3 Things To Know About When USA Rugby Stunned Scotland In 2018
3 Things To Know About When USA Rugby Stunned Scotland In 2018
Relive USA Rugby’s stunning 30-29 win over Scotland in 2018, the first for the Eagles over a tier-one nation. Here are three key takeaways from that match.
In June 2018, USA Rugby shocked the world with a stunning 30-29 victory over Scotland, the first win in history for the Eagles against the Tier 1 nation.
After Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn missed a last-minute conversion kick that would have sealed the game, the Eagles claimed their landmark win, signaling a new era for USA Rugby as a true international contender.
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The teams’ most recent matchup took place at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., where Scotland earned a 42-7 victory. Tommaso Boni scored the Eagles’ lone try to put them on the board.
Now, the Eagles look to shift the balance once again.
Scotland will host the USA on Nov. 1 during the opening round of the Autumn Nations Series, with kickoff set for 1:40 p.m. ET.
The USA enters the contest coming off a 29-13 win over Samoa, while Scotland recently edged the All Blacks 29-26 at Murrayfield Stadium. Both sides will look to ride that momentum into another memorable clash.
Scotland Led Until The 58th Minute
Kinghorn scored Scotland’s first try in the opening minute, setting the tone early.
The Scots led for 58 minutes, before Hanco Germishuys’ try swung the game in the Eagles’ favor.
That sudden turnaround was a vivid reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in rugby and how the USA’s resilience defined the match.
AJ MacGinty And Joe Taufete’e Powered The Eagles’ Win
Captain AJ MacGinty was the engine behind the Eagles’ success, playing smart rugby on both sides of the ball. He led the match in carries (19) and line breaks (four), showing his complete command of the game.
Hooker Joe Taufete’e contributed two of the team’s three tries, bulldozing through Scotland’s defense and making his presence felt at every turn.
Both players remain in the USA Rugby player pool and could feature again in the upcoming rematch.
Scotland’s Coach Gregor Townsend Still Was New To The Role
Head coach Gregor Townsend led the Scots during that fateful 2018 clash.
At the time, he had been in the role for just a year and made 12 lineup changes for the match — including debuts for George Horne and Matt Fagerson, and starting roles for Luke Hamilton, Adam Hastings and George Turner.
Fans can expect to see a more seasoned Townsend this time around — a coach with years of experience guiding Scotland’s national program and a deep understanding of his players.
How To Watch Scotland vs. USA Rugby In The Autumn Nations Series
Scotland and USA Rugby play in the first round of the Autumn Nations Series on Nov. 1 at 1:40 p.m. ET.
The match will stream live on Peacock.
Autumn Nations Series Rugby Schedule 2025
Week 1 - Nov. 1
- England vs. Australia
- South Africa vs. Japan
- Scotland vs. USA
- Ireland vs. New Zealand
Week 2 - Nov. 8-9
- Ireland vs. Japan
- Scotland vs. New Zealand
- England vs. Fiji
- Italy vs. Australia
- France vs. South Africa
- Wales vs. Argentina
Week 3 - Nov. 15-16
- Italy vs. South Africa
- England vs. New Zealand
- Wales vs. Japan
- France vs. Fiji
- Ireland vs. Australia
- Scotland vs. Argentina
Week 4 - Nov. 22-23
- Wales vs. New Zealand
- Ireland vs. South Africa
- France vs. Australia
- Italy vs. Chile
- Scotland vs. Tonga
- England vs. Argentina
Week 5 - Nov. 29
- Wales vs. South Africa
World Rugby Rankings: Where Things Stand Before Autumn Nations (Oct. 27)
See the official rankings on World.Rugby here.
- South Africa 92.20
- New Zealand 90.02
- Ireland 89.83
- France 87.82
- England 87.64
- Argentina 83.82
- Australia 83.30
- Scotland 81.57
- Fiji 81.16
- Italy 77.77
- Georgia 74.69
- Wales 74.05
- Japan 73.25
- Spain 69.12
- USA 67.40
- Samoa 66.94
- Chile 66.72
- Tonga 66.66
- Uruguay 66.59
- Portugal 66.44
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