Tokyo 7's Update: Day 1 Review

It's really hard to judge how a team played if you weren't able to see it. One of the worst things about following the IRB Sevens World Series in America is that it is extremely hard to find footage of the matches. So if you can find highlights, please put a link into the comments. So, without much analysis, here is how Day 1 went for the Eagles:

New Zealand 26-5 U.S.A.

Can only losing by 21 be a good result for the Eagles? When it is against New Zealand it certainly can be. Tries by Tomasi Cama and Ardie Savea gave the Kiwi's a 14-0 halftime lead. New Zealand scored another try on the other side of halftime before a Mike Palefau try put the Eagles on the board. Charles Piatau scored the final try of the match. Last week the Eagles lost 29-5, so at least the team improved by 3 points.

Australia 15-0 U.S.A.

I predicted that the U.S. would pull off the upset against Australia for a place in the Cup Quarterfinal. I guess I was wrong, but the Eagles were still competitive. The Australians scored two tries in the first half and another in the second for the win.

U.S.A. 21-19 Hong Kong

The U.S. needed a last minute try by Rocco Mauer to avoid an upset loss to Hong Kong. Whether it was the disappointment of knowing they were going to miss the Cup Quarterfinals, or whether it was a simple underestimation of the opponent, the Eagles came out extremely flat against Hong Kong. They were down 12-0 at halftime and looked to be out of it. Tries by Zack Test and Andrew Durutalo scored a try apiece and Tai Enosa had two conversions to give the Eagles a lead. It was short lived however, as Hong Kong quickly scored another try and it looked like the Eagles would lose until Mauer scored his try. According to head coach Alex Magleby, the decision-making was poor and the U.S. committed far too many turnovers.

Day 2 Look Ahead:

The Eagles take on Kenya tomorrow in the Bowl Quarterfinals. Kenya went winless on with losses to Wales, Argentina, and Russia. Kenya is a tough team and could be a handful for the Eagles. Hopefully the Eagles will be ready to get revenge for last week's loss to Kenya in the Bowl final. The match kick's off at 9:06 p.m. et/6:06 p.m. pt (hopefully it's online somewhere).

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and USA rugby related news in one location.

Eagles/7's:

The U.S. went 1-2 on the first day of the Tokyo 7's. The lost to New Zealand and Australia, but beat Hong Kong. They play Kenya on day 2.

Former U.S.A. head coach Eddie O'Sullivan is anxious to get back into coaching.

Youth:

The High School All-Americans had their run in the Rosslyn Park Sevens come to an end in the round of 16.

Club:

Some players from the Utah Warriors are trying to still get into the DI playoffs, but may have difficulty doing so. (Membership required)

Old Puget Sound Beach begins their Super League season today and they are thinking only one thing: a championship. (Membership required)

Old Blue take on Life today, and they are hungry for a win.

Here are the rosters for the Rugby Super League this weekend.

College:

The DI-A has signed a sponsorship deal with the U.S. Marine Corps. Check out the details of the deal here.

BYU defeated Arizona 80-8 in Provo last night in front of a good crowd.

Pat Clifton points out that there aren't too many DI-AA college rugby games this weekend, but the games that are being played are big.

Tokyo 7's Update: New Zealand 26-5 U.S.A.

The United States lost their first match of the Tokyo 7's 21-5 to New Zealand, but it was closer than it could have been and should give the Eagles confidence throughout the rest of the tournament. Tomasi Cama scored one try and picked up three conversions while Ardie Savea, Bryce Heem, and Charles Piatau all picked up tries for the All-Blacks. Mike Palefau was able to score for the Eagles.

Up next is Australia at 12:57 a.m. et/9:57 p.m. pt.

Rugby Weekend: Your Commentary

European action, 7's, Rugby Super League. Talk about it here.

T.V. Listings:

*Here are the times for Super Rugby this weekend. All matches are on DirectTV.

Friday

• Leicester vs. Worcester, 2:40 p.m. et/11:40 a.m. pt (live on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Ulster vs. Aironi, 5:00 p.m. et/2:00 p.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)

Saturday

• Tokyo 7's (see Universal Sports for details)
• Biarritz vs. Clermont, 8:00 a.m. et/5:00 a.m. pt (ESPN3.com)
• Old Blue vs. Dallas, 12:00 p.m. et/9:00 a.m. pt (Rugby Super League Network, click for a link to the match)
• Denver Barbarians vs. San Francisco Golden Gate, 1:00 a.m. et/10:00 a.m. pt (Rugby Super League Network)
• Boston vs. Life, 1:00 p.m. et/10:00 q.m. pt (Rugby Super League Network)
• Chicago Griffins vs. Old Puget Sound Beach, 1:00 p.m. et/10:00 a.m. pt (Rugby Super League Network)
• Saracens vs. Harlequins, 9:00 p.m. et/6:00 p.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Bath vs. Northampton, 11:00 p.m. et/8:00 p.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)

Sunday

• Munster vs. Leinster, 8:00 p.m. et/5:00 p.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)

Tokyo 7's: U.S.A. Eagles Preview

As we talked about last week, the U.S. Men's Sevens team didn't have a great week results wise in Hong Kong, but their play was better. They were more confident, took better care of the ball, and looked more dangerous on offense. As the Eagles head into Tokyo this weekend for the seventh stop of the IRB Sevens Series, they will need to build on those positives, and fix some holes on defense, if they are to get better results. One positive for the team is that unlike last week when the top 12 teams were all paired with each other, this week sees the return to the regular format.

Personnel wise, the injured Nick Edwards has been replaced by Maka Unufe who said home from Hong Kong for personal reasons. Other than that change, the team remains intact from last week. However, who appears in the starting lineup might be another story. Andrew Durutalo and Rocco Mauer both showed well last week and could earn more time this week. Mauer was particularly impressive; showing speed and defense in his first IRB Sevens Series appearance. That type of effort is exactly what the Eagles are going to need if they want to have success in Tokyo. Regulars Colin Hawley, Zack Test, Mike Palefau, and Shalom Suniula will all lead the way with Mark Bokhoven, Peter Tiberio, and Folau Niua offering support. Tai Enosa and Nu'u Punimata will also look to build off their solid performances last week and make a case for a larger role on the team.

The first thing the Eagles need to do to be successful in Tokyo is get better defensively. It seems that this season the team has taken a step backwards on the defensive end. Whether it is a lack of experience or something else, the team was often caught flat-footed and out of position last week. They will not be able to do that again and come out with a result they would like. Turnovers have been reduced but still need to be reduced further.

The Eagles have always seemed to play better in the second-leg of a pair of tournaments and hopefully that is true in Tokyo as well. It will be hard however, as the team is set to play New Zealand, Australia, and Hong Kong.

The Matches-

New Zealand vs. United States, 9:00 p.m. et/6:00 p.m. pt

Lucky team! The first match of the Day 1 sees the Eagles play a rematch of last weekend's opening fixture against New Zealand. Last week it wasn't so much the Eagles playing poorly as it was the All-Blacks playing really well. Expect more of the same this week. They are not the top team on the circuit out of sheer luck. They know how to win. If the Eagles can stay competitive, they may be able to gain confidence of the rest of the matches.

Australia vs. United States, 12:57 a.m. et/9:57 p.m. pt

Can the U.S. beat Australia? It is certainly possibly but not likely. Australia is a hard team to gauge in 7's rugby. Sometimes they are spectacular and can beat any team in the world, and at other times they struggle and end up in the Bowl competition. Remember, it was only in Las Vegas that the Eagles played a very close match against the Aussies, and the U.S. wasn't even playing particularly well at the tournament (neither was Australia). The point is that they are beatable. If the U.S. gains confidence and can retain possession of the ball, they may be able to do it. It will be hard, but the upset is certainly there for the taking.

United States vs. Hong Kong, 3:35 a.m et/12:35 p.m pt

The U.S. shouldn't take Hong Kong lightly in this match, but the U.S. should still be expected to win easily. In a sense, it is good that this match is last in the day. The team should be on top of its game and after a possible two losses (let's hope not), will be motivated to take on a weaker Hong Kong team. If they were to pull out a big victory it might go a long way into giving them confidence on Day 2.

Predictions-

The U.S. team is ready to make a breakthrough. They performed well, but not spectacular, last week in Hong Kong, but this week may be the week they do something great. It seems that once a year the team has a huge tournament that saves their season points wise. This tournament is it. The Eagles will likely lose to New Zealand, but will pick up a surprise win over Australia and an expected win over Hong Kong, giving them a place in the Cup Quarterfinals. There, they will make the Plate final. Alex Magleby has his players playing confidently and it will come through this weekend in big performances from Shalom Suniula, Mark Bokhoven, and Zack Test.

Eagles Abroad: Weekend Preview & TV Listings

It's getting close the end of the season for many teams and the push for a championship begins now. Check out the Americans in action this week:

British Isles/Ireland:

Aviva Premiership

Chris Wyles, Hayden Smith and Saracens will play the Harlequins in front of a massive crowd at Wembley stadium on Saturday.

Samu Manoa, Chris Biller, and Northampton play Bath on Saturday. Biller will not play his former team however, as he is in the Wanderers side that will take on VVA-Podmoskovye on Saturday.

Paul Emerick and London Wasps take on Gloucester on Sunday.

RFU Championship

Andrew Suniula is in the starting lineup once again for the Cornish Pirates as they play Rotherham in round 4 of the RFU Championship playoffs.

Robbie Shaw, Mike MacDonald and Leeds play Bedford on Saturday. MacDonald has returned from injury and could see action.

Shawn Pittman and London Welsh play Doncaster on Saturday.

RaboDirect Pro 12

Tommy Seymour will start for the Glasgow Warriors as they play Cardiff at home today.

Hanno Dirksen and the Ospreys play Benetton Treviso on Saturday.

U.S.-eligible Callum Black is not in the lineup as Ulster are at home to Aironi today.

Other

Tim Usasz will coach his Barking side against Cinderford on Saturday.

France:

Top 14

Taku Ngwenya and Biarritz play Clermont on Saturday.

Scott LaValla and Stade Francais play Toulouse on Saturday.

Seta Tuilevuka and Montpellier play Agen on Saturday.

Pro D2

Inaki Basauri and Perigueux play Beziers on Sunday.

South Africa

Vodacom Cup

J.J. Gagiano and the Golden Lions play the Griffons on Saturday.

T.V. Listings:

*Here are the times for Super Rugby this weekend. All matches are on DirectTV.

Friday

• Leicester vs. Worcester, 2:40 p.m. et/11:40 a.m. pt (live on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Ulster vs. Aironi, 5:00 p.m. et/2:00 p.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)

Saturday

• Tokyo 7's (see Universal Sports for details)
• Biarritz vs. Clermont, 8:00 a.m. et/5:00 a.m. pt (ESPN3.com)
• Old Blue vs. Dallas, 12:00 p.m. et/9:00 a.m. pt (Rugby Super League Network, click for a link to the match)
• Denver Barbarians vs. San Francisco Golden Gate, 1:00 a.m. et/10:00 a.m. pt (Rugby Super League Network)
• Boston vs. Life, 1:00 p.m. et/10:00 q.m. pt (Rugby Super League Network)
• Chicago Griffins vs. Old Puget Sound Beach, 1:00 p.m. et/10:00 a.m. pt (Rugby Super League Network)
• Saracens vs. Harlequins, 9:00 p.m. et/6:00 p.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Bath vs. Northampton, 11:00 p.m. et/8:00 p.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)

Sunday

• Munster vs. Leinster, 8:00 p.m. et/5:00 p.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and USA rugby related news in one location.

High Scholl All-Americans:

The High School All-Americans had a terrific day at the Rosslyn Park Sevens after going 5-0 on the day and looking good in the process.

Nigel Melville comments on the big day for the All-Americans. Eagles Paul Emerick stopped by to give the boys a pep talk.

Eagles/7's:

It looks like there will be more opportunity for Samu Manoa at Northampton after Calum Clark was banned for 32 weeks.

Mike MacDonald has recovered from a broken wrist and is set to return for Leeds this weekend.

Last year Thretton Palamo was a running back for the University of Utah football team. This year, he's trying his hand at defense.

Women:

Qualification for the 2014 Women's World Cup is detailed in this article on Scrumhalf Connection.

Jackie Finlan takes a look at the busy weekend ahead in women's college rugby.

Club:

Boston head coach Mike Diamantopolous says his team needs to play better if they want to pick up their first win of the season. (Membership required)

The Glendale Raptors will take on the Albuquerque Aardvarks this weekend at Infinity Park.

College:

The CRC is quickly approaching and Pat Clifton looks at the tournament's success at breeding future Eagles during its short existence. Discount tickets to the event are still available.

It turns out there is more to the UC-Irvine eligibility story. The Anteaters coach purposely withheld the eligibility ruling from other teams. Pat Clifton comments on the coach's actions.

The Life Undergrads have had a terrific season, but they still want more. (Membership required)

Tidbits:

Lawrence Dallaglio was in Mexico to watch the home team defeat Jamaica in the first match of World Cup Qualifying and gives his thoughts.

Todd Clever Stays in Japan, Update on Americans Overseas, and Thoughts on HSAA and NACRA 7's

So yesterday my big piece about the choices Todd Clever had regarding his future was published over at RugbyRugby. Then what happens? About 8 hours later he makes his decision. Seriously Todd, at least let people contemplate your future before you get proactive about it. What are you, responsible?

In all seriousness, Clever's decision to remain is Japan is a good choice. He will be one of the stars of his team, the pay is good, the quality is constantly increasing, and his body will hold up fairly well. Moving to NTT will mean that he will miss the luxuries of being on a star-studded team like Suntory, but after winning championships, it is time for Clever to help a new team to silverware. Best of luck to Todd!

Americans Overseas and Eagles Eligibility 

Some of you have previously asked about some other overseas players and what is their current status. So here is a run-down of some players that have or haven't been in the news.

Seta Tuilevuka- Seta has had an injury plagued season that began before the World Cup. After a stellar season for Montpellier last year, Seta injured himself and had to withdraw from World Cup consideration. After being out a long time, it looked like Seta was on his way to recovery a couple of months ago, even appearing in a reserve match. However, he injured himself again and has been out of action for awhile. At this point, it is likely that Montpellier has shut him down for the season. It may be until next season that Seta returns to the pitch (unless he can suit up for the Eagles this Summer).

Hayden Smith- Unfortunately, there is no news on whether he will sign with an NFL team. Smith is pretty tight-lipped about the situation. When something happens, we will let you know.

Tommy Seymour and Hanno Dirksen- Both players remain eligible for the Eagles. However, both have not committed to the Eagles. Dirksen has even gone on to saw that he would be willing to play for Wales. A year ago that might have been a possibility, but with the hot streak the Welsh team has right now you have to wonder if there is still an opportunity for him. I am naturally biased and want Dirksen to be an Eagle, but if a year passes and he hasn't seen a look from Wales, you'd have to wonder if he might think about playing for the U.S. The same is true for Seymour. Injuries have curtailed his first season at Glasgow but when he has played he has been terrific. The poor form of Scotland could lead to a call-up. Fortunately for the Eagles, the wings are one of the positions that they have the most depth.

Callum Black- Black is player that was born in the U.S. but raised in England and is Irish-eligible. He plays for Ulster and has been capped at the youth level for Ireland. It's not clear if that means he is not eligible to play for the Eagles (a little help readers) but if he is, he might make a solid addition to a front row that could use some young depth.

A Couple of Notes on 7's:

The Rosslyn Park National School Sevens are this weekend and the High School All-Americans will get a chance to go up against some of the best 7's teams in the world. The team will play Welsh team Ysgol Dyffryn Taf, French team Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulee, Nottingham H.S. and King Edward VI Grammar School. Hopefully the team can do well and can some valuable experience. It is exactly this kind of experience all teams in the U.S. need.

It was also announced yesterday that the NACRA 7's, which double as the qualifier for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens, will be held in August of this year in Ottawa. The press release did not announce the U.S. as participating in the men's and women's tournament. It is unclear if their omission is an indicator of their already qualifying for RWC Sevens but let's hope so. Still, any chance to play in a tournament that is so close to the U.S. is a great opportunity. It would be a shame if NACRA refused to let the Eagles play.

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and USA rugby related news in one location.

Eagles/7's:

Todd Clever is staying in Japan after signing with the NTT Shining Arcs. It's a good thing I wrote this piece about 8 hours before he made his decision.

Mike Petri informs us of his latest drug test in his newest post at rugbyrugby.

U.S.A. 7's head coach Alex Magleby has outlined some areas from improvement heading into Tokyo this weekend. (Membership required)

The 2012 NACRA 7's, which serves as a qualifier for the 2013 Sevens RWC will be held in Ottawa in August. It's not confirmed but it seems the U.S. has automatically qualified for Moscow.

The teams have been set for Glasgow leg of the IRB Sevens Series.

The latest Ruggamatrix podcast is out. OPSB coach Evan Haigh and Arkansas St. coach Matt Huckaby join the show.

The latest edition of Rugby Magazine is also out for members.

Saracens have completed another step in their quest to secure a stadium.

Youth:

England legend Ben Gollings took the time to speak with the All-American 7's team ahead of this weekend's Rosslyn Park Sevens.

Women:

Vanesha McGee and the rest of the women's squad have returned to California. McGee gives an update on their status.

The Pacific Coast Grizzlies will be hosting tryouts next month for all interested players.

College:

What could possibly make training more fun? The answer is obviously nuns and that is exactly what Franciscan University did.

Cody Secker takes a look at the playoff picture in the Pacific Northwest.

Here are the highlights of St. Mary's victory over Central Washington this last weekend.

Todd Clever Joins NTT Shining Arcs

Todd Clever will stay in Japan after signing for Top League club NTT Shining Arcs. The Eagles captain made the announcement on his website. The terms of the deal were not announced.

Clever spent the last two years in Japan with Suntory Sungoliath, winning two All-Japan Rugby Championships and a Top League title in that span. His move to the Chiba-based NTT will see him joining a side that achieved promotion to the Top League for the 2010-11 season. Their two seasons in the league have seen them finish in 13th and 9th place.

Clever is joined by fellow notable Darren Murphy and Issac Ross. It is assumed Clever will join his team for the Spring cup competition.

Checking in on the Super League

If this were last year, the U.S. Rugby Super League would be halfway through the season. Fortunately for everyone involved, it isn't even halfway! So, who's been good so far? Have there been any new revelations that could make a case for Mike Tolkin's domestic camp in June?

The Blue (East) Conference:

Leading the league after three rounds is NYAC with three impressive wins over Old Blue, Dallas, and Boston. Life is close behind them with two wins over Dallas and Old Blue. Old Blue beat Boston to pick up a win while Dallas and Boston have yet to pick up a victory. Because the season is so young it doesn't mean that any team is out of the race yet, but NYAC and Life definitely seem to be the class of the East.

Mike Petri and Lou Stanfill have shown why they are nearly automatic selections for the Eagles by delivering one stellar performance after another. The fact that they are running through the East is hardly a surprise. Life on the other hand, has surprised in their success after losing key players Pat Danahy, Phil Thiel, and Paul Emerick. Tui Osborne has been fantastic while additions like Benji Goff have paid dividends for the Eagles. All eyes should be on April 14th when Life travels to NYAC in what could be a potential decider.

Arguably the biggest surprise in the league has been Old Blue. After having a pretty poor season last year, Old Blue have recharged and found a gem in Kiwi Ashley Moeke. Moeke has been a terrific playmaker and solid with the boot as well. If he continues to play well, he may get looks in Eagles camp if he becomes eligible. Moeke may not be enough to put Old Blue into the playoffs, but he certainly has helped them stay competitive.

Dallas and Boston are winless and have had a tough time with the top teams in the conference. Boston seems to be struggling with the loss of key players like Roland Suniula. Head coach Mike Diamantopolous will have his hands full if he wants to make a push for the playoffs. One interesting player on Boston's squad is Sean Traecy, a former Eagle.

Dallas have a young team that could be terrific in a few years, but for now will struggle to get results this season.

The Red (West) Conference:

The West belongs to San Francisco Golden Gate. SFGG has shown why they have been consistenly one of the best teams in country. They have dealt with the losses of Chris Biller, Folau Niua, Samu Manoa, and Danny LaPrevotte by showing that they have the depth to compete with anyone. John Thomas, Volney Rouse, and Tevita Okusi have been solid and could earn a look from Tolkin in June.

The Chicago Griffins have shown that they are a much improved side. Additions like Tim Paulsen and Roland Suniula have give the Griffins some bit they lacked in years past. Paulsen spent the fall with the Sale Jets in the Aviva 'A' League. Their attack is more organized and they are putting up points when they previously wouldn't have. The Griffins picked up a big win in Denver but then had a tough ask against SFGG. With the demise of the Warriors, the Griffins could easily challenge for a playoff spot. Of course that depends on how Old Puget Sound Beach plays.

Because the Warriors dropped out, OPSB has been in the unusual situation of not having played a match so far. (Their win come from a Warriors forfeit.) They are certainly loaded. Pate Tuilevuka is a big presence in the back and players like Andrew Durutalo, Miles Craigwell, and Nu'u Punimata could make for an experienced team. The biggest question for OPSB is whether those players will be around. None of them (Craigwell is injured) will be around this weekend as they play the Griffins. If OPSB is able to win the match, then the west could be down to two teams: OPSB and SFGG.

Denver have picked up a win via forfeit and a loss at home to the Griffins. The Barbarians are in a bit of a transition. They have lost several players to the Glendale Raptors and have had to rely on a mixture of younger players and old hands. The team has recently gained a major sponsor but the changes may have to wait for another year.

Standings:

Blue (East) Conference-

NYAC 3-0 15pts

Life 2-0 9pts

Old Blue 1-2 6 pts

Dallas 0-2 0pts

Boston 0-2 0pts

Red (West) Conference-

SFGG 2-0 1opts

Denver Barbarians 1-1 6pts

OPSB 1-0 5pts

Chicago Griffins 1-1 5pts

*The Utah Warriors forfeited all their matches. That is why OPSB has five points despite not playing a match.

There hasn't been any news from the Warriors since their dismissal. It seems that all the bluster on their facebook has not led to action. Could the situation have been handled better on both sides? Absolutely, but the fact remains that the Warriors knew they need to be compliant. Hopefully this doesn't deter the Super League from going after teams with a similar structure to the Warriors or placing a team in Utah.

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and USA rugby related news in one location.

Eagles/7's:

If you know of someone that should be nominated to play for the Eagles, now is your chance. All you have to do is fill out this form.

Grand Prix Rugby have announced the Home Depot Center in Carson, California as they championship venue.

Grand Prix will be pro 7's, and along that vein, Gainline looks at the possibility of 7's crowding out 15's.

Club:

Week three of the Rugby Super League is in the books. In case you don't know, here is how the action went down.

SFGG legend and former U.S.A. 7's captain Jone Naciqa is happy to be back after a long injury layoff.

Rugbymag has the latest DI standings, and a look at the muddy DI playoff picture.

College:

Texas claimed the Southwest title after some members of the team survived a roll-over accident.

Army defeated Kutztown this weekend, and now there is the video to prove it.

UC-Irvine was forced to forfeit two matches for fielding an ineligible player. Rugbymag explains the strange circumstances surrounding the decision.

The Marquette Tribune takes a good look at their rugby team as they kick off the Spring season.

Serevi Rugby have announced their camp for elite male players this June in San Diego. Last year the camp attracted several All-Americans.

Tidbits:

Alex Goff has a great piece how referees in the U.S. are trying to improve and keep up with the game.

Kimball Kjar, on his latest post for rugbyrugby, looks at momentum killers and how they can be avoided.

Fitness guru Aaron Manheimer gives instructions on how to have an at-home workout. (Membership required)

Colorado Rugby have named Mike Mangan and Alan Wilson as select side youth coaches.

Opportunity Knocks for the Eagles

Eagles head coach Mike Tolkin recently announced that he would be holding a domestic camp from May 30th to June 2nd 2012 at West Point. This follows the announcement that the Super League has changed it's playoff dates to accommodate the Eagles test matches on June 9th and 16th. The camp will be short and some of the players may be unavailable because of their participation in the Super League final but it still represents an opportunity for some of the fringe players to make their mark.

These domestic camps are a terrific idea. One of the biggest things the U.S. lacks is training time together. The sheer size of our country makes it difficult, and expensive, for players to travel to either the East or the West coast. Hopefully, this camp is the start of a wider trend of holding camps on both coasts. Why not spread the net wide? Mike Tolkin should be commended for his efforts to get this camp together.

The May domestic assembly will be the first time any form of the Eagles 15's team will have been together since the World Cup. So in a way, this kicks off the road to the next World Cup for the Eagles. The players identified in this camp could be on the team in 2015. If there is a man that can identify domestic talent, it is Tolkin. I trust that he will pick the right camp.

An additional opportunity (or two) exists for Eagles and this domestic camp. I've previously written that the Eagles should take advantage of these assemblies to play a nation like Mexico (if the match was in San Diego). It wouldn't be the toughest match, but it would certainly be a good opportunity to see how players perform in a match. This assembly may come at the wrong time to make that happen, but in the future it is something that could work.

Another idea that could result in more time in camp for potential Eagles and improve the number of matches they play is to form an East and a West All-Star teams that play a home and away series, or a one-off test, against each other every year. Tolkin would have the opportunity to examine the best teams on each coast and then could see how those players play against their direct competition. It certainly wouldn't be cheap, but it might be the kind of investment U.S.A. Rugby should make to grow the Eagles player pool.

Poll Tuesday: The Eagles Head to Tokyo

The Hong Kong leg of the IRB Sevens Series wrapped up with the Eagles going 1-4 and finishing as Bowl runners-up. It wasn't exactly the performance the team and head coach Alex Magleby would have liked but it was certainly an improvement over previous efforts this year. So how did you do in your predictions last week?

The winner with the most votes was an appearance in the Bowl with 35% of the vote. Congratulations folks, you got it right! The next highest total was Bowl Semi-final with 28% of the vote, followed by Plate Semi-finals with 25%. Coming up last was the 7% of optimists out there that thought the Eagles would win the Cup while 3% thought they would make the Cup Semi-finals.

So now that you have seen this team play in a tournament, it is time for your to take your adjustments and make a new guess. How do you think the Eagles will do in Tokyo? Vote and then comment.

Cup

Cup Semi-finals

Plate

Plate Semi-finals

Bowl

Bowl Semi-finals

Shield

Shield Semi-finals

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and USA rugby related news in one location.

Eagles/7's:

Nick Edwards has been forced out of Tokyo with an injury. He will be replaced by Maka Unufe. (Membership required)

Alex Magleby says the decision not to go for a drop goal at the end of the Bowl final was no mistake.

Every U.S.A. Eagles fan needs to get out and vote for Mark Sanchez to train with the team.

Chris Biller started and got a run out with the Northampton Wanderers yesterday as they lost to the Worcester Cavaliers in Aviva 'A' League play.

Could 7's be surpassing 15's in terms of world profile? This article seems to suggest that it could happen.

Women:

The Women's 7's team played well in Hong Kong, but they'll be the first to admit that they have a ways to go before they are satisfied.

Miranda Kaufman, writing at Your Scrumhalf Connection has a great article on why more women should play rugby.

Club:

The Glendale Raptors continue to roll after defeating the Denver Highlanders 69-3.

College:

Dartmouth picked up another win against the Cayman Islands to wrap up their trip to the Caribbean.

Wisconsin are gearing up for a busy Spring with a push to the DI-AA playoffs and the CRC.

Youth:

According to this report, U.S.A. Rugby is considering sending a U-19 team to the NACRA Tournament this July.

Eagles Abroad: Weekend Review

Try time! At least that was the case for three Americans this weekend as Eagles backs Chris Wyles and Zee Ngwenya picked up tries. Eagles-eligible Tommy Seymour also picked up a big try. Here is how things went down this week:

British Isles/Ireland:

Aviva Premiership

Paul Emerick came on early in the first half for London Wasps and played 63 minutes as the Wasps lost 15-32 to Northampton on Saturday. Neither Samu Manoa nor Chris Biller dressed for the Saints.

Chris Wyles started, played 80 minutes, and scored a try as Saracens ran all over Sale 45-9. Hayden Smith was not in the lineup for the Saracens.

RFU Championship

Andrew Suniula started and played 80 minutes for the Cornish Pirates as they beat Rotherham 25-17 on Sunday in the RFU Championship playoffs. Halfway through the playoffs, the Pirates are 5 points behind Bedford in Group 2.

Robbie Shaw was on the bench but did not play and Mike MacDonald sat out injured as Leeds drew 24-24 against Bedford on Sunday. Leeds are in third place in Group 2 with five points.

Shawn Pittman came off the bench and played the last seven minutes for London Welsh as they beat Doncaster 34-24 on Saturday. The Exiles are in second place in Group 1, only one point behind Bristol.

RaboDirect Pro 12

Tommy Seymour started, played 80 minutes, and scored a try for Glasgow Warriors as they beat Aironi 29-6 last Friday.

Hanno Dirksen started and played the full match for the Ospreys as they picked up a bit 22-23 victory over Leinster on Friday.

Other

Derek Asburn, Jason Law and Oxford have finished their season.

Tim Usasz and his Barking side lost 39-18 to Cinderford on Saturday.

France:

Top 14

Taku Ngwenya is on a scoring streak as he started, played 80 minutes, and picked up a try as Biarritz beat Lyon 34-17 on Saturday.

Scott LaValla came on in the second half and played the last 14 mintues of Stade Francais's big 53-27 win over Agen on Saturday.

Seta Tuilevuka didn't dress for Montpellier as they lost to Castres 27-18 on Saturday.

Pro D2

Inaki Basauri and Perigueux had the weekend off.

South Africa

Vodacom Cup

J.J. Gagiano start and went 60 minutes for the Golden Lions as they lost to the Blue Bulls 39-10 on Saturday.

Hong Kong 7's Update: Women's Eagles Recap

The Women Eagles went into Hong Kong looking to show the results of three months in residency. After making the final in Las Vegas, the Eagles were going to face a more difficult challenge in Hong Kong. Powerhouses Australia and England were looking to show their dominance after missing out in Vegas.

The Matches-

Spain 5-8 United States

With only three teams in each pool, only the winners would advance to the Cup Semi-finals. The U.S. were in a pool with Spain and Tunisia. With all due respect to Tunisia, Spain was going to be the main competition for the Eagles to get out of the pool. The match didn't start well for the Eagles as Spain got on the board quickly. The Eagles looked to be a little lethargic and had trouble getting their offense going. That was until Vanesha McGee ran down the for a try. It was a much needed try that seemed to get the teams going. The Americans kept the Eagles on the back foot and that eventually led to a led penalty that put the Americans up 8 to 5.

Tunisia 0-20 United States

The Eagles came out against Tunisia and put in a solid if unspectacular effort against Tunisia. Spain was able to run up a bigger score against the Tunisians, which is a little troubling for the Eagles, but in the end, a result is a result. The wins against Tunisia and Spain meant that the Eagles would play Australia in the Cup Semi-finals.

Australia 33-0 United States

The Cup Semi-finals saw Canada matched up with England and Australia against the Eagles. Australia and England were looking to show that they were the best in the world and they took it to the North Americans. The Eagles were on the back foot from the start. The Australians were more aggressive and it paid off with a couple of early tries. No matter what the Eagles tried to do, it wasn't enough. Eventually, the U.S. lost 33-0.

Analysis-

It is really hard to evaluate where the Eagles stand after this tournament. You would expect that an IRB sponsored tournament would have more than three matches for most teams. I can see the need to include more than eight teams, but if that means the teams play less matches, that doesn't seem right. One possible solution would have been for teams to play a match against a team in another pool but it didn't happen. Also, the lack video coverage was disappointing. It's hard to evaluate specific players if there is no footage of the matches.

Still, making the Cup Semi-finals is a good accomplishment for the team. Spain are no pushovers but they are still a team the Eagles are expected to beat. Doing what was expected is a very good sign. If this were the Olympics, the U.S. would have had a chance to medal, which is an excellent sign. Going down to Australia the way they did isn't a good sign. That is the nest step for the Eagles.

Overall, it was a steady performance for the Eagles. Next up for the team is London in May.

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and USA rugby related news in one location.

Eagles/7's:

The Hong Kong 7's are a wrap with the Eagles having an exciting final day. After beating Scotland, they narrowly lost to Kenya in the Bowl Final.

For those who missed it, the Eagles played better but still came out winless in the pool stage.

Here is our wrap-up and analysis of the Eagles performance.

Nigel Melville gives his take on the men's and women's weekend performance.

The pools for Tokyo have been announced with the Eagles playing New Zealand, Australia, and Hong Kong.

The U.S. are still 13th in the Sevens Series standings but making it to the Bowl final put them within reach of 10th place.

Alex Goff gives his assessment of the Eagles and who he thought played well in the tournament. (Membership required)

Goff also examined the situation with Cal and the recent court settlement for U.S.A. Rugby. (Membership required)

Three territorial unions in New York will be joining together to create a geographical union.

Neighbours Canada have joined Spain and Portugal as core members of the Sevens Series for next year.

Qualifying for the 2015 Rugby World Cup is underway as Mexico won big over Jamaica.

Gavin Hickie looks at how the front row all should work effectively together. (Membership required)

Some youth rugby players from America got their chance to show their skills in New Zealand recently.

Women:

The Women Eagles had an up and down tournament in Hong Kong. They beat Spain and Tunisia in pool play only to lose to Australia in the Cup Semi-finals.

Phaidra Knight tracked down Kelly White for an interview.

The University of Texas women have qualified for the South Final Four and the MARFU DI and DII playoffs are set.

Club:

In the Super League, Life picked up a big 27-25 win over Old Blue to stay close to NYAC in the East.

San Francisco Golden Gate traveled to Chicago to face the Griffins and came away with a 44-16 victory.

NYAC ran up a big 51-14 score over Boston to improve to 3-0.

In NorCal, the Sacramento Lions and East Palo Alto Bulldogs remain undefeated after picking up big wins over the weekend.

Rugbymag has the latest DI standings.

College:

Cal beat the University of British Columbia in Vancouver 46-20 over the weekend to sweep the season series against the Thunderbirds.

St. Mary's clinched the DI-A Pacific Conference after shutting out Central Washington and Penn State beat Navy 22-6 in a Rugby East battle. Air Force beat Colorado in a shootout.

Utah put up a comprehensive victory over Arizona to come out with e 68-15 victory. Don Pati had four tries.

Army came out with a five point victory over Kutztown at home. Here is a wrap-up of the rest of the DI-A.

Texas Tech were prevented from playing in their local DI-AA league, so they went out and won their DII division to show that they belong.

Hong Kong 7's Update: Eagles Recap & Three Stars

What exactly were the goals and expectations for the Eagles going into the Hong Kong 7's? Realistically, were the Eagles going to knock off one of the New Zealand, South Africa, and Wales to make the Cup Quarterfinals? It would have been nice, but seeing the form the team had been on throughout the year, probably not. The players were always going to have get used to playing under a new coach with tweaks to the system. This camp was actually much like the assemblies before residency when the players only had one week with the coach before heading off. The team hadn't been playing well all year so to expect the team to come in a play all-world would be a little bit of a tough ask.

What was expected from fans (especially this one) was to see the team come out, show effort, and to improve. That is exactly what this team did. Out of the five matches they played over the weekend they only won one, but that doesn't indicate the level of improvement seen in the team. Players made smarter plays, their turnovers seemed noticeably down, and more importantly, the players looked to be playing with confidence. Several players, like Andrew Durutalo and Rocco Mauer, had breakout performances, while other players who have been on the circuit for a while showed why they are locks to be chosen. The weekend was far from perfect (the defense was very suspect at times) but overall, unless you are only driven by win-loss and silverware, it was a very encouraging weekend. For once this season, fans can look forward to the next tournament with a sense of optimism.

Day 3 Matches-

Scotland 14-28 United States

Going 0-3 in the pool stage didn't bode well for the Eagles heading into a Bowl Semi-final match against Scotland. However, over the last few seasons the Scots have been relatively even with the Eagles in terms of results so it was definitely possible to pick up the win. The Eagles started out in bright fashion with a nice patient bit of work leading to Colin Hawley breaking through for an early score. After trading possession most of the rest of the half, the U.S. struck again before half. It begin with Shalom Suniula being aggressive off a Scottish penalty and running through the defense. His support was there and after a series of clinical passes leading to Mike Palefau putting down. The Scots were able to peg one back before halftime as James Fleming had too easy a time getting under the posts. U.S.A. 14-7 Scotland

The second half didn't start out too well for the Eagles as the Scots worked another easy try. However, the Eagles showed resilience. More teamwork and smart passing led to Zack Test juking his way to the try. Test's efforts was one of the best individual efforts of the year for the Eagles. Lastly, late in the match, Nu'u Punimata took advantage of a mental lapse by the Scots and picked up the try to seal the win for the Eagles. It was a great effort by the entire team to get into the Bowl Final against Kenya.

Kenya 14-12 United States

For the first time in a long time, the Eagles were playing for meaningful silverware. Kenya has had their ups and downs on the Series this year but they were coming off a Plate win in Las Vegas. The Eagles got out to another bright start when Rocco Mauer blew past the Kenyans for a try down the line. It all began with a terrific no-look pass from Shalom Suniula. The conversion was missed which would come up big at the end of the match. In his first tournament for the Eagles, Mauer has come up big all weekend. He is surprisingly quick and has played great defense. The Eagles second try came after a bit of helter-skelter play from the Eagles. Mauer and Mike Palefau kept the ball alive until Colin Hawley picked up his second try of the day.

If the first half belonged to the Eagles, the second half belonged to the Kenyans. They ran in a couple of converted tries saw them pick up the heartbreaking win over the Eagles. It was a great effort by the Eagles and it was too bad that they were not able to pick up the win.

Analysis & Look Ahead-

It was a great overall effort by the Eagles. As was said earlier, it wasn't so much about the results as it was the improvement. Alex Magleby should have learned about his team from their play. Players like Durutalo and Mauer made claims to being regular parts of the team. Test, Hawley, Suniula, and Palefau all showed why they have been main parts of the team for awhile. Mark Bokhoven played well on his return to the squad, as did Nu'u Punimata. Peter Tiberio and Tai Enosa also put in solid performaces.

Fans should take encouragement from the effort the team put in and should look forward to Tokyo next week. Next week the Eagles will play New Zealand, Australia, and Hong Kong. A win against New Zealand might be asking a little much, but if the Eagles continue to play well, maybe they'll be able to knock off Australia.

Three Stars of the Tournament-

*Rocco Mauer

**Andrew Durutalo

***Shalom Suniula

Rugby Weekend: Your Commentary

A lot going on this weekend. Either has happened, is happening, or will happen. Talk about it here.

Video: Alex Magleby Speaks from Hong Kong

New Eagles head coach talks about the loss to New Zealand.

Hong Kong 7's Update: Eagles Pool Play Recap & Scotland Look Ahead

Going into Hong Kong, the Eagles were looking to play simply and to stick their programme by cutting down on errors. By and large the team was able to do that on Day 1 but it wasn't enough to overcome the three of the best teams in the world. After going 0-3 to New Zealand, South Africa, and Wales, the U.S. will take on Scotland tomorrow in the Bowl Semi-finals.

The Matches-

New Zealand

The Eagles couldn't have gotten a more difficult opponent to start the tournament than New Zealand. The All-Blacks are consistently the best team on the circuit for a reason and even though they were missing several key players, they had no trouble dispatching the Eagles. (You can read a recap of the match here). It was not so much that the Eagles played poorly, they did not, it was that New Zealand was that good. They are excellent at being patient and exposing any weakness a team may present. Still, the Eagles showed a confidence they haven't exhibited in awhile. They were more aggressive in the run and were more confident in their handoffs. While their new found focus didn't lead to a result, they certainly didn't embarrass themselves. New Zealand 29-5 U.S.A.

South Africa

The match against South Africa was easily the Eagles best match of the day. Anytime they had possession the Eagles looked dangerous, especially with the runs of Andrew Durutalo. Too bad the Eagles had no possession. South Africa controlled the ball from start to finish leading to three tries. (You can read a more in-depth recap here). It could have been more but the Eagles defense really stepped up in this match. They certainly didn't embarrass themselves and even gave fans hope that the team had turned a corner. Players like Peter Tiberio, Andrew Durutalo, and Rocco Mauer really stepped up. Too bad the result couldn't match the effort. South Africa 15-7 U.S.A.

Wales

Any progress the Eagles seemed to make against New Zealand and South Africa disappeared against Wales. The Eagles defense that had played pretty well against South Africa suddenly became extremely porous and allowed Wales to repeatedly run through for an easy try. Wales didn't really have to work for any of their tries. The Eagles on the other hand, were starved of possession and couldn't break through when they had it. The Eagles try did come from a good bit of work player of the day Andrew Durutalo who made a great pass out to Zack Test for a score in the corner. Test did a great job of getting the ball down while being tackled. Wales 42-7 U.S.A.

Analysis-

Better. Not great and certainly not where it should be, but better. Imagine if the Eagles were in the qualifying tournament (we should be thankful they are not), they may have been one of the teams that went 3-0. The passing was more crisp, the defense effort was there for the most part (not against Wales, but against South Africa and New Zealand, who can't be stopped), and the running was more purposeful. Alex Magleby has adjusted the team to play more into contact and that was led by Andrew Durutalo. Durutalo played big all-day. It was noted that he was the biggest player at the tournament and it showed. His runs consistently brought over multiple defenders that opened up space for the others. This pattern of play may be the right approach going forward. The team seemed more confident in their play and that led to a decrease in turnovers. Previously, the Eagles seemed panic quite often which led to turnovers, but not here. That is not to say they didn't commit silly penalties and turnovers, but it was better.

Fans should take hope in the way the Eagles played. It didn't help them on the day, but it certainly was positive. A run to the Bowl Championship can't be ruled out for the Eagles but they'll have to get past Scotland first tomorrow.

Day 2 Look Ahead-

Scotland vs. U.S.A. 2:21 a.m. et/11:21 p.m. pt

Besides narrowly beating France, the Scots didn't have a particularly strong day either. They were blown out by both Australia and Fiji. The Eagles certainly will be able to gain more possession against the Scots and that could bode well for the team. The Eagles showed that when they have possession, they have the ability to score. They also have the strength to take care of Scotland who aren't the biggest or the quickest team. If the Eagles were to get past Scotland, they would play either Kenya or France. Both beatable teams. So after the onslaught of pool play, the Eagles could have a successful knock-out round.

Hong Kong 7's Update: South Africa 15-7 U.S.A.

The Eagles were hoping to get off to a great start on day 2 of the Hong Kong 7's, and while they played well, it wasn't enough as they lost 15-7 to South Africa.

Right after the opening kick off the Eagles were immediately under pressure. For much of the match South Africa controlled the possession. They used that possession to pick up two tries before halftime to lead 10-0 going into the break.

The second half began with much more composure from the Eagles. They kept more possession (albeit not at lot) and look more dangerous on the attack. The Eagles best sequence came when Rocco Mauer took a pass out wide and ran around the defenders to have a run at the tryline. The South African sweeper eventually stopped Mauer, but after a re-start from a South African foul, Shalom Suniula crossed the line for his first score of the tournament.

The Blitzbokke would get one right back however as Cecil Afrika cut through the middle of the defense to give the match its final score.

For the most part, the Eagles continued to show well. Losing to South Africa by a little more than a try is no small feat. The running looked good, as did the passing, but it all came to do possession, or the lack thereof for the Eagles. Just like against New Zealand, the Eagles showed they can be dangerous on attack, but if they can't get the ball, they can't score. At times they also showed a lack of urgency. With less than a minute of the match remaining, and trailing by eight points, the Eagles elected to kick the ball back to South Africa rather than trying to score. You'd have to think that the Eagles would want to retain possession at that point.

So while it wasn't the result the Eagles were looking for, it is certainly an improvement of play from earlier in the year. Mauer played well once again and Andrew Durutalo is proving himself to be an excellent player. The Eagles can still make the Cup Quarterfinals, but they will have to beat Wales and hope they have a better point differential than one of the other third-place finishers.

Up next is Wales at 4:04 a.m. et/1:04 a.m. pt.

Eagles Man of the Match: Rocco Mauer

Eagles Abroad: Weekend Preview & TV

Finally! After a couple of slow weeks, Americans overseas are back at it with a full slate of matches. There is also plenty of action on TV, so enjoy!

British Isles/Ireland:

Aviva Premiership

Samu Manoa, Chris Biller, and Northampton will take on Paul Emerick and London Wasps as they two teams clash on Saturday

Chris Wyles will start while Hayden Smith is not in the lineup for the Saracens as they play Sale on Friday.

RFU Championship

Andrew Suniula will want to score another try for the Cornish Pirates as they continue the RFU Championship playoffs against Rotherham on Sunday.

Robbie Shaw, Mike MacDonald and Leeds play Bedford on Sunday. MacDonald is closer to returning from injury but may not play.

Shawn Pittman and London Welsh play Doncaster on Saturday.

RaboDirect Pro 12

Tommy Seymour will start for the Glasgow Warriors when they take on Aironi on Friday.

Hanno Dirksen will get the start as they Ospreys play Leinster on Friday.

Other

Derek Asburn, Jason Law and Oxford have finished their season.

Tim Usasz will coach his Barking side against Cinderford on Saturday.

France:

Top 14

Taku Ngwenya and Biarritz play Lyon on Saturday.

Scott LaValla and Stade Francais play Agen on Saturday.

Seta Tuilevuka and Montpellier play Castres on Saturday.

Pro D2

Inaki Basauri and Perigueux have the weekend off.

South Africa

Vodacom Cup

J.J. Gagiano will once again start for the Golden Lions as they play the Blue Bulls on Saturday.

T.V. Listings:

*Here are the times for Super Rugby this weekend. All matches are on DirectTV.

Friday

• Leinster vs. Ospreys, 3:00 p.m. et/12:00 p.m. pt (live on Fox Soccer Plus)

Saturday

• Toulon vs. Racing, 11:15 a.m. et/7:15 a.m. pt (ESPN3.com)
• Life vs. Old Blue, 10:00 a.m. et/7:00 a.m. pt (Rugby Super League Network, click for a link to the match)
• San Francisco Golden Gate vs. Chicago Griffins, 11:00 a.m. et/8:00 a.m. pt (Rugby Super League Network, click for a link to the match)
• Boston vs. NYAC, 1:00 p.m. et/10:00 a.m. pt (Rugby Super League Network, click for a link to the match)

Sunday

• Harlequins vs. Bath, 1:00 a.m. et/10:00 p.m. pt (Saturday) (delay of Fox Soccer Plus)
• Northampton vs. London Wasps, 4:00 a.m. et/1:00 a.m. pt (delay of Fox Soccer Plus)
• London Irish vs. Leicester, 11:00 a.m. et/8:00 a.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Connacht vs. Munster, 8:00 p.m. et/5:00 p.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and USA rugby related news in one location.

Eagles/7's:

The Eagles expectedly lost their first match in Hong Kong, going down 29-5 against New Zealand.

Peter Tiberio checked in from Hong Kong prior to the match.

For all the latest news from Hong Kong, go to IRBSevens.com.

Matt Hawkins is taking a break from playing rugby for awhile but he still has plenty of thoughts on the recent changes in U.S.A. Rugby.

The New York Times has a great article on the teaching background of Mike Tolkin. It is well worth the read for any Eagles fan.

Tolkin also took the time to share more details of his upcoming domestic camp, how he will select players, and what he intends to do with the Eagles Select XV. (Membership required)

Alex Goff takes a look at the 2011 RWC roster and sees who might be available for Summer selection. (Membership required)

Todd Clever picked up another piece of silverware after playing for the Asia Pacific Barbarians in the Hong Kong 10's.

Americans Taylor Mokate and Eric Fry have been playing club rugby down in New Zealand, and now they will have the chance to be a part of a representative team that will take on the New Zealand Universities.

In what can only be good news for the U.S., the IRB has announced that the 2011 Rugby World Cup made more money than expected. Hopefully some of that money will get channelled back to Tier II nations.

Nigel Melville wrote in his blog about all of the opportunities the 7's nationals teams will get over the next few weeks.

Planet Rugby previews this weekends tournament in Hong Kong.

Universal Sports will be providing six hours of coverage from Hong Kong.

Women:

The U.S.A. Women Eagles are into the semi-finals in Hong Kong after beating Spain and Tunisia. Here are some details of the narrow win over Spain, and some photos of the action.

Jackie Finlan says that restarts will be the key for the Women Eagles if they are to have success against good teams this weekend.

College:

BYU are headed across the Rockies for a two game swing with Wyoming and Colorado State while their rivals Utah head to Arizona. They came out big 97-7 winners over Colorado State.

Central Washington and St. Mary's go head to head this weekend in what could be a crucial Pacific conference match.

The Cayman Islands have been good to Dartmouth, who picked up their second win of the trip.

Tidbits:

Our Canadian neighbours have added another club competition. This one features teams from Eastern Canada.

Rugby World Cup qualifying begins this weekend south of the border in Mexico. The Mexican players are excited for the opportunity.

The Bill McLaren Foundation is changing lives in Africa through rugby.

Hong Kong 7's Update: New Zealand 29-5 U.S.A.

The Eagles got off to an expected start at the 2012 Hong Kong 7's with a 29-5 loss to New Zealand. Despite the score, the Eagles did show a bit of brightness. They began the game with a series of strong runs, in particular Andrew Durutalo the biggest man at the tournament, showing his strength up the middle. The U.S. handling was also improved, not great, but improved as they looked to be more educated in their hand-offs.

Still, it wasn't enough to prevent New Zealand striking for the first three tries. The first try was a clinical example of being patient and waiting for a whole while the second try was simply too easy. The third try was also methodical with Tim Mikkelson eventually crossing the line. He blew past Andrew Durutalo who may be big but is certainly not fast. Halftime 17-0.

The Eagles began the second half is terrific fashion. A great tackle on the sideline by Peter Tiberio turned the ball over. The ball then ended up in the hands of Durutalo who offloaded back to Tiberio who passed to Zack Test for the score. It was a great team try from the defense end to their handling.

However, a missed intercept on the restart meant that New Zealand literally jogged in for their next try. They almost had another if it weren't for the great defense of Rocco Mauer who had just come on to the field. New Zealand looked to be clean through but a chase by Rocco Mauer forced Tomasi Cama to stop his run and try an offload that was knocked forward. New Zealand did score quickly thereafter, however. Mauer almost had an electric try at the end of the match after some good work by the team but was tackled into touch. Final New Zealand 29-5 U.S.A.

It certainly wasn't the result the Eagles would have wanted but they didn't look bad, New Zealand looked that good. Handling was much improved, as was the running. The team seemed more confident in their approach which could pay dividends later. Overall, it was a very encouraging performance with each player playing well. Durutalo, Tiberio, and Test all had good matches, as did Folau Niua and Shalom Suniula.

Eagles Man of the Match: Rocco Mauer

Up next is South Africa tonight at 10:48 p.m. et/7:48 p.m. pt

Best rugby commercial ever!

If you haven't seen this yet, it might possibly be the best rugby commercial ever created!

Hong Kong 7's: Eagles Preview

After all the changes that have occured in the Eagles programme over the last month since Las Vegas, it all comes down to play on the field. Fans everywhere will be anxious to see how the team performs in the "grand-daddy of them all."

Alex Magleby isn't expected too many changes to the way the team plays, but it will still be interesting to see what kind of changes he does unveil. Defensively there shouldn't be too many changes, but offensively Magleby is known for his ability to play to his team's strength. Judging by the kind of team he has selected, Magleby might look to take the ball into contact more. Nick Edwards returns to the team and is a strong runner that likes contact. The U.S. may build off that contact and take a more methodical and slow approach to offense. No matter how it goes, it will certainly be interesting to watch.

Because there have been so many changes to the team it would be easy to write off a poor performance. However, this group of players seems hungry to impress their new coach. For players under contract, those contracts only last until the end of the season. For players on the fringe, if they want to gain a contract for next year, they will have to play well in Hong Kong. For players that don't have a contract and want one, an impressive performance in Hong Kong could seal their future.

The key to this tournament rests on the Eagles ability to take care of the ball. Tournament after tournament the Eagles have stymied their chances of making it further by coughing up the ball at inopportune moments. No one needs to look further that Las Vegas to see where the Eagles mistakes have cost them. Everyone remembers the missed opportunities against Australia in the Bowl Semi-finals. The team chosen by Magleby looks to be loaded with rugby experience and that could cut down on the turnovers. If they do that, they could have a very successful tournament.

The Opponents:

The one obstacle to the Eagles having a successful tournament is their Pool B opponenets. This year's Hong Kong 7's is divided into two tournaments with the non-core teams playing in their own tournament to see who will join the 12 core teams on next year's Series. Fortunately for the Eagles, this means their core status is secure for next year. Unfortuately, it means they have been put in a pool with New Zealand, South Africa and Wales.

If the Eagles were to beat New Zealand it would possibly be the greatest upset in 7's history. The All Blacks are stacked with captain DJ Forbes leading the way and stars Tim Mikkelson and Tomsai Cama coming up big in every tournament. New Zealand have won twice on the Series so far and been runners-up twice, including in Las Vegas. The team is also number one in the overall standings. While an upset would be nice, the Eagles would be good to limit the All Blacks points and to put up a few of their own.

South Africa is a team that the Eagles have beaten before but so far this year they have come up empty. It was a close match between the two in Australia, but the Eagles haven't been able to hang that close since. The play of Cecil Afrika certainly has something to do with. The Blitzbokke are quick but the size and strength of this Eagles team could pose problems for the South Africans. The U.S. have a decent chance of making the Cup Quarterfinals but they will have to knock off a team like South Africa.

The Eagles may have their best chance of winning a pool match when they take on Wales. The Welsh team has had a decent run of form of late only missing the Cup Quarterfinals once (Wellington). They have won the Plate twice this season. Still, they are a team that can be beaten. Like South Africa, the size of the Eagles at this tournament could be a difference.

Schedule

Day 1 (Friday)- Eagles vs. New Zealand, 5:28 a.m. et/3:28 a.m. pt

Day 2 (Friday)- Eagles vs. South Africa, 10:58 p.m. et/7:58 p.m. pt

Day 2 (Saturday)- Eagles vs. Wales, 4:06 a.m. et/1:06 a.m. pt

The Team:

Alex Magleby took a little different approach to selecting his squad than Al Caravelli. This squad is bigger and looks to take on contact. Core players Zack Test, Colin Hawley, Mike Palefau, Folau Niua, Peter Tiberio, and Shalom Suniula all return and will look to make the nucleus of the team. They all bring veteran savvy that will be needed against the strong teams the Eagles will face. This tournament presents these players with the opportunity to elevate their game and show that they are big time players. It is time that they make that step, especially players like Test and Hawley. They are the future of the team and now is the time they need to step up.

Roland Suniula leaving to focus on 15's, Matt Hawkins decision to take some time off, and Blaine Scully's injury meant that three spots opened up for players to work their way back into the team. In their place, Nick Edwards, Mark Bokhoven, and Nu'u Punimata return to the team. When he is playing for the Eagles, Edwards brings tough running that creates opportunities for his teammates. Sometimes he doesn't support and doesn't get the support he needs but if everyone is hustling, it make Edwards that much more effective. Punimata is player that when on his game, was a fantastic player for the Eagles. It has been a while since he has played for the Eagles but he should be able to slot in a show why he was selected.

Andrew Durutalo and Peter Tiberio are players that have made themselves a part of the team this season and will continue to look to do so this weekend. Rocco Mauer rounds out the side after being added when Maka Unufe withdrew for personal reasons.

Squad

Mark Bokhoven (Denver Barbarians)

Andrew Durutalo (Old Puget Sound Beach)

Nick Edwards (Sydney University)

Tai Enosa (U.S.A Rugby)

Colin Hawley (U.S.A Rugby)

Rocco Mauer (U.S.A. Rugby)

Folau Niua (U.S.A Rugby)

Mike Palefau (Unattached)

Nu'u Punimata (Old Puget Sound Beach)

Shalom Suniula (U.S.A Rugby)

Zack Test (U.S.A. Rugby)

Peter Tiberio (U.S.A. Rugby)

Predictions:

I fully expect the Eagles effort to be there this week. They should play simply and to their strengths. This may not mean they are going to knock-off New Zealand, but an upset win over South Africa is possible and a win against Wales is very doable. In the end, the Eagles will be the surprise team of the tournament, beating both South Africa and Wales, and making the Cup Quarterfinals with an appearance in the Plate finals.