Daniels vs Eagles: Epic Showdown in Spain – Preview & Predictions
- This victory moved them to 15th place in the World Rugby rankings.
- “Spain is a good team,” says Daniel, who will wear the number seven jersey against Spain.
- The Eagles must perform well on defense and offense against Spain, who narrowly lost to Fiji in their last match.
Spain Showdown”>
News Nov-22-2024
Daniels & Eagles Poised For Spain Showdown
Written by Will Hooley | Photo by USA Rugby
The USA Eagles won 36-17 against Tonga last Saturday. This victory moved them to 15th place in the World Rugby rankings. The Eagles showed clean ball handling, strong set pieces, and fluid attacking play. Their next challenge is a match against Spain, aiming for their third consecutive win. Eagles flanker Cory Daniel believes that Spain will be tough competition.
“Spain is a good team,” says Daniel, who will wear the number seven jersey against Spain. “They have threats everywhere and play wide, so we are preparing for that.”
The Eagles must perform well on defense and offense against Spain, who narrowly lost to Fiji in their last match. Cory Daniel made 18 tackles against Tonga and will be crucial for the Eagles’ defense.
“I feel like we have cohesion and continuity,” Daniel said. “There is trust in our game plan. We are now 15th in the world, which is great, but we want to climb higher.”
The Eagles demonstrated improvement in their game during this November Tour. They scored six tries against Tonga, a sign of their attacking creativity under coach Alama Ieremia. Their line-outs and scrums also showed significant advancement.
“Last weekend was a huge win for us,” Daniel stated. “Seeing our hard work pay off felt great!”
Other players also showed strong performances. AJ MacGinty demonstrated control as flyhalf, while Dominic Besag adapted well at outside center. The forwards played dynamically, helping create quick ruck speed and advancing the ball efficiently.
The Eagles will need these strengths against Spain. Coach Scott Lawrence has made some changes to the starting lineup. Jake Turnbull, Paul Mullen, Mark O’Keeffe, and Erich Storti will start. Noah Brown is set for his USA XVs debut from the bench. The Eagles aim to secure 15th place in the rankings, providing confidence for the upcoming World Cup qualification year.
“We know the challenge in front of us,” says Daniel. “We want to win in Spain. We must control our game and stay disciplined to finish the tour strong.”
The match between Spain and the USA Eagles is scheduled for 6:45 AM ET. Watch it here.