HOW TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN

After missing out on this year's World Cup, we find out what USA Rugby need to do eight years out from hosting the tournament

- JOSH GRAHAM

DOWN BUT not out after failing to qualify for this World Cup, USA are shooting for the stars. 

An agonising 52-51 defeat on aggregate to Chile sent the Eagles into the last-chance qualifying saloon of the repêchage where a 16-16 draw with Portugal saw them just miss out on points difference. The barest of margins added France 2023 to South Africa 1995 as the only World Cups the Eagles have missed.

While attention shifts to returning to the global stage in 2027 in Australia, the USA can rest easy when it comes to their place in 2031. As hosts, they are guaranteed a spot. What they do with that luxury, well, that’s down to them.

“In 1962, JFK at Rice University said that we would put the first man on the moon and seven-and-a-half years later we did exactly that as a nation,” says interim Eagles coach Scott Lawrence.

“The (home) World Cup is eight years away, so we can go to a quarter-final in eight years. It took the best of us as a nation to do that (moon landing). The astronauts were the best of us as people and that’s the way we see the players. It’s front of mind for me. Our moonshot is to be in a quarter-final at home. The work is now, it’s urgent and we need to get started.”

There is, then, no lack of ambition. But for a developing rugby nation, the scars of missing the game’s big dance often take some healing. While Portugal dashed US hopes this time around, it has taken the Lobos 12 years to return to the biggest stage after a 2007 debut.

South African Gary Gold stepped down as head coach after five years having failed to take USA to France. Defence coach Lawrence, a former Eagle, stepped into the breach with a deal until at least the end of September.