It was simply the best showing against an English side in the modern era. Forget about those glad handed Churchill Cup matches with England A in Canada, the last time it really mattered against a full English side in 1999, England ravished the United Sates 106-8.
Yet, today the Eagles stood tall against England. Ultimately mental lapses and a yellow card against Vahafolau Esikia proved to be their undoing. At the 31st minute Esikia was sinbinned leaving his hapless teamates at a man disadvantage for the remaining minutes of the half. England methodically scored fifteen points against the shorthanded Eagles before the half whistle thankfully sounded.
The second half England attacked in wave after wave but the Eagles remained steadfast and only yielded the first try against then at equal strength. At the 74th minute former English captain Dallaglio was carded late in the match for his use of desperate measures to thwart the Eagle attack, and then replacement Matekitonga Moeakiola properly bulldozed his way over immediately on the restart.
What if those terrible minutes 31st through 41st when the Eagles could been avoided by not taking the yellow card? What if Moeakiola started instead of Macdonald whom some questioned with a possible hand injury?
Doesn’t matter I say, a loss is a loss but you can take pride in the strides forward for the Eagles. Let’s just hope they break the legacy of one step forward and two steps back.