Eagles soared in last encounter

NZ Herald·

30 Oct, 2014 04:00 PM3 mins to read

Sonny Bill Williams has confirmed he will stay on the All Blacks' Northern Hemisphere tour even if his wife goes into labour. Williams and his wife Alana Raffie are expecting their first child in about a fortnight. Williams has been selected to play at second-five for the All Blacks against the USA Eagles in Chicago this Sunday. It will be his first test for the All Blacks since 2012. Williams only recently returned to rugby after spending two seasons playing in the NRL with the Syndey Roosters. courtesy allblacks.com

Halloween and family commitments will anchor Kevin Swords around home this weekend but the former USA lock was at the epicentre of his team's last All Blacks encounter.

The Eagles were a diverse group of talented athletes who drifted into rugby through work connections or to complement their other sporting interests.

Swords was then in the air force and a talented basketball player who used those skills to balance the combative skills needed as a rugby forward. He and his mates delivered a robust physical examination which the All Blacks never subdued as they clashed in World Cup pool play 23 years ago in Gloucester.

When the All Blacks created multiple phases they were able to outflank the Eagles and belted away to a 46-6 victory but in the set-piece parts of the game, Swords and his buddies brought some serious venom.

"We looked them in the eye and said we were aggressive players just like the All Blacks," Swords recalled.

"We took the attitude that we were not afraid. The All Blacks were better players but we were good athletes.

"I think we did much better than anyone anticipated because we had a schedule where we played Italy on Sunday I believe, the All Blacks on Tuesday I think then England a few days later."

Swords led the way with an aggressive lineout performance against his All Black opposite and captain Gary Whetton as the 12,000 crowd acclaimed the spirited underdogs.

Swords is rapt the Eagles are meeting the All Blacks once more, on Sunday in front of a sellout crowd at Soldier Field in Chicago. The municipal bonds trader will record or watch the test on cable TV as he juggles weekend duties with his wife and four kids in New Jersey.

The 2.02m lock played test rugby until 1994 when the US missed qualifying for the next World Cup but kept playing club rugby until 2000 and then did some coaching.

He travelled to watch the Eagles play Scotland in Houston in June when he was inducted to the USA Rugby Hall of Fame. He was worried the Eagles did not play well that day and hopes they are much more competitive this weekend.

"Having a crowd of 60 odd thousand to a rugby game is unheard of in America and I hope they are not all cheering for the All Blacks. We can use some support."

Swords is sure the All Blacks visit will be a fillip for the sport. There was talk of record television audiences but whether that interest could be sustained was the big unknown.