side of the pitch by Argentina is stopped by a desperate tackle; as the ball finds its way out of bounds. A quick throw in by the Americans is proven too hasty as #23 Moyano Ramiro catches the ball and is run under the posts to exemplify the Argentines win with a point blank convert raising the score to a 39-3 win over the American side.

The Americas Rugby Championship Schedule

Fri 12 Oct – ARC Round 1

• Argentina 39 – 3 USA
• Uruguay 10-28 Canada

Tue 16 Oct – ARC Round 2

• 5:30PM PST Argentina v Uruguay
• 7:30PM PST USA v Canada

Sat 20 Oct – ARC Round 3

• 5:30PM PST USA v Uruguay
• 7:30PM PST Argentina v Canada

Gavin Hickie, USA Rugby U20s Forwards Coach, is a former Ireland A & 7s, Leinster and Leicester rugby player now based in California and taking rugby to the USA. He writes for RugbyMag.com and other publications when not coaching for Belmont Shore and blogging on lineoutcoach.com