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This weekend 8,000 rugby fans enjoyed seeing 2006 Heineken Cup Champion Munster defeat the Rugby World Cup bound-USA Eagles 10-6 at Toyota Park. This match was the final match for the USA Eagles before they travel to France for the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
This was the first time Chicagoist had seen rugby played at this level and was immediately intimidated and impressed at the size of the players and the ferocity with which they hit each other. The game was entertaining to the die-hard fans as well to us rugby newbies.
From what we could tell, the Eagles seemed in control of the game in the first half and even went into the half time break with a 6-0 lead with all points coming off the foot of Mike Hercus who converted two of three penalties in scoring range.
The tide turned when Munster shifted momentum, scoring three points just two minutes into the second half. Munster put away the game when Anthony Horgan made a run along the sideline and made it across the try line. Paul Warick then converted and Munster found themselves in the lead 10-6 and were able to keep the Eagles off the board for the remainder of the game.
The Eagles depart for France on September 1, for the Rugby World Cup. The United States will compete in Pool A with England, South Africa, Samoa and Tonga and kick of the action verses England on September 8 in Lens, France.
Additional photos from the event are on Flickr (Chicagoist_todd).
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saw my 2nd rugby game ever (1st was down in australia this past march with the Super 14) down at fire stadium yesterday.
what a great game....that stadium really is something -- just about everyone feels so close to the action! who can deny that the rugby boys have some serious bodies to drool over? yowsa, that was fun. might need to follow a bit of the world cup this year, but don't think our USA team will be making it very far.
The Eagles looked so tired during the second half... They're going to need to step it up. Munster didn't even have their two best players with them!
Toyota Park WAS nice, though... even though it's way the hell out there.
What is Fran? Don't tell me it's an attempt to be cool and say France. That's worse than Extra, Extra.
I have no idea what happened to the "ce" of France. I am worried the c and the e might have surrendered to someone. My apologies.
Thank god Todd was just guilty of a type-o.
I heard some announcer on WGN--I think it was Dave Kaplan--call Aramis Ramirez, "A-Ram" which made me vomit immediately.
Todd ... best Chicagoist comeback EVER.