There is a lot to comment on from this past weekend’s rugby: The All Blacks beating Wales,  England losing at home to Australia and Leicester’s shock win against the Springboks as the November Internationals got started on European soil. It would also be very easy to talk about my club, The Metropolis RFC of Minneapolis beating Cincinnati and Detroit to qualify for the USA Division I playoffs, and the right to host a playoff game in Minneapolis in March. (Where conditions can range from cold and wet to just plain shitty) It was certainly a huge win for my club, and it capped off a great fall season.

For the American rugby fan, all eyes are going to be on what happens in far-off Montevideo, Uruguay this coming weekend, where the Eagles will play Uruguay in the first leg of a home and home series to decide the final qualifier from the Americas for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.  The US could have avoided this trip to South America had they taken care of business a few months ago against Canada. The US won the first game against the Canucks in the heat and humidity of South Carolina-only to lose their cool (Paul Emerick was red-carded early in the first half) and eventually the game when they got blown out 41-17 in Edmonton, Alberta.

The USA’s Irish coach, Eddie O’Sullivan will go with some old favorites like Chris Wyles, Mike Hercus, Todd Clever, and Alec Parker. O’Sullivan will throw Cory Blair, Phil  Theil and Jack Sprague into the mix for their first USA Eagles selection.

There is no question that the playing conditions will be tough in Montevideo- a miserable pitch and aggressive fans will be a tough game for the Eagles. The main thing is that they have to keep it close and hope that they can seal the deal and win the return leg in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I have mixed feelings about the choice in venue. I am sure the weather should make for more open, ball in hand rugby, but would USA rugby have been better served by picking a venue with more inhospitable weather like Denver, Chicago or New York that might have made it more difficult for Uruguay?

If the USA cannot qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, it will be a huge blow for the sport in the US. To borrow the phrase from the movie Apollo 13:

Failure is not an option.

For the future of the oval ball here in the United States-at least for the Men’s game-the USA Eagles have got to leave Uruguay in their dust.