Spain lost narrowly to USA Rugby 29-22 in Round 3 of the Nations Cup at the First Horizon Stadium in North Carolina.
Spain took on the USA in an anticipated match-up in the Nations Cup in North Carolina. Both teams were coming off a win and the first ten minutes were neck and neck, with Tani Bay gaining Spain field position with a yet another great kick from base of ruck. However, Spain´s chance to post points was turned over after neglecting to spread the ball, having chosen to pick and roll instead.
There was an element of fortune to USA´s first try after confusion on the ball being out led to a broken Spanish line. USA took full advantage of the space before Mitch Wilson (excellent all game) finished in the corner. Just a minute later Spain hit back, with Cian running a great line to take a pass in contact from Alvar Gimeno and Cian would burn USA to put in Tani Bay under the sticks.
Still, the post try brainfades for Spain returned as they were immediately bundled into touch on catching the kick off. USA would subsequently stretch the play with Mitch Wilson causing Spain an ocean of problems, before USA went over after breaking off the scrum he won. It was excellent play from USA but it was a position Spain never should´ve given them.
Spain would be starved of the ball thanks to great kicking from USA´s backline , good pressure and Spain´s inability to catch a ball. It was only a 28th minute yellow for Perry Mayo that let Spain back in the game. Both sides traded tries so at the break USA went in with a well earned 19-12 lead.
USA Rugby turn the screw on Spain
Again, the narrative didn´t change at half time, Spain dropped the kick off and were completely outplayed by an methodical USA team who zoned in on Spain´s weakness in the aerial battle. It was completely against the run of play that Spain´s miracle man Tani Bay sniped an interception and repaid the first half favour to put Cian under the sticks.
Spain weren´t punished from a miserable 50-60 minutes with three drops, two from Alberto Carmona. Justin Roberts dropped a pass that would´ve had him racing over the tryline for the USA but Spain had a lucky 22-19 lead with 20 minutes left. Spain´s decision to go for another penalty kick on the 61st minute betrayed a lack of confidence to get over the line and from that miss they never recoved. A few minutes later USA would convert their pressure into points, thanks to an exquisite run from USA Rugby´s favourite condiment Perry Mayo.
A frantic phase of play followed but USA again won the territory battle to win a penalty in the 72nd minute to make it 29-22 and they would hold out Spain to earn another massive victory.
Spain End of Season Report Card : Needs Improvement
Whilst Spain´s football team have conquered the World, the Rugby side have plenty to work on if they are to get out of the group stages at the RWC2027 in Australia. Yes players were missing but there was plenty of talent on display from Spain. Against USA, the impressive amount of tackles and work Spain got through was a big plus point but alot of that pressure was self inflicted. On the positive side, the improvement in performance from Round 1 to Round 3 of the tournament shows a Spain team going in the right direction.
The return of Spain´s horrible post try/half time errors where they immediately cough the ball back to their opposition has to be eradicated if Spain are to have a chance to claim a RWC win in 2027. One win from three has to be seen as a step back for a nation that enjoyed a highly competitive 2025.
Still, Spain won´t have a better game to put things right then against Los Cóndores of Chile in Autumn, who now lie 16th in the World Rankings. one place ahead of Spain. The only certainty is Tani Bay needs to put inside a cryo chamber to prevent Spain from losing him next year.
Meanwhile, the USA have now beaten REC winners Portugal and Spain in narrow victories, further bolstering them and giving them real momentum. They take on Japan in the streamlined Pacific Nations Cup in September and look to be building nicely into their ninth RWC appearance. It might be too soon to say but USA Rugby looks to slowly be fufilling the potential that World Rugby is desperate to see before 2031.
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