So much expectation had been heaped on the Russian team, the pain of losing was difficult to contain for some.
Being a good Russian, flyhalf Yury Kushnarev expressed his sorrow with a sad smile.
Kushnarev was on the team that was able to run a bit wild on the Eagles in June. Not this time. The wind, cold and rain, and an improved USA defensive line, stopped all that.
The Russian team was welcomed warmly in New Plymouth, and many of the almost 14,000 fans at Stadium Taranaki were cheering for Mother Russia.