A very promising first 30 minutes or so ended up a relatively humbling day for the USA as Ireland handed the Eagles their first test match defeat of 2018 57-17.

The game was much closer than that in the first half, when the Eagles tied it at 14-14 and were only 17-14 behind at 31 minutes.

But Ireland’s combination of ball handling, savvy, and efficiency in punishing mistakes showed in the second half.

Ireland got on the board in the first three minutes of the game. The Eagles replied nicely. They got a penalty, took the lineout, and then ran a snappy play off that lineout. Joe Taufete’e took a pass and tiptoed down the sideline while thundering through some tackles. He was brought down, but not held, and rolled up onto his feet and rambled in for a well-taken try.

The Irish re-took the lead at 14-7 with a superb backhanded pass for Andrew Conway to get his second. But then the Eagles showed some grit. Another penalty and this time they took the maul and powered through the 22 to the try line. Ireland had almost no choice but to bring down the maul, and the referee Ben O’Keefe had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try.

The USA was in the game, even after conceding a penalty to drop behind 17-14, and even after Jack Conan thundered over to make it 24-14.

But the second half was a different story. Taufete’e went out three minutes into the second half with what looked like a serious concussion sustained on a tackle. He tried to comfort worried fans bay raising his hand to the crowd as he was carted off, but the injury certainly shook the USA team.

As time went on, the combination of power and speed of Ireland started to expose holes in the USA defense. 

Turnovers were Ireland's bread and butter, and the Irish were also excellent at identifying mismatches, and sending speedy backs to outpace slower forwards.

Conway got his third, and Tadhg Beirne, Stuart McCloskey, and Quinn Roux also went over to make it 50-14.

The game ended with John Ryan crashing down to make it 57-14.

The USA looked disjointed and perhaps a little tired in the second half, but at the same time looked every bit a serious competitor in the first half. Paul Lasike was a dangerous runner, but the Eagles did not have enough possession and when they did, they kicked far too much of it away. The box kicking was not consistent, with a missed touch leading to the first try, and a blocked box kick leading to another.

Regardless, it’s a 9-1 test match year for the USA. Some key lessons to learn, but also a good year. They just happened to end it against one of the best national team programs in the world.

Ireland 57

Tries: Conway 3, Conan, Beirne, Roux, McCloskey, Ryan

Convs: Carbery 7

Pens: Carbery

USA 14

Tries: Taufete’e, Penalty Try

Convs: Magie, Penalty Try