Rugby World Cup: USA romp to 10-try demolition of Kenya in opening game of final qualifying tournament
- Dylan Fawsitt and Christian Dyer grab hat-tricks for US, who are favourites to win four-team competition in Dubai
- Hong Kong face Portugal in second game at The Sevens Stadium where spot at main event in Paris is up for grabs
The USA romped to a convincing 68-14 win over Kenya in the opening game of the Rugby World Cup final qualifying tournament in Dubai on Sunday.
Dylan Fawsitt, the hooker, and wing Christian Dyer both bagged hat-tricks in a 10-try thrashing, as they made a fast start to the tournament that will decide the last place for the main event in Paris next year.
There were scores too for No 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, full-back Mitch Wilson, wing Nate Augspurger and replacement prop Mike Sosene Feagai, while fly half Luke Carty and his replacement AJ MacGinty contributed 18 points with the boot between them.
The seemingly endless procession of scores in the second half was in stark contrast to an error-strewn opening 20 minutes, when no one on the pitch was immune to making a mistake, with even referee Tual Trainini getting on the act.
Trainini had quite a busy start to the game, and only he will know why American lock Siaosi Mahoni was sin-binned rather than shown a straight red card for a shoulder charge to the head of opposite number Malcolm Onsando at a ruck.
Despite being a man down, the US, and everyone else at The Sevens Stadium, thought they had taken the lead shortly after when Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz barrelled over from close range and Luke Carty calmly added the extras.
