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Klein (79')
Tries
Langdon (11'), Northmore (18'), Poortvliet (40'), Murley (41'), Randall (61'), Oghre (70')
Conversions
Ford (12', 18', 41', 62'), Atkinson (71')
George Ford praised his teammates after England wrapped up their end of season tour with a 40-5 win over the USA Eagles in Washington DC.
Steve Borthwick picked a squad that featured six uncapped players, and after an hour delay after lightning over the USA capital, they ran in six tries. There were two further lightening breaks to test the players mettle.
The result means that England return home with three victories from three under their belts, having claimed both matches against Argentina. It also keeps their grip on the Raeburn Shield, the unofficial lineal world championship.
“A lot of hard work,” captain George Ford said when asked what the secret was. “The conditions were difficult tonight.
THREE FROM THREE
“I’m proud of the boys. It is the last game of a four-week tour, and we’ve won all three games. There were six new caps here tonight so I’m really proud of the group effort as a whole.”
Arthur Clark, Joe Carpenter, and Max Ojomoh started against the USA for their debuts, and Gabriel Oghre, Oscar Beard and Charlie Atkinson came off the bench for their first caps.
Guy Pepper, Luke Northmore, Seb Atkinson, and Will Muir also made their England debuts on tour.
George Ford, meanwhile, became rugby’s latest centurion and now returns home with 102 England caps. With 13 other England players on tour with the British and Irish Lions in Australia, Borthwick is building an impressive squad depth.
“Them boys have been unbelievable all tour and they got their opportunity tonight,” Ford said. “The way they applied themselves and trained and prepared the team in Argentina was unbelievable.
FIGHTING TILL THE END
“They deserved that tonight and it’s an important moment for them and their families, so we’ll celebrate that tonight.”
For the USA, the match ends their three-match home series that also featured a win over Belgium, and defeat to Spain.
A team that featured players from Major League Rugby (MLR) and even a university team, battled well, and US fans celebrated Shilo Klein’s try in hearty fashion.
The Eagles attention now turns to the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) matches against Canada and Japan in August and September.
“It is always tough to face a tier one team,” USA captain Ben Bonasso said. “It is a big challenge, but the boys trust the process and we got that try and the end and we need to keep going.
“Facing this type of speed and conditions will make you better.”
