Too much kicking and not enough tackling left the United States national rugby team down 32-25 to the Uruguayan team Saturday night at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila.
Straight ahead running by the Uruguay backs had a lot to do with the South American team’s victory in the American Rugby Championship.
The U.S. Eagles kicked away possession and saw the Uruguayan back cutting through their defense. The only way the U.S. team could score was from mauls from their own lineouts with Joe Taufete’e, the hooker, scoring three tries.
Uruguay led 19-13 at half, put up another try early in the second half (24-13) before Taufete’s scored his third try (24-18).
One more try by the Uruguayan backs before the U.S. got untangled enough to run in a try (29-25). With a minute to go, Uruguay chose to take a penalty kick and frittered away the minute so that when the ball flew through the uprights the game was over, 32-25.
It might as well have been like taking a knee in slow football: The Uruguayan kicker got a drink of water from the trainer, lined up the ball, hesitated, hesitated and finally kicked it as the clock ran out.
My suggestion: Stop the clock for penalty kicks and conversions. The kickers take too long and burn up too many minutes.
Stop the clock when a try is scored and restart it after the conversion kick is taken.
Same with a penalty: When the team decides to kick for goal, stop the clock and restart it when the play resumes.
Why let the dawdling kicker run down minutes off the clock while he is waiting for the tee to be brought in, adjusting the ball on a tee as big as a traffic cone, scraping his feet on the turf, backing up, taking three steps to the side, grimacing or doing other facial contortions and finally approaching and putting foot to ball.
Let’s spend that time running, scrummaging, tackling, scoring tries and playing rugby.
More international rugby at Starfire Friday night at 7 when the U.S. Eagles take on the Canadian national team.