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Eagle in flight: Mike Hercus
The United States were left to rue a sluggish start to their World Cup Pool A match with Tonga in Montpellier on Monday as they licked their wounds from a second plucky defeat in five days.
The US Eagles looked to be suffering a hangover from their heroics against England four days earlier, when they conceded a second-minute try to Tonga and never fully recovered as they slipped to a 25-15 defeat.
"We started very slowly," admitted captain and fly-half Mike Hercus.
"We were sort of 'deer in the headlights' in the first half, I guess.
"The Polynesians have got big guys - and big guys who can step - and they can be unpredictable at times, which is difficult.
"In the second half we mixed up the tactics a little bit and kept it tight in the forwards and that paid good dividends for us."
Debutant Fijian flanker Finau Maka was driven over for the game's first try after just 72 seconds and fly-half Pierre Hola added the conversion before punishing American indiscipline with a couple of penalty goals.
But a Hercus penalty settled America's nerves and they struck back after 46 minutes when Leeds prop Mike MacDonald forced his way over for their first try and flanker Louis Stanfill also touched down as the gap was cut to just three points.
But winger Joseph Vaka finished off a fine flowing move and then former Tonga captain Viliami Vaki then came off the bench to score the all-important try 11 minutes from the end.
That finally killed off the brave efforts of the United States and secured Tonga's third victory in World Cup history, their first for eight years.
"I'm very pleased," said Tonga captain Nili Latu, who had earlier won his battle against a hamstring injury to make his World Cup debut.
"It's not often you get the chance to play in a World Cup and it's a good feeling to get a victory. Winning today is a confident step up for us.
"It's been hard since Sunday but full credit to the staff for getting me ready in time. It had to be all or nothing.
"They gave me the chance to play. It's still sore but it was worth it."
While the Eagles now have a chance to rest up ahead of their next match against Samoa in a fortnight, Tonga are already focusing on their eagerly-awaited clash with their Pacific Island neighbours Samoa in Montpellier on Sunday.
