United States at the Rugby World Cup

With the 2–0 record and 44-33 aggregate score, Argentina secured the final qualifying spot for the Americas.

2007 Squad: Forwards: Blake Burdette, Owen Lentz, Mike MacDonald, Matekitonga Moeakiola, Chris Osentowski, Jonathan Vitale, Luke Gross, Mike Mangan, Hayden Mexted, Alec Parker, Mark Aylor, Inaki Basauri, Todd Clever, Fifita Mounga, Louis Stanfill, Henry Bloomfield, Dan Payne Backs: Chad Erskine, Mike Petri, Mike Hercus (C), Nese Malifa, Philip Eloff, Vahafolau Esikia, Thretton Palamo, Albert Tuipulotu, Paul Emerick, Takudzwa Ngwenya, Salesi Sika, Francois Viljoen, Chris Wyles Head Coach: Peter Thorburn In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, the US joined England, Samoa, South Africa and Tonga in Pool A.

Coached by New Zealander Peter Thorburn, the Eagles started off with tough match against the defending world champions England, losing 28–10.

After an interception and a pair of passes, Takudzwa Ngwenya sped down the sideline and outran Bryan Habana, arguably the fastest man in world rugby, to score a try that received Try of the Year honors at the 2007 IRB Awards.

30 Man Squad: The Eagles showed tremendous fight and power in their World Cup opening match against Ireland emotionally charged as the game coincided with the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Russia leaped out to an early 3–0 lead after a penalty goal from inside the 22 set up by a block on a Mike Petri box kick.

The Americans took a 10–3 lead into the half after a break by Andrew Suniula set up a try for Mike Petri.

[7] The win elevated the Eagles back up to 17th in the IRB rankings and dropped Russia one spot to 21st.

For their third match the Eagles trotted out a squad with 14 changes from the one that met Russia, ensuring that each player on the roster received a cap in the tournament.

Australia got on the board early with tries at the 7- and 10-minute marks, but the Eagles answered with a JJ Gagiano try at the 22nd minute that cut the deficit to 10–5.

[8] The final match saw the Eagles playing for a 3rd-place finish in Pool C and an automatic qualification into the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

In their opening match against Samoa, the United States trailed 14–8 at the half, and ultimately fell 25–16, after finding tremendous difficulties at the lineout and in the scrum.

[12] Carrying a tough 0–1 start into the team's second match, the Eagles made history by claiming a first ever halftime lead over a tier 1 nation (13–6),[13] on the back of a strong showing in the scrum.

[14] With a winless campaign becoming a real possibility, the coaching staff chose a roster that drastically differed from the starters in the first two matches.

[17] Source: World Rugby Rank is as of the end of the pool stages, and does not include the knockout rounds.