United States 10-47 Australia
United States lament lost opportunity against Wallabies to take 'real ball game down to wire'
Andy Withers in Chicago, Illinois
September 5, 2015
United States 10-47 Australia (Australia only)

United Sates coach Mike Tolkin and his Eagles players are hurting, but not because they copped a 37-point beating at the hands of the Wallabies at Soldier Field in Chicago; rather they are hurting because "it could have been a real ball game down to the wire".

Australia's Ben McCalman tackles Al McFarland, United States v Australia, Soldier Field, Chicago, September 5, 2015
The Eagles took the game to the Wallabies in a physical fashion © Getty Images
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The Eagles trailed by just four points at oranges - 14-10 - and that was a fair reflection of the opening 40 minutes: the Wallabies started strongly and scored two converted tries within the first quarter, but the Eagles fought back and were undoubtedly the better team in the 20 minutes before half-time; the hosts scored a fine try finished well by Mike Petri after great footwork from Taku Ngwenya. The second half was different, however. But not just because the Wallabies stepped up a gear and became ever more clinical as their fitness and conditioning kicked in.

"We talked about it being a measuring stick to where we were," Tolkin said of the Eagles' pre-match messaging. "First half we put some pressure on. Second half we put pressure on but didn't capitalise and compounded it by letting some opportunities turn into opportunities for the Wallabies."

Tolkin was speaking specifically of the 14 point turnaround in which Joe Tomane chased down Chris Wyles and the Eagles were unable to get over the line in subsequent phases before overthrowing a lineout and seeing the Wallabies, through Henry Speight, Tomane, Sean McMahon and Quade Cooper touched down at the other end of the field. "That part was disappointing to us," Tolkin said. "We could have turned the screws a little bit but didn't and they turned them to us."

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Wyles said: "We came in first feeling very confident. We're not here to participate in these games. That's where we trying to build that self-confidence that we can beat any team; otherwise what's the point of getting on the pitch.

"We were in a good place at half-time, but we let mistake compound on mistake as opposed to finishing our opportunities."

Tolkin said: "The fact we're talking about this game getting away from us, being in a position to either win or bring it down to the wire, is a positive sign. The fact we were doing things to put ourselves in a position to be within reach at the end is a good thing. So I think there were positives.

"When we went to the clubhouse it was about: 'Hey fellas, it's not good enough. If we capitalise on the opportunities we had, it could have been a real ball game down to the wire. We're not happy in there but that's a good sign of the progress we've made."

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said he had expected nothing but a tough battle as "the USA are a very, very much improving side … they're moving up through the rankings", and Tolkin acknowledged that his team had played best when they had created tempo.

"When we started to turn the tempo of the game around in the first half was when we started to get our linespeed into them," Tolkin said. "We were making big hits, we were causing turnovers, we were having them play on their heels a little bit. When we were doing that we were really making things happen. Upping the tempo, getting the crowd into it, everything that goes along with that.

"In the second half when we had opportunities to do that we didn't capitalise; and that's the tempo we needed. A score from one of those deep lineouts, not letting long-distance tries in."

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