Wednesday's 44-13 Churchill Cup loss to Tonga is far less important than NBC's winning broadcast rights to the next four Olympics, yet there is ample reason to worry about the test team.
NBC's triumph, combined with the network's renewed commitment to the USA 7s Collegiate Rugby Championship, announced at the start of the week, means American rugby can anticipate a growing profile for the best part of the decade. While most anyone can buy television time, high-caliber production and extensive promotion is an costly proposition, and so best achieved through strategic partnership.
The only comparable milestone is the 1995 British Sky Broadcasting agreement, which launched the newly self-sufficient Eagles to unprecedented heights while bolstering the parent union's finances and rugby's domestic footprint. There are obvious parallels in Jack Clark's results-oriented record as national team general manager and the business nous of the USA 7s organization.
USARFU's post-2005 management has articulated an expansive (if orthodox) vision but demonstrated no such leadership, and the test team has trended downward.
At the weekend, the Eagles yielded a Churchill-record 87 points in a humiliating England Saxons defeat. Yesterday, with the CRC's sparkle hardly worn off, the national XV posted its worst-ever loss to Tonga, which came in just fractionally below in the International Rugby Board rankings.
Wing Viliami Iongi's four tries grabbed the headlines. More concerning is the USA's second-half collapse, when the Ikale Tahi (translated: Sea Eagles) outscored their American namesakes 31-3, 4 tries to none.
After falling behind 13-3, Paul Emerick scored a short-handed touchdown in the 34th minute. The play was made by long gallop from Lou Stanfill, among the most combative of American forwards, and then an elegant cutout pass from Nese Malifa to Roland Suniula, who assisted Emerick's 12th try in 40 internationals.
'We didn’t start well, but played ourselves back into the match, coming close to lead at half time', head coach Eddie O'Sullivan said in a press release.
'We conceded some early scores in the second half, with lots of unforced errors', O'Sullivan observed of the demise. Also, Iongi's third try, which put the game out of reach at 59 minutes, came with Shawn Pittman in the sin bin.
O'Sullivan did not address the spectacle of Nese Malifa's kicking a short-range penalty goal in the 66th minute, when the US trailed 30-10.
As to evident organizational shortcomings, both O'Sullivan and captain Todd Clever pleaded the team has not had a sufficient amount of time together. 'We just switched off and we were not on the same page -- that’s partly because we are not together very often,' Clever said in USARFU's release.
That line of thinking suggests the historically fractious Tongans, who recently dropped a pair of 2007 World Cup standouts from the 2011 roster, have made superior use of the Churchill assembly. As two-thirds of the American starting lineup have been playing overseas, the amateurs versus professionals argument, beloved of USARFU's management, no longer pertains. Every team at the tournament is missing several first-choice players.
In replacing 13 starters after the Saxons game, O'Sullivan may have previewed his approach to the World Cup. In New Zealand as at present, the US faces two matches in five days. Indeed, in September America must run the gauntlet twice: first Ireland and then Russia, a game the Eagles almost certainly must win in order to avoid a second consecutive winless World Cup, and then Australia and Italy.
The Tonga defeat is the sixth in the past eight matches, a streak that began with last June's home Churchill win over Russia, which could be this year's finals opponent on the 18th. Canada yesterday downed the Bears 34-18 to earn a repeat visit to the championship round, likely against the Saxons.
Presumably that record will focus the attention of USARFU's board of directors, meeting today in New York. The agenda might also include a recent gathering of leading countries to discuss international rugby's growth prospects.
The London 'summit' was addressed by NBC executive Jon Miller, another sign the 'Tier 1' nations are figuring out what and who is driving growth in America.
Tonga 44 United States 13 (halftime: Tonga 13-10)
Tonga
Tries: Viliami Iongi (4), Pasuka Mapakaitolo
Conversions: Kurt Morath (5)
Penalties: Kurth Morath (3)
Mateo Malupo; Viliami Helu, Suka Hufanga, Etueni Siua (S Taumoepeau), Viliami Iongi; Kurt Morath, Soane Havea (Daniel Morath); Tonga Lea’Aetoa, Ilaisa Ma’Asi (Atonio Halangahu), Kisi Pulu (captain, Ta'u Fainga’anuku), Sione Timani, Emosi Kauhenga (Paula Kaho), Pasuka Mapakaitolo, Pepa Koloamatangi, Vili Ma’Afu (Josh Afu)
United States of America
Try: Paul Emerick
Conversion: Valenese Malifa
Penalties: Valenese Malifa
Roland Suniula; Colin Hawley, Paul Emerick (Tai Enosa), Andrew Suniula, Kevin Swiryn; Valenese Malifa (Troy Hall), Tim Usasz (Mike Petri); Mate Moeakiola (Eric Fry), Chris Biller, Shawn Pittman, Louis Stanfill (Pat Danahy), Scott Lavalla, Inaki Basauri (John van der Giessen), Todd Clever (captain), Nick Johnson
Referee: Roman Poite (France)
Attendance: 1,000 (estimate)
Related: IRB blesses USA 7s TV changes
"Within 3 or 4 weeks 25,000+ paid money to sit in stands and watch college rugby. On the same weekend as the nationally televised CRC, the Eagles got blasted in the Churchill Cup 87-8 in front of a web-streamed audience. Could the path to rugby growth in America ever be clearer?"
Comment posted on Nigel's blog under one of his entries. Given that he does read/post the comments made, even the critical ones, it's amazing how few are made when there are so many on this msg board decrying usarugby's efforts. Wouldn't it be more effective to make your voices heard there as well? Or can we safely assume usa rugby officials frequent this blog enough to know the general sentiment?
http://nmdirect.blogspot.com/
Posted by: the revolution will not be blogged | 09 June 2011 at 18:57
It's not Nigel as much as it is Kevin Roberts and the Board doing what they perceive the IRB to want. What we need is a Chairman who will either convince the IRB that the way forward is through college rugby or tell the IRB to go screw. I doubt Kevin roberts even knows what a college conference is. One of his Kiwi brethren who is the President of an LAU sent an email saying that he himself had to spend a few hours on wikipedia researching what a conference was and who was in it. The American game needs to be run by those who understand American sports, and right now there are too many who don't have this understanding who are in leadership positions.
Posted by: Nigel | 10 June 2011 at 07:54
What to me is most puzzling is that Kevin Roberts seems to have no plan or purpose for US Rugby. I really don't understand what personal value he gets from occupying this position.
I just don't get it.
Posted by: I played drek rugby - and loved it | 10 June 2011 at 09:12
"What to me is most puzzling is that Kevin Roberts seems to have no plan or purpose for US Rugby. "
Thats what Todd Bell was brought in for... or so I thought...
Posted by: Clay | 10 June 2011 at 11:57
Todd Bell was brought in to quell the uprising that was the USCRA. USA Rugby thought that they would lose all the college CIPP dollars (7 digits) and they figured a new hire at 70K was the solution. Jack Clark and his CPL (now CPD) propaganda on ARN gave Mr. Bell a new unattainable job (sell sponsorship to an college club sport competition with poor facilities and ZERO history). The whole thing is a joke and the only goal USA Rugby has it maintain the CIPP revenue as long as possible.
Posted by: Scam | 10 June 2011 at 12:05
I noticed a couple things so far with the Emirates Airline USA Rugby 2011 Men’s Collegiate All-Star Championships this weekend.
1) Rugby Magazine (the only real rugby media in the country) is hardly covering the matches. Of course they were all over the collegiate rugby championships (really an invitational) because their parent company owns the event, but this event is getting very little coverage. No line-ups and no journalist at the event. They thanked a twitter account for posting scores.
2) The Pacific Union sent a bunch of scrubs making the event as a selection criteria for the All-Americans a joke, plus making the dues colleges pay to the TU that heavily subsidize the union's cost for this event a waste. I mean if the best players are not going to play, what is the point?
Who controls these things? If you don't compete at this event and let the AA selectors see you compete, you shouldn't be able to be selected to the AAs. Or just call the whole All-Star farce off and save the money the TUs spend.
If coaches are not letting their players attend, shame on them. Todd Bell should fine them or deduct league points from the next year's competition. Everyone wants more professionalism (i.e. start the premier league), so let's have some repercussions when teams don't pull on the rope with the other teams to improve our representative side rugby.
Posted by: Wasted TU Dues | 10 June 2011 at 15:47
Very sensible comments above. The rep tier needs more reinforcement from serious minded people.
Posted by: Al in London | 10 June 2011 at 16:02
Clubs also need to directly pay for the rep teams from dues collected in their regions. Clubs must release players and coaches should be compensated. Senior rep sides needs to be restarted. The Clubs need to work together to create a solid rep side environment in their own regions. If Clubs can't work together on sharing players, coaches, and money, it will never happen.
Posted by: Sevens | 10 June 2011 at 16:16
It looks to me that the All-American selections are pretty much done minus a few players. Basically the boys from Cal and BYU see rep rugby below them and are perfectly fine stepping into the All American side to get the asterisk next to their name and play in the matches because they feel that will get them a look for the senior national team (as minor of an honor as that is these days). I know my TU funds a great part of the collegiate all-stars expenses. The colleges in my TU that pay 1000 or so in dues don't get anything for that money other than knowing they are helping send "All Stars" to the tourney. But the tourney is a sham and the All Americans appear to have been selected already. Even Rugby Mag knows the deal and are not even covering it other than to have Alex Goff scour Twitter for scores.
Posted by: Wasted TU Dues | 10 June 2011 at 17:21
Representative rugby at the college level is dumb. Magelby knew his team for the All-Americans well before this event. This is just a waste of probably around $80,000 of TU money that could have been spent to hold a high performance camp for 100 invited college players from which you select the final All-American touring side. Same way it is done by USA Basketball for FIBA U-21 championships. this is the last year of this event, thank god. The Pacific team includes players from Cal who didn't play in any CPD games to my knowledge. That says it all.
Posted by: Done | 10 June 2011 at 17:45
JC threw a bone to a few of his guys that held ruck shields at training for 4 years and never played in a game that mattered. Unless blowing out Santa Clara or Cal Maritime on a Wednesday afternoon is a big deal to you. I would mention names, but last time you guys threw a hissy fit.
Posted by: Hand Bags | 10 June 2011 at 18:13
Yes the AA team is already set. Thats why Alex had over a dozen scouts from the various conferences reporting to him and the selectors. So yes, this weekend is a waste of money really.
For those teams that fund this thing, one or two of their kids turn up to trials yet don't get a look because they are not at a big school, fear not. From August, you will be funding it no more. Dues go directly to your conference.
Posted by: College #5 | 11 June 2011 at 04:26
Aside from a few conferences that make sense geographically, where are all these conferences? The entire west coast doesn't seem to have a cohesive conference strategy for D1. It is still aligned with TUs and LAUs and the NCAA conferences don't really make sense. No team from the Pacific NQ is going to go down to So Cal to play a league game.
Posted by: SoCalSevens | 11 June 2011 at 08:09
This event is a waste these days. Film is mostly available on every player who is an AA possibility. With that, we should stop selecting AAs from a 2 match weekend and select based on season performance. There should be D1 AAs, D2 AAs, etc just like every other sport. The touring thing is okay I guess. But we should be selecting AAs based on their performance as college rugby players and NOT based on their prospects at the next level.
Treat All Americans like every other sport does.
Posted by: college | 11 June 2011 at 08:26
+1
Complete waste of time. Player financed rugby tournament. Zero player development. Zero commercial value. Zero investment from USAR. "Give me my TU polo, pass the bucket of KKC and why do we have five players per hotel room?"
Wake me when we have serious leadership in Boulder, or when the bottom feels like to top...we might be there!
Posted by: college fan | 11 June 2011 at 10:26
I truely feel we need to dump time and effort into high school and university rugby at all costs...period...
we have not advanced alot in 40 years...although there is now a premier league which as spent an estimated 15 million dollars with limited returns...meaning it is not a pipeline to the eagles and it does not get us on tv...
lets take two steps back with a purpose right now....and focus for once...
lets remove USA rugby championships from everthing except division 1...
and lets put time and resources into youth and college...period...
and lets move the foreign leaders out and bring in some americans...I am all for a consultant..but really....CEO president and head coach...
come on we can do better...
Posted by: rugbyfan1 | 11 June 2011 at 17:27
rugbyfan1
I am Johnny Foreigner - been here almost 10 years - and I have to say I totally agree with you.
Chuck this lot out, get some home grown talent for half the price and invest in the youth and the college games.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow | 11 June 2011 at 17:39
Agree USAR management needs to change. The current Collegiate All-Star structure adds no value. Rep teams need to play together for more than a few games. Should be replaced with territorial U-25 academy teams consiting of high perfomance camps and multi-week competitions. Top U-19 players can also participate. This would need to be player(parent) and club financed until it is legit enough to get sponsors.
Posted by: Sevens | 11 June 2011 at 20:20