Rugby World Cup final qualifying: USA too strong for Hong Kong, set up decider against Portugal for last Paris spot
- Portugal put Kenya to the sword, running in 13 tries in 85-0 demolition in early game
- USA forward power too much for Hong Kong, who go down 49-7 in bruising encounter
The USA Eagles and Portugal will battle it out for the final spot at next year’s Rugby World Cup after both grabbed convincing victories in the final qualifying tournament in Dubai on Saturday.
Portugal put Kenya to the sword in a 85-0 victory, while the USA beat Hong Kong 49-7 in a bruising encounter in the evening’s second game at The Sevens Stadium.
A brace from wing Nate Augspurger, and further scores from Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, Kapeli Pifeleti, Cam Dolan, Mitch Wilson and Moni Tonga’uiha, plus 12 points from the boot of the flawless AJ MacGinty, powered the Eagles to victory.
Hong Kong’s lone score came from Matt Worley, who sliced through the US defence in the second half to put some gloss on the performance, and Nik Cumming scored his first points on his debut with the conversion.
The game as a contest had been over for a while before Worley’s try in the 66th minute, but the points gave his side a third or fourth wind and the closing moments were some of the best of the game from Hong Kong’s point of view.
Still, the US had the final say through replacement Tonga’uiha three minutes from time, and the No 8s barrelling run from close in brought the victory full circle, after the man he came in for, Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, scored in similar fashion after 13 minutes.
Hong Kong actually had the chance to get on the board first, but fly half Gregor McNeish pushed an early shot at goal wide, after Viliami Helu was penalised for going off his feet at the ruck.
