Depsite a late comeback form the home side, the USA managed to beat Uruguay 27-22 in a World Cup qualifying match in Montevideo on Saturday.
Thirteen points in the last six minutes have boosted Uruguay's chances of claiming the Americas 2 spot at Rugby World Cup 2011 after the first leg of their play-off.
Uruguay had won only one of their 10 previous meetings with the Eagles, their most recent loss being a 43-9 defeat in Salt Lake City last year, and at 27-9 they would have been left with a mountain to climb in Florida next weekend
However, Uruguay full back Jeronimo Etcheverry -- a member of their IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy winning side of 2008 -- stepped forward to kick two penalties and convert his last minute try to cut the deficit to five points at the final whistle to the delight of the 2,000 strong crowd
The 21-year-old's fourth penalty of the night and his converted try came when Uruguay enjoyed a one-man advantage after Eagles replacement Mike Petri was sent to the sin-bin by Argentinean referee Javier Mancuso
"We are happy to win, but honestly a bit disappointed that we gave up so many points in the last quarter" admitted Eagles coach Eddie O'Sullivan
"We would have liked to walk away with a larger point spread, but in the end are happy to take away the victory"
The Eagles had taken the lead in the 15th minute at the Charrua Stadium with scrum half Tim Usasz's try, before fly half Nicolas Morales got the home side on the board with a penalty five minutes later Another try for Kevin Swiryn and a Mike Hercus penalty, though, gave the visitors a 13-3 advantage at half time
Centre Junior Sifa touched down eight minutes after the break and this time Hercus was able to add the conversion Once more though Los Teros came back at their visitors with Etcheverry kicking his first penalty in the 55th minute to make it 20-6
Uruguay's cause was not helped by the loss of prop Mario Sagario to the sin-bin just past the hour mark, and while Etcheverry kicked another penalty, the Eagles pulled further away with replacement Alipate Tuilevuka's try
However with Uruguay's scrum and maul remaining strong, Etcheverry brought them back into the match and strengthened their chances of taking the Americas 2 place alongside two-time winners Australia, Italy, Ireland and Europe 2 in Pool C at Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand
The teams:
Uruguay: 15 Jeronimo Etcheverry, 14 Martin Crosa, 13 Juan Llovet, 12 Joaquin Pastore, 11 Leandro Leivas, 10 Nicolas Morales, 9 Juan Campomar, 8 Rodrigo Capo (c), 7 Alfredo Giuria, 6 Nicolas Brignoni, 5 Matias Fonseca, 4 Carlos Protasi, 3 Mario Sagario, 2 Martin Espiga, 1 Rodrigo Sànchez,
Replacements: 16 Carlos Arboleya 17 Alejo Corral 18 Juan Rombys 19 Juan Alzueta 20 Manuel Martinez 21 Alejandro Silveira 22 Tomas Jolivet
USA: 15 Chris Wyles, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Paul Emerick, 12 Junior Sifa, 11 Kevin Swiryn, 10 Mike Hercus, 9 Tim Usasz, 8 Nic Johnson, 7 Todd Clever (captain), 6 Louis Stanfill, 5 Hayden Smith, 4 John Van der Giessen, 3 Will Johnson, 2 Phil Thiel, 1 Mate Moeakiola.
Replacements: 16 Brian McClenahan 17 Jacob Sprague 18 Alec Parker 19 Jonathan Gagiano 20 Mike Petri 21 Nese Malifa 22 Pate Tuilevuka
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