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LENS, France - United States captain Mike Hercus was a proud man after his side struck a blow for the so-called lesser nations at the World Cup with a hugely creditable display during a 28-10 defeat against reigning champions England in their opening Pool A match.
Outside-half Hercus, who played for English Premiership side Sale, kicked a penalty and then converted the final try of the match when replacement forward Matekitonga Moeakiola, of Utah's Park City Haggis, crossed six minutes from time to give the Eagles a score they fully deserved.
"I'm very proud of the guys. After a while when we realised we could hold them (England) and I'm disappointed we couldn't take some of our opportunities.
"Several occasions we had lineouts close to their line. But the fact we got those opportunities against the world champions is good for us."
The chief executive of USA Rugby is Nigel Melville, the former England captain and in Kiwi coach Peter Thorburn they have someone else who knows the English game well from his time with Bristol.
"We've been struggling a little bit because we don't train and play a lot together. The attitude and tackling lifted, I think amazingly well," Thorburn also told reporters after Saturday's match here at the Stade Felix Bollaert.
"Moral victories don't get you points but for us it was a moral victory.
"I hope we learn from it and recover. We've got Tonga on Wednesday and they're pretty physically easy," he joked.
The US bench appeared enraged when, in the 14th minute and long before their oppoents scored any of their three tries, centre Paul Emerick was tripped by England captain Phil Vickery after Hercus had intercepted Ben Kay's pass.
However, South African referee Jonathan Kaplan took no action although prop forward Vickery could yet be cited.
"I didn't really see it clearly," Thorburn said. "It happened. Decisions were or weren't made, we've just got to move on."
England's lacklustre display would have left many of their fans fearful of the team's chances against South Africa in Paris on Friday.
But Hercus said: "It was one of those games as much as England tried to get up for us, they probably thought at the end of the day 'it's just the Eagles'.
"No doubt their players will lift for the bigger games. It was a grand final for us and it wasn't for them."
- AFP
