Rugby, Scotland versus the USA

Those three tries in the opening 13 minutes of the half took the wind (and the belief) right out of USA. There was a change in personnel, which helped, but they were devastating with the ball in hand. With maximum points and sitting three points clear at the top of Pool B after two matches, they should be happy with their lot, particularly as they only had that four-day rest period between today and their opener against Japan. USA faded badly. Fitness, or lack thereof, told and they weren’t able to capitalise on Scotland’s ill-discipline as they were able to do in the first half. There are definitely positives to take out of this game. Samu Manoa was excellent in defence – USA turned the ball over seven times by my reckoning – and Seamus Kelly, who plays for San Francisco Golden Gate RFC – had an excellent game at outside centre. Their physicality was thrilling, but sadly that was what was lacking in the second half. (Mirror)