England wrapped up their summer tour with a commanding 40-5 win over the United States in Washington, but it wasn’t all plain sailing as lightning strikes caused nearly two hours of delays in a bizarre one-off Test.
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Kick-off at Audi Field was delayed by an hour due to storms in the area, with players finally taking to the pitch at 18:05 local time. Just as momentum was building with England 14-0 up, referee Sam Grove-White was forced to stop the game again in the 29th minute as another round of severe weather struck.
Fans inside the 20,000-capacity stadium were told to evacuate the seating bowl and take shelter in the concourse twice during the match—a surreal atmosphere for international rugby.
Still, Steve Borthwick’s men kept their cool when the action resumed. Despite the lengthy stoppages and slippery conditions, England produced a six-try blitz to complete their summer unbeaten, backing up wins over Japan and Argentina.
However, not every player grabbed the opportunity, with several fringe options struggling to make their mark with the Lions absentees offering a rare opening.
#1. Alex Dombrandt
RUCK 5/10: “Dombrandt had a great game at the beginning—scoring a try (disallowed), great effort in the scrum—but sustained an injury in the 30th minute, and his effort dipped.”
Planet Rugby 5/10: “Unlucky to have a first-half try chalked off for obstruction before a maul and struggled thereafter with a couple of handling errors. Was replaced on 51 minutes by Ben Curry after a workmanlike shift.”
Rugby Pass 5.5/10: “Ran off Ford well, attacking half gaps. Had one try disallowed but would have thought he was going to score soon after, only to lose the ball shortly before the line. Went on to knock the ball on soon after that. Swings and roundabouts, though, as he also collected a sloppy pass that many would have fumbled. Led the match for carries (12) when he left the field, but will be disappointed with a few errors,”
🟨 VERDICT: Showed flashes of class but failed to dominate—a forgettable day in the long-term battle for the England No.8 shirt. May never play for England again.
