Casting aside the distractions of the past couple of days due to the political demonstrations in Georgia, and the helicopters and jets flying over their hotel, the USA U20 team is turning its attention to Russia on Saturday.

Tuesday’s 48-11 loss to  Samoa was frustrating and humbling for the Americans. The Junior All Americans did have chances to score more, and plenty of chances to prevent same, but jumping from high school or college rugby to the internationals isn’t easy.

“U20 rugby for us is about the learning experience,” said Head Coach Scott Lawrence. “We learned how to play in international competition against a real U20 side who is skilled, physical, and spends a lot of time together. We took the value and the lessons out of that experience.”

They have precious little time to do something about those lessons. Tuesday was game day. Wednesday was film work and a training session, and Thursday another session before they go into the weekend.

“We went over the lessons we learned yesterday morning, flushed that experience, and now we focus on Russia,” said Lawrence. “This is the first international tournament this team has been in.  The fix is experience, and we're one game better for it.”

Lawrence said the Americans were chasing the game early and that led to a few rash decisions – they players felt they should score quickly to get back in the game, and that just dug them a deeper hole.

“We have a possession-based system inside the 22 and we'll refocus on that building into Saturday,” Lawrence told RUGBYMag.com.

Lawrence is also expected to make changes to the lineup, based mostly on performance from Tuesday’s Samoa match. It wasn’t an easy experience for anyone, and perhaps the harshest lesson of all is not playing.

“Those who will be moved to the bench or outside of the 22 now know the expectation of being an international,” explained Lawrence somewhat ominously. “And being young men with rugby futures, they will have a chance to earn their way back.”

The Girls U19 Championship did not disappoint, with several close games making the rankings tighter than ever. That said, Fallbrook stole the show. Saving their biggest performance for last, the San Diego team not only ripped the title from defending champion Sacramento Amazons, 60-0 in the final, but failed to let a single competitor notch a point-against.

Fallbrook (red), toast of the town at nationals.

It was difficult deciding where to situate finalist Sacramento, considering the tournament’s biggest point differential was seen during the title match. Divine Savior played Fallbrook to a much closer loss – 19-0 – during the semifinals, and therefore deserves the #3 slot. The Amazons do get the nod over Pacific Coast compatriot Kent, however, seeing as the team managed a 12-10 win during the semifinals. All of Kent's games were nailbiters, and the Crusaders' weekend point total came down to 31 points for and 27 against.

Aside from Summit, Mother Lode is another team ranked in the top eight although it didn’t advance to nationals. The California team just missed out on the trip to Utah, having let its late lead slip away, 15-10, during its Pac Coast semifinal against Sacramento. Any one of teams ranked 3-8 could win on any given day, but we think Mother Lode would have the slight edge over West Carroll.

New York made the biggest jump, joining the last ranking at #24 and moving up to 10th after finishing 7th at nationals last weekend. It was the team’s first showing at the tournament, and although they struggled through the first two rounds, produced a massive 53-10 win over fellow newcomer Sebastian River, which joins the rankings at 17. Although the Florida team is a varsity sport, we’ve yet to see them face against South titans Ravenwood, Karns or Maryville, all of whom play in a very competitive Tennessee SBRO.

With the exception of Oregon, which contested its state championship and saw Canby upset Beaverton 19-10 for the title, areas are still plugging away at league season. Fairport still leads New York State, banking another two wins, while Portland (Maine) is finishing out a disappointing season – one that originally began with a trip to regionals – with some pickup games, the last coming to Bowdoin College. Fairfax put up a massive 72-0 against Fort Hunt in the Virginia SBRO, and St. Joseph’s Academy banked a 53-0 win over Medina in preparation for this weekend’s state championship.

GIRLS U19/HIGH SCHOOL TOP 25 – May 26, 2011

1 (3) Fallbrook (Calif.) (9-0). Won Girls U19 Championship, defeating New York 18-0, Divine Savior 19-0 and Sacramento 60-0 in the final

2 (2) Summit (Colo.) (8-0). Idle

3 (1) DSHA (Wisc.) (12-2) (15-2). Finished 3rd at Girls U19 Championship, defeating West Carroll 22-10, losing to Fallbrook 19-0, and defeating Kent 8-7

4 (5) Sacramento Amazons (Calif.) (9-2). Finished 2nd at Girls U-19 Championship, defeating Sebastian River 32-5, Kent 12-10, then losing to Fallbrook 60-0

5 (4) Kent (Wash.) (6-2). Finished 4th at Girls U19 Championship, defeating Lakewood 11-10, losing to Sacramento 12-10 and Divine Savior 8-7

6 (6) Lakewood (14-2). Finished 5th at Girls U19 Championship, losing to Kent 11-10, then defeating Sebastian River 39-0 and West Carroll 12-10

7 (7) Mother Lode (Calif.) (7-1). Idle

8 (8) West Carroll (Md.) (7-2). Finished 6th at Girls U19 Championship, losing to Divine Savior 22-10, defeating New York 32-0, then losing to Lakewood 12-10

9 (10) Kettle Morraine (Wisc.) (8-3) (10-4). Idle

10 (24) New York (5-2). Finished 7th Girls U-19 Championship, losing to Fallbrook 18-0, West Carroll 32-0, then defeating Sebastian River 53-10

11 (16) Canby (Ore.) (7-1) (7-2). Won Oregon State Championship 19-10 over Beaverton

12 (12) Ravenwood (Tenn.) (6-0). Idle

13 (13) Karns Blue (Tenn) (6-0). Idle

14 (14) Douglas County (Colo.) (6-2). Idle

15 (9) Portland (ME) (2-5). Lost to Bowdoin College 40-15

16 (15) Maryville (Tenn.) (5-2). Idle

17 (unr) Sebastian River (Fla.) (12-6). Finished 8th at Girls U19 Nationals, losing to Sacramento 32-5, Lakewood 39-0 and New York 53-10

18 (11) Beaverton (Ore.) (9-1) (10-2). Lost 19-10 to Canby in Oregon State Championship

19 (17) St. Joseph's Academy (Ohio) (7-3). Defeated Medina 58-0

20 (18) Fairfax (Va.) (3-0). Defeated Fort Hunt 72-0

21 (19) Catholic Memorial (Wisc.) (8-3). Beat Vernon 38-5

22 (20) Lowland (Utah) (6-1). Idle

23 (23) Downington (Pa.) (7-1). Finished second in EPRU

24 (21) Brookfield (Wisc.) (6-5) (12-6). Defeated Armstrong 15-5, Edina 32-12 and Hopkins 49-5 at Border Battle

25 (22) Fairport (NY) (5-0). Defeated Hamburg 17-10, Canandaigua 40-0