Heroes abounded in the U.S. men's national team's 17-10 victory over Argentina XV in Carson, CA, on Saturday, but certainly the biggest was flanker Hanco Germishuys.

The pride of Nebraska Youth Rugby prevented a potential game-tying try and conversion by the Argentinians at the end of regulation, clinching the win for the Eagles to open the Americas Rugby Championship. 

With time up, Argentina XV took a scrum 5 meters from the USA line. Rodrigo Bruni, wearing No. 6 but playing No. 8 at the time, picked up and went right. He had the angle and went over for what seemed to be the try that could, with a conversion, tie the game. 

However, Germishuys was all over Bruni's back and immediately popped up and told referee Chris Assmuss to check the video.

Germishuys was right to make the plea. While making the tackle, the former USA U20 captain reached around and knocked the ball loose. See the video yourself: It's a knock-on.

It was a smart and remarkably athletic sequence by a player who has been competing above his weight for some time. The photo above was taken while Germishuys was playing for the USA U20s at 17 years old, when USA Rugby needed a waiver to let him play.