USA head coach Eddie O'Sullivan has asked his players for a repeat performance against Canada next Saturday after winning the first leg of their Rugby World Cup qualifier in Charleston, South Carolina, at the weekend.
The Eagles scored a 12-6 victory over the Canucks at Blackbaud Stadium on Saturday in the first match of a home-and-away tie that guarantees a berth in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand to the winner.
Former Sale, Scarlets and Dragons fly-half Mike Hercus kicked all his side's points, with one drop goal and three penalty kicks, to give ex-Ireland coach O'Sullivan his second victory since taking over the side in March and the USA's first win over their North American rivals since 2005.
'The forwards played exceptionally well. They built the platform for Hercus and he executed,' O'Sullivan said following the Independence Day victory.
'Canada is always a very tough competitor and this was a hard-fought match. But I thought these boys deserved this victory,'
'We missed a couple of opportunities, but a win is a win and I'm really happy we could get the job done at home. Now we just need to repeat it next week.'
Man-of-the-match Hercus, one of the few survivors from the last US team to beat Canada at the 2005 Churchill Cup, also paid tribute to his pack.
'I just happen to be the kicker,' he said.
'The forwards did all the hard work. It was a tough game and they played very well. We only had five guys on the team, including myself, who had ever beaten Canada before and of course this is our biggest game of the year.
'This is about as good as it gets.'
Canadian head coach Kieran Crowley conceded his team had been beaten by the better side in Charleston.
'They just out-passioned us and they deserved the win,' former All Black Crowley said.
'That's what this series is about - and today we just weren't good enough.'
The second leg is in Edmonton, Canada, on Saturday, with the aggregate victor progressing into Pool A of the 2011 Rugby World Cup to face the host nation's All Blacks, France, Tonga and the top Asian qualifier.
The loser gets a second shot at qualification, heading into a two-legged play-off with South American counterparts Uruguay, the winner of which takes the Americas 2 berth in Pool C against Australia, Ireland, Italy and the Europe 2 qualifier.
