Australia The A’s ran away with a big 61-12 win over the A’s USA XV in Nashville, Tennessee, in the first of two meetings between the sides. The visitors took an early 19-0 lead, before a red card to David Feliuai saw the USA XV play with a one-man advantage for 20 minutes.
Michael Baska and Mark O’Keeffe were on the scoresheet for the USA XV, but the hosts did not add to the score in the second half. An Australia A a side that included nine Wallabies players played with confidence and spirit en route to a convincing result.
Here’s how she rated the USA XV.
1. Payton Telea-Ilialio – 6/10
Telea-Ilalio was outstanding defensively during the first hour, leading the scoring with a career-high 10 stops. The USA XV had to withstand wave after wave of attacking pressure as Australia A dominated possession, but Telea-Ilalio was at the center of it all. The USA XV put up a solid fight but were second best with their maul defence. Still, considering the result, Telea-Ilalio had a positive impact.
2. Shiloh Klein – 6
Klein has been impressive all year for the USA Eagles, and that trend continued in this non-Test. Whore was pretty accurate when she put in the line, even with Nick Frost and Miles Amatosero putting pressure on from the club’s Wallabies. Klein took the free kick for a double pump on the line, the only real shot of his set-piece performance.
3. Tonga Coffee – 5
The USA XV held their ground, although there wasn’t much contention in the first half. Australia A had the upper hand in attack but there were still good signs from the home pack during the opening 40. Kofe crossed the gain line with some powerful carries and tried to get involved in defence.
4. Nathan Den Hoedt – 5
Former Randwick captain and Brisbane City defender Jason Damm struggled against some of Australia’s best players, playing the entire first half but falling in the second half. Dan Hoedt was an option for Sheil Klein on the line, but was otherwise quiet on both sides of the ball. But the No.4 lock applied a lot of pressure around the breakdown – some important involvement in a couple of hands before Mark O’Keeffe’s try.
5. Jason Damm (C) – 7
Damm’s outstanding performances for the USA Eagles have been a constant this season, and that trend has continued in Nashville. The USA XV captain seemed genuinely involved in everything, which was especially important on defense. Damm was one of the best forwards in the game during the first half, and the versatile forward got the ball in his hands more than once.
Australia A coach Stephen Larkham gave the top five to all the Wallabies, which was reflected in the success they had on the set. But Damm tried to make a difference on the defensive lines, and proved to be a reliable target for Shilo Klein as well.
6. Benjamin Bonasso – 5
Bonasso had a few good moments, but was probably the quietest of the three staring backs for the USA XV, with the other two leading the defense during the opening 40. The blindside flankers never stopped running and deserves some credit for that, and contributed to a stable USA XV line-up. But much like the team as a collective, Bonasso is now looking forward to a second match between the teams next week.
7. Paddy Ryan – 6
Ryan has been a consistent performer for the USA Eagles at Test level this year, and the openside flank showed shades of that against a star-studded Australia A side. The loose forward was one of the game’s leaders in tackles during the first half and continued to work hard during another one-sided second term. Ryan’s efforts at the breakdown and with ball in hand shouldn’t go unnoticed either, although Australia A ran away with a big win.
8. Makeen Alikhan – 6
Alikhan stood out as one of the best forwards in the game during the first half, and Australia A gave the USA XV plenty to do on that side of the ball. The No. 8 also got his hands on the ball numerous times, and contributed to a promising set-piece for the USA XV.
9. Oscar Lennon – 5
Lennon was selected in the starting side ahead of Ruben De Haas, and the Wales-raised scrum-half enjoyed moments of confidence. The number 9 ‘called his own number’ – as the commentators put it – by initially clearing the ball himself from the scrum, before sending a pass. But with Australia A dominating territory and possession, Lennon had little opportunity to do more than just shovel passes to the first receivers. Lennon’s kicking offered a few contested high balls for the USA XV players to chase, but these shots went a little too far.
10. Chris Hilsenbeck – 6.5
Traffic was one-way throughout the first quarter, which didn’t give Hilsenbeck or the USA XV anything to happen for the home team on offense. Hilsenbeck tried to create something out of nothing inside his own goal, sending a cross to Mark O’Keeffe, but it was cleared by Tim Ryan. But there were some positive signs early on, and in the end, the USA XV loved their style, with Hilsenbeck setting up Michael Baska for the USA’s first try.
Hilsenbeck were beaten in the air before Joe Brial’s try, but the half-back can take many positives from this match. The keeper was accurate after the shot and looked confident in attack, despite the US not playing a lot of forward ball.
11. Mark O’Keeffe – 6
O’Keeffe couldn’t quite move David Feliuai early in the first half as Australia A no. 12 broke down the right sideline before Nick Frost scored. But O’Keeffe did well to try to stop in the first place. The number 11 got himself on the scoresheet just before half-time, thanks to Tavite Lopeti’s accurate pass into the area. It was a quiet second half for O’Keeffe, who can still take a lot from this match ahead of the second meeting between the sides next weekend in New Jersey.
12. Dominic Besag – 7
American Rugby Hall of Famer Zack Test spoke about comments made during the match about the home side’s improved defence. Dominic Besag was the fullback who led those efforts, with the center cap being one of the best on the defensive side of the ball in the USA XV. Australia A had just taken a 19-0 lead when Besag sprinted after the restart, delivering a big kick and allowing Noah Brown to cross the ball after a breakdown. Besag set the tone during the first half hour with eight tackles, and the midfielder did well against a dominant opponent.
13. David Lobet – 5
Lopeti appeared to be unusually quiet for the first half hour as Australia A really took control of the contest. But the experienced outside center was more influential in the half, which included a try and assist for Mark O’Keeffe. The number 13 sent a perfectly timed pass to the winger, who crossed for a corner just before the break. Lopeti proved to be the glue to the backline in defence, matching up well with the ACT Brumbies’ Kadin Pritchard.
14. Noah Brown – 5
It was a rough start to the match for Brown, who tried hard to get involved but wasn’t rewarded for his efforts. Brown didn’t go many yards on his first carry as the Australian players rushed their golden defensive wall. Soon the winger received the ball along the right edge, but the miss hit the touch of the ball.
Things didn’t go according to plan for the USA XV as a team during the first quarter, but Brown was awarded a steals penalty early in the 22nd.n.d minute, which led to Michael Baska’s try. Brown remained active throughout the second half, leading to some signs of promise on offense.
15. Mihael Baška – 5
Australia Used the space with their running and shooting games from the first minute, which put Baška under pressure early on. Baška’s first involvement was a knock in the eighth minute, as he tried to curl in David Feliuai’s shot with a grubber. Australia dominated the first quarter, but Baska gave the USA XV plenty to cheer about, running in untouched for the team’s first try in the 23rd.rd minutes. Baška had a few good moments in the second half, but that try stands out as the clear highlight of his performance.
Substitutions – 5
Ruben De Haas gave the USA XV the lead after coming off the bench in the second half. The USA Eagles veteran offered a real X-factor with quick passing, quick thinking and effective footwork that put Australia A under pressure. Marno Redelinghuys was the best of the substitute strikers, as the Seattle Seawolves The Enforcer sought to make a difference in both offense and defense.
