Georgia score late winner
The United States narrowly missed out on a sweep of their 2010 Test matches, going down in a nail-biter against Georgia.
It was a physical and close encounter between the US Eagles and hosts Georgia, with a vibrant crowd of 35,000 packed into National Stadium in Tbilisi.
The Eagles looked like they would stave off Georgia, but a last minute Georgian try and conversion pulled the home team ahead with a final score of 17-19.
Eagles coach Eddie O'Sullivan knew that the American defence was solid and physical.
Against Georgia, the Eagles employed an all out tactical blitz. O'Sullivan's Eagles kept the Georgians guessing in all aspects of the game, especially on attack.
A versatile group of loose forwards - Todd Clever, Iñaki Basauri, and Louis Stanfill - popped around the scrums and line-outs, never letting the Georgians get a good read on the American set-piece. The American pack would keep the Georgians off-rhythm at line-outs as well and were dictating pace in all aspects of forward play.
"We had a great team performance. Everyone gave 110 percent and definitely put their bodies on the line. I'm very proud of how we played," said O'Sullivan.
Paul Emerick opened the US's scoring and earned his 60th point in international rugby. Nese Malifa added six points in the first half by way of a drop-goal and penalty, bringing the Eagles ahead 11-6 after 40 minutes.
Nese Malifa and Chris Wyles kept the US in front with lead changes aplenty in the second half. Wyles nailed a drop-goal to add to the Eagles' tally and Malifa added three points from a penalty.
The US found themselves with a 17-12 lead over Georgia at the final hooter, but some seven minutes of injury time gave Georgia time to mount an attack.
The American defence held strong and weathered a Georgian onslaught and it appeared to be over when the home team knocked the ball on in the waning seconds. A scrum was called and the collective will of 35,000 raucous Georgian fans was aimed at the Georgian forwards in the final set piece of the match. Georgia destroyed the American scrum and won a turnover. Replacement Kvirikashvili threw a long pass to his right to Lekso Gugava, who had an easy run in for the try. That levelled the scores but Kvirikashvili's conversion won the match which then ended.
American ball against the head and scored in the final play. Georgia's conversion hit the mark, sealing the victory for the home side.
While disappointed with finishing the tour with a loss, Eddie O'Sullivan was very proud of the Eagles' performance.
"We played a really good game of rugby," said O'Sullivan.
"It came right down to the wire and it could have gone either way."
The scorers:
For Georgia:
Try: Gugava
Con: Kvirikashvili
Pens: Malaghuradze 3. Kvirikashvili
For the United States:
Try: Emerick
Pens: Malifa 2
DGs: Malifa, Wyles
Teams:
Georgia: 15 Basiki Khamashuridze, 14 Irakli Machkaneli, 13 Irakli Chkivakdze, 12 Tedo Zibzibadaze, 11 Lekso Gugava, 10 Lasha Malaguradze, 9 Irakli Abuseridze, 8 Beasrion Udesiani, 7 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 6 Simon Maisuradze, 5 Levan Datunashvili, 4 Shalva Sutiashvili, 3 David Kubriashvili, 2 Akvsenti Giorgadze, 1 Goderdzi Shvelidze.
Replacements: 16 Iuri Natriashvili, 17 David Zirakishvili, 18 Viktor Kolelishvili, 19 Giorgi Nesadze, 20 Bidzina Samkharadze, 21 David Kacharava, 22 Merab Kvirikashvili.
United States Eagles: 15 Chris Wyles, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Paul Emerick, 12 Andrew Suniula, 11 Kevin Swiryn, 10 Nese Malifa, 9 Tim Usasz, 8 Iñaki Basauri, 7 Todd Clever (captain), 6 Louis Stanfill, 5 Hayden Smith, 4 Samu Manoa, 3 Shawn Pittman, 2 Phillip Thiel, 1 Mate Moeakiola.
Replacements: 16 Chris Biller, 17 Mike MacDonald, 18 Scott Lavalla, 19 Nic Johnson, 20 Mike Petri, 21 Taivalu Enosa, 22 Setareki Tuilevuka.
Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Healy (Scotland), Allan Forrest (Scotland)