Ontario scalped USA 'A' 27-24 Saturday in Toronto to end the shadow Eagles' short, winless Americas Rugby Championship, an outcome that is as revealing of the planning as the playing of the first-year tournament.
As it did over the brief life of the North American 4, Rugby Canada's management of the IRB-sponsored development competition looked the nimbler of the two hemispheric rivals. Where the CRU recast its Premier League as a feeder, USARFU contented itself with spending Dublin's $150,000 to prepare for November's Uruguay qualifiers, a one-time event.
Beyond failing to reactivate the dormant territorial sides or include college standouts, USARFU's ARC approach left the players with no match practice. Every American got one start. The Canuck sides played three games in September alone, while the coaching staff looked looked over three to four times as many players.
In other words, our archrival put its best and most promising youngsters into a growth environment, while America focused on marginal selections. The story was the same in 2007, when USARFU subordinated the NA4 campaign to the World Cup; but how to explain the lack of up-and-comers from the 2006 and 2008 tournaments?
In a related matter, the Mid-Atlantic territory Sunday announced reviving its senior program on its own initiative. 'While the [National All-Star Championship] no longer exists for the men, we still believe that giving the best players in MARFU a high level rugby experience is good for the whole territory,' president Kris Kabza said in a press release.
Saturday in Toronto, 2008 All American-turned-2009 7s standout and Eagle debutant Kevin Swiryn scored a hat trick as Paul Keeler's XV twice made up double-digit deficits. But Ontario flyhalf Steve Piatek's fifth penalty goal won the match for the Blues.
Argentina's Jaguars defeated British Columbia for the championship by 35-11.
As it did over the brief life of the North American 4, Rugby Canada's management of the IRB-sponsored development competition looked the nimbler of the two hemispheric rivals. Where the CRU recast its Premier League as a feeder, USARFU contented itself with spending Dublin's $150,000 to prepare for November's Uruguay qualifiers, a one-time event.
Beyond failing to reactivate the dormant territorial sides or include college standouts, USARFU's ARC approach left the players with no match practice. Every American got one start. The Canuck sides played three games in September alone, while the coaching staff looked looked over three to four times as many players.
In other words, our archrival put its best and most promising youngsters into a growth environment, while America focused on marginal selections. The story was the same in 2007, when USARFU subordinated the NA4 campaign to the World Cup; but how to explain the lack of up-and-comers from the 2006 and 2008 tournaments?
In a related matter, the Mid-Atlantic territory Sunday announced reviving its senior program on its own initiative. 'While the [National All-Star Championship] no longer exists for the men, we still believe that giving the best players in MARFU a high level rugby experience is good for the whole territory,' president Kris Kabza said in a press release.
Saturday in Toronto, 2008 All American-turned-2009 7s standout and Eagle debutant Kevin Swiryn scored a hat trick as Paul Keeler's XV twice made up double-digit deficits. But Ontario flyhalf Steve Piatek's fifth penalty goal won the match for the Blues.
Argentina's Jaguars defeated British Columbia for the championship by 35-11.
Ontario Blues 27 USA 'A' 24 (halftime: Ontario 18-10)
USA 'A'
Tries: Kevin Swiryn (3)
Conversions: Volney Rouse (2), Malenese Malifa
Penalties: Malenese Malifa
Nicholas Edwards; Dallas Robinson (Corey Blair), Kevin Swiryn (captain), Milemoti Pulu, Leonard Peters; Malenese Malifa (Volney Rouse), Benny Mateialona; Jim Jewison (Jamie Hugh), Brian McClenahan, Tony Lewis (Phil Thiel), Ryan McTiernan, Kevin Erskine (Brian Doyle), Dan LaPrevotte, Peter Dahl, Patrick Danahy
Ontario
Tries: Mike Scholz, Mark MacSween
Conversions: Steve Piatek
Penalties: Steve Piatek (2)Dan Gordon; Colin Brown (Ryan MacSween), Mike Scholz, Derek Daypuck (Steve Shortlly), Dan West; Steve Piatek, Adam Schouten; Doug Wooldridge (Thomas Dolezel), Mike Pletch, Dan Pletch, Brett Beukeboom (Haddon Murray), Scott Dunham, Keegan Selby, Alistair Clark, Mark MacSween
Referee: not available
Attendance: not available
Rugby Canada has experience managing IRB money because they get a lot of their budget from the Canadian government "Sport Canada" fund. These funds allow them to plan ahead and to execute on those plans. Socialist Canada in action. Just pull yourself up by your own bootstraps the American way USA Rugby! Get a sponsor! Pack some stadiums! Get your players some insurance! Just do it!
Posted by: Canuck | 19 October 2009 at 18:54
Rugby Canada has been on the welfare tit of the irb for a longer duration and knows how to milk that cash cow dry. Always good to see a good old Canuck finishing off with pure American Nike commercial "Just do it!"
Posted by: Canucklehead | 19 October 2009 at 20:32
My guess is that Canuk hopes that Obama turns the USA into another soft socialist country like Canada. USA Rugby will git'r done soon enough. This Canuck guy acts like Canada has owned USA in rugby, but they were lucky to get passed USA to qualify for the world cup.
U S A ! U S A ! U S A !
Posted by: Bush Lover | 19 October 2009 at 20:41
Peters can't pass. Pretty tough to play rugby when errything you do is an automatic turnover.
We need coaches to better develop halfbacks as well. These guys have a good pass but little to no tactical awareness and have a habit of turning quick ball into slow ball with their indecision.
This looked like a 3rd grade club side. Me thinks we have better players hiding somewhere.
Posted by: American rugby what? | 19 October 2009 at 22:06
Weak effort from the boys in red, white and blue. If you are going to wear the Eagles jersey, at least make an effort. We are in the toilet and my hope is that we don't even qualify for the 2011 World Cup. At least then maybe the IRB will abandon the USA and we can take a look in the mirror and fix this rugby ghetto we call the USA.
Posted by: Beagles | 19 October 2009 at 23:40
I dont understand the reasoning behind the Selects team anyway? If it was used as a vehicle to see new players then someone isn't doing there job, all the domestic players play in the domestic game and have already been looked at. Why we didn't send up a stronger side is beyond me. I have maybe 4 or 5 from that squad in the best 22 we can muster from US based players.
Posted by: The Point Was? | 20 October 2009 at 07:03
This mess all starts at the top. USAR is the only union in the world where the CEO also holds the title of President of Rugby.
If Nigel Melville is the President of Rugby, then Mr President this is unacceptable!
Mr President your plan sinks, your execution is worse.
Mr President call the CEO and resign. Oh, that's right you are also the CEO who can't raise sponsorship, balance the books or manage the employees or business of the USAR union.
By George, I think I've stumbled on to the problem.
Posted by: take a look | 20 October 2009 at 08:42
referee was Chris Henshall, Eastern US
attendance approx 800-1000
great competition here in Canada!
Posted by: mark winokur | 20 October 2009 at 12:54
It would take generations of Obamas to turn Dumberica into anything near as good as Canada. Your country is run by rich people for the benefit of themselves. BTW- the eagles got pumped in the qualifiers, they couldn't handle the pressure when it counted.
Posted by: Dumberica -F*** Ya | 20 October 2009 at 20:02
Great article on ARN by Brian Lowe. Eddie O is taking us on the same trip he took Ireland leading into the 2007 WC. Here he doesn't have a BOD or a Keith Wood to hold his sinking ship together. We were better off we Johnno, at least he cared about the players and not selling his book and telling stories of time past in the Emerald Isle.
Posted by: ARN | 21 October 2009 at 11:33
I think Brian Lowe is slow, or has a mild case of Down Syndrome. He has no perspectives other than "in college football..." or "in major rugby nations..." or "in the Super 14..." When is he going to wake up and realize that USA Rugby has no problem or qualities that validate on of his perspectives. The guy is in his basement with a computer and a skype account and he is a top rugby journo in the USA. In England you need an office and a revenue stream other then a banner ad from one of your friends companies.
Posted by: The Lowe Down Syndrome | 22 October 2009 at 14:22
Brian Lowe is a rugby league fan, which automatically makes you a bogan because that is the fan base for league. If you don't know what a bogan is, read below.
The term bogan (pronounced /ˈboʊɡən/, rhyming with slogan) is Australian and New Zealand English slang, usually pejorative or self-deprecating, for a person who is, or is perceived to be, of a lower-class background. According to the stereotype, the speech and mannerisms of "bogans" indicate poor education, cheap clothing and uncultured upbringing. 'Bogans' usually reside in economically disadvantaged suburbs (often outer metropolitan) or rural areas[1].
Posted by: Bogan Boy with Blog | 23 October 2009 at 15:21
If you saw the game you'd realize a couple of things. One, there were a half dozen players who had no business on the field, skill wise in the backs and size wise in the forwards.
There must be at least a dozen domestic flyhalves that can get us out of our end once in a while.
Continually testing flyhalves and fullbacks that can't kick a lick is insane.
Posted by: Paper bag boot | 25 October 2009 at 18:30
The best option of the foot at 10 is Dan Power. If we had a lineout that could compete we would have controlled the summer with him at 10. Needs work on his pass and decesion making at 10 however when we do go wide we turn over ball almost 100% of the time anyway.
Posted by: Flyhalf Madness | 26 October 2009 at 08:31
Agree on Power, a strong defender as well which we need at 10. Hercus is finished, too old and too slow.
Posted by: ARN | 26 October 2009 at 10:24