Famous fixtures: England v USA
As England prepare to play the USA in Washington D.C. on Saturday 19 July at 22:05 BST, take a look back at some of the most famous encounters between the two rugby teams.
2021: England 43-29 USA
The 2021 fixture against the USA marked the return of spectators to Allianz Stadium, as the Covid-19 pandemic had prevented any supporters attending the 2021 Six Nations. Even then, only 10,000 were permitted to attend the game.
For those who were there, they were treated to an 11-try feast, with Joe Cokanasiga scoring twice. There were also eight uncapped players in the starting XV, including Freddie Steward, Marcus Smith and Harry Randall.
The USA opened the scoring, but England responded immediately through Sam Underhill, before Ollie Lawrence scored ahead of Cokanasiga’s double.
The visitors hit back in the second half with an early try, but Jamie Blamire scored from a charge down, only for Cameron Dolan to pull off his own charge down try.
However, two fantastic Randall dummies to create a tries for both Smith and himself and although the USA scored two more tries, England had done enough to see out a comfortable win.
2019: England 45-7 USA
England have regularly met the USA at Men’s Rugby World Cups, playing them on four occasions. At the 2019 World Cup in Japan, they faced each other in England’s second pool game of the tournament, having beaten Tonga 35-3 in their opener.
It took just five minutes for George Ford to open the scoring, scything through a gap to score under the posts following sustained pressure. Billy Vunipola and Luke Cowan-Dickie then added tries from rolling mauls for a 19-0 lead at half-time.
An excellent dummy from Jonathan Joseph brought England within range, allowing Cokanasiga to dive over seven minutes into the half. Shortly after, Ruaridh McConnochie scored his first England try thanks to some slick handling, before Lewis Ludlam also crossed for the first time in a white shirt.
John Quill then saw red for a dangerous tackle on Owen Farrell and with a man advantage Ellis Genge embarked on a memorable run from his own half, beating one defender before bumping off two more. His carry brought him to the 22 and Cokanasiga finished off the move for his second.
The USA did score with the clock in the red, but England ran out 45-7 victors.
2007: England 28 -10 USA
England got their 2007 Rugby World Cup off to a solid start thanks to a 28-10 win over the USA at Stade Felix Bollaert in Lens.
Starting in place of the injured Jonny Wilkinson, fly-half Olly Barkley nudged Brian Ashton’s men into a 9-3 lead, with the Eagles’ points coming via the boot of former Sale Sharks man Mike Hercus.
Josh Lewsey injected excitement into what had been an uneventful first half through a meaningful break that would be the catalyst behind the opening try. Quick service to Mike Catt gave the experienced centre enough time to thread a cross-field kick into the path of Jason Robinson, who collected and duly touched down.
A second score before the break put England in a commanding position, and it was Lewsey again who instigated it through a powerful surge down the right flank. Quick ball from Shaun Perry went through the hands of Catt and Ben Kay, and a delayed delivery from the second-row saw Barkley go over to give England a 21-3 half-time lead.
Openside flanker Tom Rees grabbed England’s third and final try on the 48-minute mark, tapping from a penalty five metres out and powering over for his first Test points. USA replacement prop Matekitonga Moeakiola went over for much deserved score, but it would prove just a consolation.
2001: England 48 - 19 USA
England recorded a then record-breaking 11th consecutive Test victory after beating the USA 48-19 in San Francisco.
Despite a large contingent of regular starters being on British & Irish Lions duty in Australia, England made a rapid start to the Test, and found themselves 21-0 up inside 15 minutes thanks to the converted tries of Dorian West, Pat Sanderson and Josh Lewsey.
Eagles debutant Jone Naqica bagged one back for his team before Joe Worsley and Leon Lloyd struck to make it 33-5 at the break.
Lloyd got on the scoresheet again in the second half, and though the US reduced the deficit courtesy of Juan Grobler and a second Naqica try, Lewis Moody crossed to seal a comfortable victory at Boxer Stadium.
1999: England 106 - 8 USA
England scored 16 tries en route to a 106-8 rout of the USA at Twickenham in their final preparations ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
A first half penalty from scrum-half Kevin Dalzell and try from prop George Sucher were all the points the visitors would score, as Clive Woodward’s men notched up 31 points in the opening half, and 75 in the second.
Jeremy Guscott registered four tries with Matt Perry, Dan Luger and Neil Back all bagging braces. Matt Dawson, Phil de Glanville, Phil Greening, Richard Hill, Martin Johnson and a penalty try, as well as 13 Jonny Wilkinson conversions got England to triple digits.
Did you know? England also played the USA at Twickenham in the 1991 World Cup, winning 37-9, as well as winning 34-6 at the 1987 World Cup in Sydney.
