Anybody catch the Churchill Cup opening matches?

Question

... in Ottawa?

This tournament seems like a great way for the players on the European second teams to get some practice and exposure for possible promotion ... especially since they get to tune up on our woeful North American teams!

This was my first glimpse of the USA Eagles. Ugly performance. Are the Eagles always so outmatched in international play?

Answer 1

yes i watched the churchill cup usa/ england match.  and yes it was a rough start for the usa.  (as was the ireand/ usa game i just watched- man they were ok in the 1st 1/2) but they were missing some of their key players in england game.  (ie: Takudzwa Ngwenya wasnt playing and todd clever was out with a concussion in the first 20 minutes).  and the eagkes JUST got a new coach.  Sure these are "b" side european teams.  but you will have to relaize that the USA eagles team is amatuer!  they get personal sponsors to help them travel becasue the team doesnt cover everything, including the trip to RWC.  they get together very RARELY to practice together and the squad constantly changes.  its like putting together a motely team every time you play.  i believe that only a few are signed as professionals but even that is such a new thing that we dont know much about it.  the usa is just trying to get a structure of how this whole rugby thing works as far as professional teams and club teams, etc.  All these eagles play on local club teams... and get paid nothing at club level.  PLUS most of the players and fans in the usa have had no idea what rugby is until recently. (someone actually told me she "liked horses too" after i told her i played rugby... thinking it was polo).  i had never heard of the sport until i started college 15 years ago and my college had a team.  many times a new player in a club has never seen or touched a rugby ball much less watched a game becasue it isnt televised here!!!  we start from the basics... this is how you hold it, throw it, catch it.  but there are high school teams starting and its becoming more popular every year.
i have to disagree with the answerer above tho.  I believe the usa had tremendous amount of success, although not winning a game, in the RWC 07.  they held a couple teams from getting bonus points in pool play, which made a point differential overall.  they played better against southafrica in pool play than england did.  They were also in arguably the toughest pool with south africa (winners), england (#2), tonga, and samoa all in Pool A.  
also, in 7s irB matches, the usa has had some success... i know they won the shield at one round this season.
we will get more competetive soon... especially as the next generation of ruggers emerges!  watch out world- here we come!  so instead of many of you slamming the usa and calling us names... why dont you veteran rugby nations support and cheer us on.  remember- we are embracing your sport and making it grow here... inspiring the US to fall in love with rugby.  and overall that will just make our sport even better!

Answer 2

The USA Eagles are essentially the American first team. I am sorry to say but Team USA are always beaten badly in international rugby. USA lost heavily in every match in the World Cup.
The Churchchill Cup is an advertising tournament for rugby in North America. Canada have produced a few good players but nobody expects the North American teams to put up a fight against the second teams of Europe.