International round-up

November 09 2008

There were several further Rugby World Cup qualifiers around Europe on Saturday, and a match in the USA, with the Eagles seemingly making great strides under Scott Johnson's tutelage.

Lithuania beat Andorra 26-10 in the Pyrenees to get their European Nations Division 3A campaign off to a winning start, and with only they and Armenia having recorded wins so far, it seems the Division may come down to who wins their clash in Abovian next May.

In Division 3B, Slovenia's 18-9 win in Austria means the Slovenians are now comfortably top of the division, and looking certain to progress to a play-off, probably against the winners of the Armenia/Lithuania clash.

Holland recorded a fine 29-10 win in Latvia, scoring four tries and dominating from start to finish in Jelgava in Division 2B.

Meanwhile, Russia, who hold serious qualification aspirations, recorded a convincing 42-15 win over Spain in Moscow.

The USA cruised to a 43-9 win over Uruguay in Sand, Utah, in the first of their November Tests, with the other two against Japan over the next fortnight.

The Eagles scored five second-half tries to turn around a 9-7 half-time deficit and abuild upon the promise shown in the handling during the first half.