It was five minutes away from potentially major international rugby.
But USA The Eagles’ Kaleb Geiger powered over from close range in the 76th minute to tie the score, allowing scrum-half Chris Hilsenbeck to convert to seal a dramatic 28-26 win over Hong Kong China.
Credit must go to Hong Kong China. They threw everything they had at the Eagles from start to finish.
Eagles fullback Perry Mayo’s kick was taken by Marcus Ramage, who slotted in for the opening try inside five minutes. Then, shortly before half-time, Jack Bartlett picked a handball from the base and raced 50 meters to the goal.
There was nothing particularly special or creative about their approach. Just good old fashioned efficiency and the ability to take their chances.
Exactly what the Eagles failed to do.
Possession and territory were firmly in favor of the US, and they certainly held the physical advantage. But to put it bluntly, the performance of head coach Scott Lawrence’s men was not up to par, especially against a team ranked 24th in the world.
I don’t need to say that. Players will think exactly the same.
I’ve been in the locker room after games, win or lose, feeling that no matter how hard we tried, things just weren’t going our way and our plans weren’t coming to fruition.
American debutant scrum-half Oscar Lennon summed it up in his on-field comments after the game on Eagles’ social media: “It’s been stressful at times…we’ve got a lot to do.”
Let’s start with some positives.
The USA have now won four of four in the Nations Cup and Geiger’s late try ensured the Eagles walked away with the full five competition points, maintaining their position at the top of their pool.
Physically, the Eagles showed what they are capable of.
Mayo’s try inside the first ten minutes came from a successful set piece, followed by a strong, cohesive performance from a corner that looked both organized and dominant.
There were hints of attacking variation in the first quarter, with forwards and backs working in tandem. Hilsenbeck even produced a dangerous shot into the area for Rufus McLean, who was close to the perfect attacking picture.
The Eagles demonstrated their power in the carry game, and that physicality was just as evident in their kicking.
Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz crashed over after a well-orchestrated push, while the maul consistently looked to be one of the Eagles’ strongest weapons. The scrum also asserted their dominance, eventually forcing a penalty in the 59th minute.
In my previous RugbyPass feature, I called for more consistency in the set-up and for the Eagles to show their physicality.
In many ways, they delivered.
But ultimately, relying on a dominant driving maul as your primary attacking weapon will not be enough to win the Nations Cup. Especially when you consider what comes next Romania and Georgia.
While I welcome the build-up to Mayo’s try, such moments were unfortunately few and far between.
The Eagles repeatedly worked promising positions and demonstrated strong possession, but their efficiency and execution inside the opposition 22 failed to match their physical dominance.
Ball control in contact became increasingly vulnerable and inconsistent as the game progressed. Whether it was a layup, a basic dunk or a forward pass, the Eagles’ offensive performance was littered with mistakes.
At times, the shooting game lacked a clear purpose, while unnecessary fouls contributed to 12 penalties awarded, putting considerable pressure on the USA in the second half.
Of course, there is important context to consider.
With 21 players unavailable from the Eagles’ extended squad and changes in the coaching staff, building cohesion and implementing new ideas will take time.
But it was difficult to watch at times, especially knowing the quality and capabilities of these players. Many have demonstrated their ability during 2026 Major League Rugby season, while the Eagles themselves gave significantly better results at home in July.
It serves as another reminder of how small margins are internationally.
With all due respect to Hong Kong China, the Eagles cannot expect to keep winning Test matches while making this many mistakes and struggling to maintain control of possession.
The reality is that the USA has won four out of four in this competition. But when you consider it wins over both Hong Kong China and Portugal came down to dramatic late moments in July, that record could look very different.
And relying on last-gasp heroics against an opposition below them is not where this Eagles team should want to be. An ugly win might keep you undefeated, but it won’t always keep you winning.
Without the reliable boot of Chris Hilsenbeck, those victories could slip away. Defeat to China in Hong Kong would undoubtedly cause considerable frustration among Eagles supporters.
But that is not reality.
The USA remain undefeated, sit atop their Nations Cup pool and have a real chance to win the competition.
Perhaps I am reminded of that and what I would say to Eagles fans, understandably frustrated by Sunday’s performance.
There are good players in this team. Powerful, talented players capable of dominating opponents and producing exciting rugby.
The ingredients are there, but they need to come together with far greater consistency, efficiency and control.
Maybe work smarter, not harder.
That responsibility rests with both the players and the coaching staff, and they won’t be looking for answers for long.
Romania comes to a heavy loss against Tonga with the score of 43-38, doc Georgia they opened the November campaign with a dominant 59-14 win over Canada.
Both will present significant challenges and the Eagles will need to raise their standards significantly.
The win over China in Hong Kong was one that the US probably got away with. But it was still a win, and one that keeps their Cup of Nations ambitions firmly alive.