Fans turn out to support the Americans (Getty Images)

By Simon Stone, PA Sport, Gosford

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American hero Dan Lyle is optimistic rugby can start to prick the conscience of his country's sporting public after the Eagles finally broke their World Cup drought.

Today's hard-fought 39-26 win over Japan at Gosford ended a record run of 10 successive defeats in the tournament and gave Lyle and his team-mates some reward for the sacrifices they have made coming to the competition.

Lyle was one of three professional members of the USA starting line-up who have taken pay reductions in order to compete, while the rest of the side are part-time players who have had to take a break from their day jobs.

He knows that trying to establish a foothold for the 15-man code in a country dominated by gridiron, baseball and basketball is a tough task - especially when television coverage of the game is so infrequent.

But the new Leicester signing hopes that when TV pictures of this momentous win eventually find their way across the Pacific they will at least generate a reaction.

"Big games on big stages in front of big crowds are not something we get very often, so when they come around it is important that we make a positive impression," said Lyle.

"When people get to watch the game they won't know how good we are or how good Japan are. But I hope the mere fact it is on and we have won will mean something.

"I'd like to think it has taken us a little step further forward and people will start to acknowledge what we have achieved."

As a former Heineken Cup winner with Bath, the 31-year-old former gridiron player is proof of the talent floating around outside the established rugby-playing nations.

Lyle was reluctant to compare the elation he felt at this win with that of conquering Europe - although, after a thrilling contest in which Japan twice battled back from a poor start to trail by a single point until two tries at the end eased the USA clear, the jubilation on American faces was clear for all to see.

"It is such a great night for everyone associated with the game in our country," said Llanelli's Dave Hodges, who was winning his 50th cap.

"We thought the match was slipping away from us at one point but fortunately we got back to the game plan and managed to close it out."

The result meant Japan ended their campaign without a point but with plenty of new supporters after yet another wholehearted display.

Fly-half Andrew Miller, one of three Kiwi exiles in the Cherry Blossoms line-up, is adamant his adopted country have advanced over the last three weeks.

"We were competitive in every game and we proved we have some world-class players," he said.

"What we need to do now is keep the team together for another year or so and keep pushing forward."