It is hard to believe that a game between teams ranked 18th and 19th in the competition could capture the imagination, but this one has.
USA v Russia is one of those grudge matches that titillates the senses. I saw a superb documentary at this year's film festival about the 1972 rivalry between American Bobby Fischer and Russian Boris Spassky. They were playing chess, and their series played out before a global audience of millions. People crowded around outside window displays of TV shops in the States to glimpse at the action in Iceland.
This has to have something to do with the enmity between these two nations. This is sure to be continued tonight, and New Plymouth is as unlikely a venue for shenanigans between these two superpowers as Reykjavik was back in the 70s.
The Americans have to be favourites. Off the back of their stalwart efforts against Ireland on the weekend, they played a whole lot better than a team ranked 18th and will want to build from this tonight. Also the Eagles have won the last 3 encounters with the Russian Bears, so maybe it will be a tough night for them.
Curiously New Zealand Prime Minister John Key is at the game. Is there no end to his brown nosing of the Americans? Hopefully for the crowd he doesn't do a Letterman top 10 at half time.
Kick off, and the Russians quickly live up to their name. The rush with the ball and they employ rush defence to surprise the Americans and the crowd. Their early dominance results in a 3 pointer to Yury Kushnarev. 3-0 Russia after 3 minutes.
The Bears must have been sitting in their hotel drinking Vodka and eating raw elk steaks while waiting the 6 days from the start of the tournament to play, because they are fired up like you wouldn't believe.
Despite the Russian fire, the Eagles begin to work their way back into the game, and gain enough field position to earn a penalty of their own. Chris Wyles knocks it over to tie the scores at 3 apiece.
Maybe the Russians have gone out too hard because from the 15 minute mark on, the Eagles begin to totally dominate the game. They prove irresistible, as a neat movement sweeps up the left with a final pass dished to little halfback Mike Petri who crosses under the sticks to bag a 7 pointer. 10-3 USA.
USA look very good all over the park. Their forwards and backs both have the edge on the Russians. Particularly impressive are the Suniula brothers who form a formidable first and second five combo and are breaking the advantage line with ease. The only low point of the evening thus far is the moronic "USA USA USA" chant that accompanies the many good deeds of the Eagles, although I guess a Hurricanes supporter doesn't have any right to complain about moronic chants.
The Americans don't seem able to convert the pressure and field position into a big points advantage. The teams head to the break 7 points apart, and if the Bears can get their tails up in the second half they'll have a good crack at a surprise victory.
A torrential downpour at halftime threatens to dampen proceedings, but neither the crowd's spirit, nor the quality of the footy suffers after the break. The Ruskie's look good for the first few minutes, but the Eagles regain their composure and begin to dominate. The teams, if anything, go harder in the slippery conditions, and neither seem to alter their tactics. The Yanks are game to have a crack from anywhere.
By the 60 minute mark the score remains 10-3 despite everyone's endeavours. But this isn't rubbish lacklustre footy like last night's snore fest between Scotland and Georgia - it is genuine entertainment.
Then at 64 minutes Chris Wyles bags 3 more points for the Eagles from a penalty. Hard to see the Bears bridging a 10 point gap right now - they seem to be pretty pooped. 13-3 USA.
The Russians dig deep and press the American resources, and as the Bears start to front up, American tempers begin to fray. The Russians ain't going down without a fight, and the fight earns them a penalty. Silly play by the Eagles, if Russia can slot this they'll be within striking distance. Alas the easy kick is missed. 8 minutes to play and the margin is still 10 points.
Big American lock John Van Der Giessen does his team a huge service with 5 minutes to play by stealing a Bears throw on his own goal line. Not surprising that America aren't short of heroes - it is part of their mindset, as demonstrated by the crazy Superhero American fans in the crowd..
Surprisingly the Bears swap kickers and bag a 3 point penalty to Konstantin Rachklov with just 3 minutes to play. 13-6. It is all on! This would be an amazing result if the Russians can score a converted try to draw.
It isn't to be. The Bears for all their spirit lacked the necessary execution to get a result. At least they will get a bonus point for finishing within 7. The Americans worthy victors.
Good game of footy alright.
Final score 6 - 13
12 games 55 tries.
Tweet of the match- "world politics can learn a lot from rugby; beat each other up for 80 mintes, then shake hands and move on." @bbann230
That was the tournament's 12th game - the tournament is now 25% over.
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