As the Wallabies prefer for their first test on US soil since 1976, it’s perhaps a chance to look at some of the interesting statistics and records currently held from Australia v USA test matches. Perhaps we’ll see some new records set this weekend?
For the Wallabies
Try Scoring:
It should not come as any surprise that our all-time leading test try scorer, David Campese, is top of the table with 6 tries, from three games v the US. Worth noting that four of those came in one game in Sydney back in 1983.
Of the current squad only Adam Ashley-Cooper is close with three, however he isn’t playing this test. Rob Horne and Kurtley Beale have both scored one try each v the US.
Campo’s 4 in a test sets the mark for the most in a single test for the Wallabies v the Eagles, whilst Ashley-Cooper’s 3 in the last RWC comes in second.
Point Scoring:
Again, no surprises here that our all time leading test point scorer, Michael Lynagh, also leads the way here with 39 points from his two tests. Back in 1990 in Brisbane, Noddy scored 24 points in a test at Ballymore via two tries and 8 conversions.
Noddy’s 8 conversions is the most scored by a Wallaby v the USA, however you have to go back to that last US test, back in 1976 in Los Angeles, for the penalty goal record. We won that test 24-12 on the back of four penalties from fullback James Hindmarsh.
Caps:
Campo’s 3 caps is the most of any Wallabies against the USA, with a solitary cap the most of any of our current squad (gained at the 2011 RWC).
It will be the first time Bernard Foley, Dean Mumm, Greg Holmes, Henry Speight, James Hanson, Joe Tomane, Kane Douglas, Matt Giteau, Nick Phipps, Sam Carter, Scott Sio, Sean McMahon, and of course the potential debutants Tom Smith and Taqele Naiyaravoro, will have played a test v the US.
Team Records:
The most points the Wallabies have scored in a single test v the USA is 67, having done it twice. The first was in that game Lynagh notched 24 of his in own, in Brisbane in 1990. The other time was when AAC scored three, at the 2011 RWC in Wellington.
That RWC match also was our biggest ever win margin, at 62, against the yanks, however the 1990 match at Ballymore was the test that saw the most tries (12) and most conversions (8).
For the USA
Try Scoring:
There’s a chance here for one of the current Eagles players to write their name into the record book no US Rugby player has ever scored more than one try in a match against the Wallabies. In fact, there has only been five try scorers for the USA v Australia. They are Phil Harrigan, Bill Leversee, Ray Nelson, JJ Gagiano and Juan Grobler.
Grobler, of course, goes down as the fantastic trivia question answer for being the only player to score a try against the 1999 RWC winning Wallabies during the tournament.
Point Scoring:
As you’d expect, there aint much happening here. The wonderfully named Kip Oxman leads the way with 12 points, which were all scored in that 1976 test in LA, via four penalty goals. As you’d expect this is the most points scored, and most penalties scored, by an US Eagle in a test v the Wallabies.
Caps:
Ray Nelson leads the way here and, as with Campo, has played three tests v the Wallabies.
Team Records:
The most points ever scored by the USA v the Wallabies is the 19 points they managed in the 1999 RWC match in Limerick, on the back of that Grobbelar try.
Overall
Australia and the USA have played each other seven times, with Australia winning all of them. Three of these tests have been in Australia, two have been in the USA and another two have been in neutral territory during RWCs (Limerick, Ireland in 1999 and Wellington, NZ in 2011).
Australia have scored 321 overall and let in just 68 for an average of about 46-10. Interestingly though, on American soil the average points differential is just 8 points (18-10).
The full history
16 November, 1912 @ St Ignatius Ground, Berkeley
Australia: 15 Alf Dunbar, 14 Danny Carroll, 13 Larry Dwyer, 12 Ward Prentice [c], 11 Lou Meibusch, 10 Bob Adamson, 9 Alfred “Wakka” Walker, 8 William Murphy, 7 Copper Kent, 6 Tom Richards, 5 Ted Fahey, 4 George Pugh, 3 Bill Watson, 2 T. Griffin, 1 Harrold George.
USA (American All-Stars): 15 B. Erb, 14 R. Noble, 13 A. Allen, 12 C. Austin, 11 S. Peart, 10 P. Harrigan, 9 L. Morris [C], 8 E. King, 7 E. Momson, 6 F. Gard, 5 K. Schaupp, 4 W. Smith, 3 A. Sanborn, 2 J. McKim, 1 J. Arrell
Australia 12 (Lou Meibusch, Tom Richards, Danny Carroll tries; Ward Prentice pg) defeated USA 8 (Phil Harrigan try; B Erb pg)
31 January, 1976 @ Glover Field, Anaheim
Australia: 15 Jim Hindmarsh, 14 John Ryan, 13 Rex Le’strange, 12 Geoff Shaw [c], 11 Laurie Monaghan, 10 Ken Wright, 9 Rod Hauser, 8 Tony Shaw, 7 Ray Price, 6 Gary Pearse, 5 Reg Smith, 4 Garrick Fay, 3 Ron Graham, 2 Chris Carberry, 1 John Meadows
USA: 15 K Oxman, 14 D Chipman, 13 D Stephenson, 12 G Scheneeweis, 11 S Auerbach, 10 R Bordley [C], 9 M Swiderski, 8 T Selfridge, 7 T Klein, 6 S Niebauer, 5 C Sweeney, 4 G Brackett, 3 M Ording, 2 F Khasigian, 1 E Swanson
Australia 24 (John Ryanm Ray Price, Gary Pearce tries; Jim Hindmarsh 3 pg) defeated USA 12 (Kip Oxman 4 pg)
9 July, 1983 @ Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Australia: 15 Roger Gould, 14 Brendan Moon, 13 Andrew Slack, 12 Mike Hawker, 11 David Campese, 10 Mark Ella [c], 9 Dominic Vaughan, 8 Duncan Hall, 7 Chris Roche, 6 Simon Poidevin, 5 Stephen Williams, 4 David Hillhouse, 3 Stan Pilecki, 2 Bill Ross,1 John Meadows. Replacements: Ross Hanley
USA: 15 Ray Nelson, 14 Mike Purcell, 13 Tim O’ Brien, 12 Roy Helu, 11 John Hartman, 10 Bo Meyersieck, 9 Dave Bateman, 8 Mark Deaton, 7 Blane Warhurst, 6 Stephen Finkel, 5 Bill Shiflet, 4 Ed Burlingham [C], 3 Neal Brendel, 2 Jay Hanson, 1 Rick Bailey. Reserves: Ian Loveseth
Australia 49 (Andrew Slack 2, Bill Ross, Chris Roche, Ros Hanley tries; David Campese 4 tries, con; Roger Gould 4 con; Mark Ella dg) defeated USA 3 (Bo Meyersieck pg)
31 May, 1987 @ Ballymore, Brisbane (RWC Match)
Australia: 15 Andrew Leeds, 14 David Campese, 13 Andrew Slack [c], 12 Brett Papworth, 11 Matthew Burke, 10 Michael Lynagh, 9 Brian Smith, 8 David Codey, 7 Steve Tuynman, 6 Jeff Miller, 5 Troy Coker, 4 Bill Campbell, 3 Andy McIntyre, 2 Tom Lawton, 1 Cameron Lillicrap
USA: 15 Ray Nelson, 14 Kevin Higgins, 13 Tom Vinick, 12 Roy Helu, 11 Gary Hein, 10 Dave Horton, 9 Dave Dickson, 8 Brian Vizard, 7 Tony Ridnell, 6 Stephen Finkel, 5 Bill Shiflet, 4 Kevin Swords, 3 Frad Paoli [C], 2 Pat Johnson, 1 Butch Howarth. Reserves: Gary Lambert, Mike Saunders
Australia 47 (Andrew Leeds 2, David Codey, Brett Papworth, Andrew Slack, Brian Smith, David Campese tries; Penalty Try; Michael Lynagh 6 con, pg) defeated USA 12 (Ray Nelson try; Dave Horton dg)
8 July, 1990 @ Ballymore Brisbane
Australia: 15 David Campese, 14 Ian Williams, 13 Jason Little, 12 Anthony Herbert, 11 John Flett, 10 Michael Lynagh, 9 Nick Farr-Jones [c], 8 Tim Gavin, 7 Brendan Nasser, 6 Sam Scott-Young, 5 Rod McAll, 4 Peter FitzSimons, 3 Ewen McKenzie, 2 Phil Kearns, 1 Tony Daly. Reserves: David Knox, Peter Slattery.
USA: 15 Ray Nelson, 14 Chris Williams, 13 Mark Williams, 12 Kevin Higgins, 11 Gary Hein, 10 Chris O’Brien, 9 Barry Daily, 8 Brian Vizard [c], 7 Dennis Gonzalez, 6 Rob Farley, 5 Kevin Swords, 4 Bill Leversee, 3 Chris Lippert, 2 Pat Johnson, 1 Don James.
Australia 67 (Ian Williams 2, Tony Daly, Tim Gavin, Phil Kearns, Nick Farr-Jones, Jason Little, Ewen McKenzie, Peter Slattery tries; David Campese try, dg; Michael Lynagh 2 tries, 8 con) defeated USA 9 (Bill Leversee try; Chris O’Brien con, pg)
14 October, 1999 @ Thomand Park, Limerick (RWC Match)
Australia: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Scott Staniforth, 13 Jason Little [c], 12 Nathan Grey, 11 Matt Burke, 10 Steve Larkham, 9 Chris Whittaker, 8 Jim Williams, 7 Tiaan Strauss, 6 Owen Finegan, 5 Tom Bowman, 4 Mark Connors, 3 Rod Moore, 2 Michael Foley, 1 Dan Crowley. Reserves: Joe Roff, Rod Kafer, Matthew Cockbain, David Giffin.
USA: 15 Kurt Shuman, 14 Vaea Anitoni, 13 Juan Grobler, 12 Mark Scharrenberg, 11 Brian Hightower, 10 David Niu, 9 Kevin Dalzell [C], 8 Rob Lumkong, 7 Fafita Mo’unga, 6 Dave Hodges, 5 Alec Parker, 4 Luke Gross, 3 George Sucher, 2 Tom Billups, 1 Joe Clayton. Reserves: Tomasi Takau, Alatini Saulala, Jesse Coulson, Shaun Paga, Eric Reed, Marc L’huillier, Kirk Khasigian.
Australia 55 (Scott Staniforth 2, Steve Larkham, Chris Latham; Michael Foley, Tiaan Strauss, Chris Whittaker tries; Matt Burke try, 5 con, pg; Joe Roff con) defeated USA 19 (Juan Grobler try; Kevin Dalzell con, 3 pg; David Nui dg)
23 September, 2011 @ Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington (RWC Match)
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Anthony Faingaa, 12 Rob Horne, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia [c], 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Ben McCalman, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Tatafu Polata-Nau, 1 James Slipper. Reserves: Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu, Dan Vickerman, Radike Samo, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Pat McCabe.
USA: 15 Blaine Scully, 14 Colin Hawley, 13 Tai Enosa, 12 Junior Sifa, 11 Kevin Swiryn, 10 Nese Malifa, 9 Tim Usasz [C], 8 Jj Gagiano, 7 Pat Danahy, 6 Inaki Basauri, 5 Hayden Smith, 4 Scott Lavalla, 3 Eric Fry, 2 Phil Thiel, 1 Shawn Pittman. Reserves: Brian McClenahan, Chris Wyles, Louis Stanfill, Nic Johnson, Mike Petri.
Australia 67 (Adam Ashley-Cooper 3, Ant Faingaa 2, Rocky Elsom, Rob Horne, Drew Mitchell, Pat McCabe, Kurtley Beale, Radike Samo tries; Quade Cooper 2, Berrick Barnes 4 con) defeated USA 5 (JJ Gagiano try)
