LOS ANGELES: The USA national team stretched their win streak over Russia to seven straight with a 25-0 victory in a one-off rugby test match Saturday at Bonney Field in Sacramento.
AJ MacGinty's right foot helped the Eagles keep their perfect record alive against the Russians as the Irish-born fly-half scored all the points in the opening half.
He had five penalty goals in the half, including a 27 meter sharp angle shot that he threaded through from the right sideline.
"The positive was we 'nilled' them," said head coach John Mitchell. "We've made some strides [in] this assembly in terms of identity .... just need to improve some components of the game."
It was a sigh of relief for the Americans to get the win as they had lost their last three matches heading into Saturday's contest. In their most recent outing on June 18 the team fell 24-20 to Italy.
Scrumhalf Mike Te'o scored the lone late try against Russia at the 65-minute mark for a 23-0 lead.
"I think we have a lot more left in us, and this is a marker of where we are in our trajectory of constantly getting better," captain Blaine Scully said.
"I think we improved in areas and have things to work on in other areas. The challenge is to stay disciplined in our systems and structure."
The last time the Eagles tangled with the Russians they won easily 28-7 three years ago at Allianz Park in England.
Flanker Todd Clever posted his 68th international cap for the USA, passing Mike MacDonald as the all-time appearance leader for the national team. Clever made his national team debut in 2003.
Russia came into Saturday's game after losing 46-21 to Canada in Calgary last week.
Former New Zealand coach Mitchell is now looking ahead to facing the Maori All Blacks on November 4 in Chicago.
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