# Rugby in Chicago - All Blacks v USA **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 30, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047 "2014-10-30T19:10:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047/1 "2014-10-30T19:10:12Z")
This Saturday sees the reigning world champions take on the reigning Olympic champions\* in Chicago. Any dopers going along? It’s the first time these teams have played each other since the 1991 rugby world cup, and the first time the All Blacks have played in the US since 1980. If the US keep the margin below 40 points it’ll be a moral victory. \*The USA won the 1924 Olympic gold for rugby (although only France and Romania entered teams). Rugby was discontinued from the Olympics thereafter, but will return at the Rio games (albeit in the cut-down 7s format). So US dopers better enjoy that epic reign while it lasts… ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047/2 "2014-11-01T20:19:29Z")
its started. USA looking pretty sharp, only down by 2 after 10 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047/3 "2014-11-01T21:00:06Z")
Yeah, things changed pretty quickly. It’s looking like men against boys out there. Nobody expected the US to win, or even be competitive, but the All Blacks are just toying with them. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047/4 "2014-11-01T21:05:39Z")
Yeah after a brave start the Eagles are falling apart. I hope view can get a try at least. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047/5 "2014-11-01T21:11:16Z")
They had a shot at one but the ref blew the whistle, and the All Blacks immediately scored. And the demolition continues. 53-6, with no indication that New Zealand won’t hit 100 points or that the US will actually get a try. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047/6 "2014-11-01T21:18:24Z")
Joubert may have to de power the scrums before an Eagle gets hurt. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047/7 "2014-11-01T22:12:30Z")
74 - 6 in the end. Tapping and running from your own 22 was brave I guess. Full credit to the Americans, they kept tackling right to the end, a lot of teams would have folded completely in the last ten minutes. ---
**Author:** ![HotDogWater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@HotDogWater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HotDogWater)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047/8 "2014-11-02T17:04:34Z")
My RFC had a viewing party at one of our sponsor bars, packed the house with almost 100 people, a good turnout for an Eagles game on TV. We also had about 12 members travel to Chicago to watch in person. USA Rugby instituted a national bye week for clubs at all levels, hoping to sell out Solder Field, and they did. IMO it was a great decision, as most rugby fans in the states are players as well. As for the game itself, I was happy about the tackling too. Hard hits in the forwards for all 80 minutes. The All Blacks just do not stop coming. Bodies aroung the ball in full support all day long, and I don’t think they made any forward passes. I just wish we had scored a try. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047/9 "2014-11-02T19:08:49Z")
I certainly hope that rugby does catch on in the US, because you guys know how to: - organise leagues - build good stadiums - publicise and hence get sponsors As a lifelong rugby fan, I think the Sevens version of the game (the one they’ll use in the Olympics) has several advantages (over the 15-a-side seen in Chicago) that will appeal to Americans: - it’s full of action, with a score about every minute - it’s easy to follow (no ‘rolling mauls’, constantly ‘resetting scrums’ and ‘slowing the game’ at rucks) - the games last a precise time (7 minutes per half, with 10 minutes in the final) and there are useful intervals (half-time and between games) for TV adverts - there’s more opportunity for ‘set plays’ (like in American Football) ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047/10 "2014-11-03T03:45:59Z")
Out of curiosity are the Eagles players amateurs? Or are they professionals playing in international comps (Super 15, Heineken Cup, Japanese Rugby, etc)? ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047/11 "2014-11-03T09:27:43Z")
Most of them are amateurs with 4 or 5 playing in the Heineken cup and the like. Here’s a [nice article](http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/nov/02/all-blacks-us-eagles-mike-petri)from the half back about the game - two weeks before he’d been playing for his New York club. ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047/12 "2014-11-03T19:45:17Z")
I was there and it was an absolute blast. I’m glad there were so many fans familiar with rugby to help explain the game to me. I loved all of us Chicagoans roaring to Jim Cornelison’s anthem and then right after there was near silence during the Haka. There were so many friendly fans there from all around the country and the world - every time I got up to use the mug I ended up having a conversation with someone new. Also, despite what seemed to me as much alcohol being consumed as during 2 Bears home games I witnessed no fights or arguments whatsoever. Much fun was had, much beer consumed. Would watch again! ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047/13 "2014-11-03T20:13:33Z")
Was this the full All Blacks side? I ask because the last Eagles home international I remember was a few years ago in San Francisco against England, but that team had something like its top 17 players missing as they were part of a British Lions tour of Australia going on at the same time. (Speaking of rugby and San Francisco…Balboa Park? Really? Why did they bother rebuilding Kezar if not for matches like this?) ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047/14 "2014-11-03T20:47:09Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Was this the full All Blacks side? I ask because the last Eagles home international I remember was a few years ago in San Francisco against England, but that team had something like its top 17 players missing as they were part of a British Lions tour of Australia going on at the same time. > > (Speaking of rugby and San Francisco…Balboa Park? Really? Why did they bother rebuilding Kezar if not for matches like this?) I think the All Blacks sat several starters, but I can’t tell you who. Just something I overheard at the game. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047/15 "2014-11-03T21:07:28Z")
My sister was watching this and [del]drooling[/del] admiring the physiques of the players. She thinks they are rather fine. I dunno, not my area of expertise. On the other hand, they did show a bitof the Kiwi’s pre-game haka routine, which is seriously cool. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rugby-in-chicago-all-blacks-v-usa/703047/16 "2014-11-03T21:25:36Z")
Clear first choice All Black starters who didn’t play: Richie McCaw Aaron Smith Ben Smith Conrad Smith Jerome Kaino Brodie Retallick Wyatt Crockett You could argue that Malakai Fekitoa is the incumbent second-five ahead of Sonny Bill Williams, and Beauden Barrett has been the regular first five as well. So maybe half a full-strength side would be a fair assessment. New Zealand has ridiculous depth in rugby though, on the same day the All Blacks played the Eagles, the Maori All Blacks defeated Japan 61-21 and 10 New Zealanders played in the Barbarian side that had a thrilling game with Australia…