Moral victories now real

In 2009, moral victories have turned into real ones.

Georgia and Canada, at last, were beaten at home and Uruguay dispatched on the road. Ft. Lauderdale should yield the same result on Saturday.

Having regained the initiative, Eddie O'Sullivan now has two years to source new players, toward the goal of recovering or even surpassing 2005's 13th place in the world world standings. That will likely be done from the top down.

Why? Mainly because four years of 'development' competitions have yielded little. This fall, only front rower Phil Thiel advanced from the Americas Rugby Championship to the Eagles for the first time. There are few, if any, bona fide newcomers from the 2006-08 North America 4 seasons who are still on hand.

Structurally, the ARC falls some four months after from the Super League season, when much of the country isn't playing 15s, while our best collegians are just starting school, and as top 7s candidates are (should be) getting ready for the Sevens World Series. Then too, the notion that the Super League is home to the country's best players was decisively torpedoed by this fall's withdrawals of four-time champ Belmont Shore and Santa Monica.

Meanwhile, with 24 months to go to New Zealand, USARFU's oft-promised competitions review is inoperative.

So it is up to O'Sullivan to drive a top-down approach, which may not be fashionable, but has several advantages. First, it relies on the Eagle mentor to identify his needs and drive the players' improvement through active coaching. Two, success or failure is primarily attributable to the coach. Three, it is (should be) far less expensive for the union and thus less disruptive to the domestic game.

Earlier this year I noted that O'Sullivan's charges were no longer making excuses about disadvantages caused overseas professionalization. Again we are finding that accountability is the first step toward victory.

United States 27 Uruguay 22 (halftime: USA 13-3)

United States
Tries: Tim Usasz, Kevin Swiryn, Junior Sifa, Alipate Tuilevuka
Conversions: Mike Hercus (2)
Penalties: Mike Hercus

Chris Wyles; Takudzwa Ngwenya, Paul Emerick (Alipate Tuilevuka), Junior Sifa, Kevin Swiryn; Mike Hercus, Tim Usasz (Mike Petri); Mate Moeakiola, Phil Thiel *, Will Johnson, John van der Giessen, Hayden Smith, Louis Stanfill, Todd Clever (captain), Nic Johnson
* new cap

Uruguay
Tries: Jerónimo Etcheverry
Conversion: Jerónimo Etcheverry
Penalties: Jerónimo Etcheverry (4), Nicolás Morales

Jerónimo Etcheverry; Martin Crosa, Joaquin Pastore, Juan Llovet, Leandro Leivas; Nicolás Morales, Juan Campomar; Rodrigo Sanchez, Martín Espiga, Mario Sagario, Carlos Protasi, Matías Fonseca, Nicolas Brignoni, Alfredo Guria, Rodrigo Capo Ortega (captain)

Referee: Francisco Pastrana (Argentina)
Attendance: 2,000 (estimated)

Comments

[MattF]

Looks like yet another dropping out of the RSL and possibly 2 add'l.......

http://www.heavensgame.com/competitions/us-superleague/usa-super-league-gets-the-blues.html

[Enough]

I personally hope the Eagles lose against Uruguay. The only think this current administration cares about is the Eagles and the WC. The IRB dream of a competitive Eagles side unlocking massive broadcast rights and sponsorships from the USA is the only the sole mission of the current administration at USA Rugby. They will use the high school and college kids' CIPP, abuse the Congress that contains some of the hardest working administrators with long histories and they will take the risk of destroying our rugby union if the gamble doesn't pay off. The quickest way to end this nightmare is for the Eagles to fail and not make the WC. Period.

[The Lowe Down Syndrome]

If you have any respect for rugby union over rugby league, I suggest you stop reading ARN. ARN has become the official rugby league news site in the USA. His latest Lowe Down Syndrome takes a few cheap shots at the Eagles and praises the national rugby league side the Tomahawks. The guy is such a tool and doesn't deserve any support from the rugby union community.

[sorry]

Enough,

It is indeed a very strange position this administration has placed us in.

Hoping the Eagles lose is almost unthinkable, but yet its the fastest, most assured way to long term save the rugby union from this leadership group.

What can't be argued is that as meaningless as qualifying for the world cup is in the big picture, it helps these jerks stay in power. Qualifying for the cup, winning a game, has all happened before, there are no breakthrough moments in sight. Therefore, maybe just maybe, its losing which gets these pretenders to pack their bags and haul ass.

It is so hard to think this way, yet its not our fault its theirs. For the players and coaches we can only say we are sorry. Our only defense is that three years of arrogant disrespect has taken its toll.

[CalOreNYFLArugger]

Got question itchin' my noggin....

1.Who is the best Center and Wing in the US?

2. Are there any open Positions still available on the national time? In other words is all the positions already locked in by the present players?

ALL ANSWERS WILL BE MUCH OBLIGED!

[RSL RIP]

I wonder what the RSL plan is, death by a thousand cuts?

The college teams were winning games against them, now their many time champion has withdrawn, much different than their past withdrawals, which beside Aspen, were teams at the bottom of the table. Now a couple more teams hang it up. How can the RSL still be the highest level of competition when there are clearly better teams not playing in the RSL.

They should get out in front of this, rather than waiting for the next team to pull out. Nigel was in Uruguay for some reason, no sponsors, he doesn't coach the team. He should have been neck deep in working with the RSL Board to save this from the crisis at hand.

I hear Bruce McLane say no problem, team come in teams leave. I think that is a head in the sand position. The RSL is at peril as the viable top tier comp.

No doubt USAR playing internationals matches during the RSL championship and an overall lack of coordination has led to this situation. This is a lot of shareholder equity going down the drain. Think about all the hardships or time and money that have been spent by the participates now only to be throw away for lack of leadership.

[SD Hitman]

Look for another charter RSL team to follow down the same path as Belmont, StaMon, and OBNY very shortly....

[googoorugger]

Like who?

[heard it through the grapevine]

Rumor is that one more SoCal team may bow out of the RSL. That my friends would likely be the death nell of a well intentioned, but poorly executed competition.

[RSL Fan]

And thank you USAR for your support and leadership.

Yea, the RSL wasn't great, but this will be like the administration eliminating the NASC/ITT because it wasn't good enough, promising a four region all-star/academy approach (that's right Melville at least one punter was paying attention to keep you honest). That promise turned into a 22 man, 10 day joke called the ARC.

So before any of you USAR supporters try to make this meltdown of the RSL the fault of the participating teams, lets remember what a great support job USAR has done.

Zero financial support, internationals on the same day as the path to the RSL championship, zero marketing, media or sponsorship support.

Thanks and best of luck going forward.

[dud]

The USCRA's FAQ's is published at rugbymag, much weaker than I had hoped for.

This is going no where.

[RSL = Real Stupid League]

RSL was a failed league from the start because it was nothing more than a nationwide recreational rugby competition. The RSL started with no sponsor providing significant revenue, no broadcasting, no facilities standards and no player contracts. It was nothing more than a nationwide version of the local leagues the teams came from, which may have provided some better competition for the teams, it provided massive bills for the clubs with no league revenues. Why get on a plane and fly 30 people to a city 1200 miles away when many times a team equal to your competition is 100 miles down the freeway? It was stupid to start without the backing of sponsors, benefactors or broadcast agreements. Plus 90 percent of the games were played to a crowd of wives, girlfriends, looky-loos and dogs forced there by their owner. A lot of the fields are in parks with no stands, some did not even have proper goalposts. The whole thing was doomed from the start, and you can not blame USA Rugby for not supporting something that was doomed.

[whos on first]

I do blame USAR. They had three years to fix it, if it was broke. They did nothing! This is the most noteworthy thing about the current USAR, they do nothing.

A CEO making $275,000, to what, do nothing. If it was the wrong comp and it needed to end, why not say this. Why not show some leadership and say I'm paid to have ideas, better ideas than that currently in play and here is my idea. Nothing, not a word.

Sound familiar? HS rugby, college rugby. Forth Eagles coach in five years.

If the guy making $275,000 has no accountability for anything then why not pay him $125k, what he's almost worth.

[Follow the Lead]

USA Rugby can be blamed or a number of things, but not for the RSL. They went on their own and after 10 years or so the wheels are no coming off. I think that if rugby in the USA wants to go professional, or at least gain revenue from sponsors and broadcasts, you need to follow the lead of other minor sports that went pro. Look at beach volleyball. With a large number of quality collegiate volleyball players hanging around in Southern California, there is little doubt that quality beach volleyball would start to be played from Santa Monica north to Redondo Beach in the south of the LA County coastline. Not more than a 10 mile strip and before long there was huge crowds watching the top tournament in Manhattan Beach. There was loads of local sponsors, but no admission. Just bring your beach chair, sofa from your apartment or stand and cheer. They were getting 5K or more people by just being local. The Association of Volleyball Professionals, or AVP was founded and built on the momentum of that local beach volleyball scene and it is now the beach volleyball tournament organization that hosts the best players in the nation all over the United States. That is the lead rugby needs to follow. I think the college game is where you can get huge crowds and draw sponsors and broadcast partners. However, it could be a regional competition of men's club rugby. I say take the best of the best in California and start a league of say 10. Play in proper venues and see if you can build something around that. Other regions can do the same. Perhaps up and down the east coast. I think the college path is easier in my opinion.

[bruce mclane]

The RSL is fine, Belmont dropped out, but they chose a direction they felt was best. Same with Santa Monica.

Things do change, teams make runs and falter, it happened to Old Blues and then while OMBAC was generally a top club, they had a 10 year championship dry spell.

These economic times are tough, they are tough for most everyone and every club, teams will survive.

For years these same bloggers were saying the league was too big, now it contracts and it now people say it is going under and ill conceived.

Dealing with the BS that is currently taking place in the NRU shows that other comps are no prize. The RSL is a very good comp, run by very good people.

Teams have spent fortunes (OMBAC and Belmont especially) looking after eagle players with housing and jobs, etc. and often times if those players don't give back to the club or become part of the club, it gets old, you get sick of giving money and help to people who don't give a F*&^ about your club.

It is not the fault of USA Rugby, they should not give the RSL money. They should spend on youth development and national teams.

FYI, the RSL had Harp and Michelob as sponsors for a long period of time. There were smaller sponsors as well.

Currently we have no sponsor and that hurts but who is not in the same boat? I don't see the great D1 sponsor or Eagle sponsor

No one ever claimed perfection, but things have always changed in club rugby and whatever happens, happens and we will deal with it.

I hope that everyone at all levels works to keep their clubs strong and that they coach HS and college sides to feed their club and that they don't waste money on foreign or american players who act like mercenaries and create intra club division.

Remember in D1 if you make the sweet 16 you have 2 hotel nights, travel for 28 + coach and medical. That is 15k-18k, if you make the final 4 it happens again.

Those 2 things cost the a little more than it does to be in the RSL and doesn't include the endless rounds of playoffs. Just an FYI. While talking money, make sure you know the costs.

[disagree Bruce]

I don't agree Bruce.

If we had a proper leadership they would have drafted a vision for US rugby which includes plans for youth, HS, college, club, premier, regional rep (all levels) national teams.

What we have is an unconnected poor work product from this executive and Board.

Saying USAR should have none more for RSL isn't putting the hand out, its suggesting that executive leadership was lacking, and is lacking in aspect of our game.

This administration has wasted millions of dollars from the IRB, by allowing them to create poorly conceived competitions. This is were the defenders say, "what could they do its the IRBs money". The answer is lead. Convince the IRB how they could get a return on grant dollars spent.

The RSL will not recover from this. It not longer is a league of our best teams. As much as this is no ones fault, its everybody fault, and this damn well includes the CEO and Board of USAR.

[paule barford]

just remember USARFU did't have anyone to present the trophy at the super league final-although I like lance french

[Averageman]

Rugby Union is for sissies!
Rugby Union is for sissies!
Rugby Union is for sissies!
Rugby Union is for sissies!
Rugby Union is for sissies!

Its all about the League!

[Really?]

Averageman is Brian Lowe from ARN.

[its all about class]

Because I am a Union man, I hate League.

But because I hate the USAR administration, I'm warming to League.

If Union is Meville and Roberts, then maybe I should get to know David Niu better.