USA Eagles, Hot Wings, Spicy Waters and Heartbreak

Wee-Man and I made the 4+ hour trek yesterday down the I-25 hellscape to Infinity Park in Glendale Colorado to watch the USA Eagles in the final game of their 2023 Rugby World Cup Qualifying series against Chile's Condors. A 6 o'clock departure got us to the pitch in time to find close parking and a half hour to kill before gates opened. Killed the time with drink and hot wings from a very nearby Wing Stop and then headed back to claim good seats in the quickly filling up sold-out general admission areas. Settled into our seats with beers and waters to watch the warm-ups.

Following the respective National Anthems, play was started. The Eagles stormed to a three try advantage within the first 30 minutes off of brutal and dominating forward play in and out of set pieces. Well on our way to qualifying for the Rugby World Cup in France in 2023. And then the problems started. A questionable yellow left The Eagles down a player for ten minutes and The Condors quickly capitalized with two tries of their own to draw the game close at half. Discipline problems and mistakes continued to mount for The Eagles, to include a thrown shoe, several scrummaging penalties, poor tackling and more direct kicks in to touch than I could or cared to count and even with the addition of a thundering try by Hooker Joe Taufete'e (who has the biggest legs I have ever seen on a human being) is was not enough to win, eventually losing 31-29.

In the end it was an absolute heartbreaking loss, especially considering The Eagles were winning the game from almost to the kickoff until about 8 minutes left. Onto the final qualifying chance against Portugal, Kenya and Hong Kong in November. Hopefully The Eagles can rally and slide into the final spot for 2023. Regardless of result and disappointment, iut was WELL worth the 8+ hours spent on I-25 yesterday to experience it. If you get a chance, go see your Eagles!

-Bartender