England better Eagles in training fixture

The game, played behind closed doors at Surrey Sports Park in Gulldford - home of the pool stages of the 2010 World Cup - was mainly an opportunity for the two teams to try out a range of combinations. All of the squads were used, and the game was played over four periods of 25 minutes each,

USA Head Coach Pete Steinberg said the practice game was useful. He used 27 players, with each quarter starting with a new team to allow the team to try a range of new combinations. Overall, he said, the defense and the scrums were good, but the USA lineout, and, perhaps because of the lineout, the attack, were lacking.

In such circumstances the overall score (reported to be 48-0 overall to England) was of little importance (or relevance) - the key will Saturday's full test match between the same two countries.