WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Playing one of rugby’s superpowers was never going to be easy for the United States Eagles, and their task Friday might have become a lot tougher when Australia lost to Ireland last weekend in the Rugby World Cup.

Eagles Coach Eddie O’Sullivan, a former coach of Ireland, may have quietly enjoyed his former players’ success. But he would have known from the moment the final whistle blew in Auckland that it would be his American players who could face the backlash from the wounded Australians.

It is a challenge the Eagles, one of rugby’s second-tier teams, will have to meet head on.

The United States has put up a strong showing at this tournament. It lost, 22-10, to Ireland, which was ranked 10 places higher at No. 8 in the world. It then beat Russia for only its third victory at a World Cup.

But the match against Australia, ranked third, is in a different league. Australia recently won the elite Tri-Nations Series against New Zealand and South Africa. Yet there has been no talk in the Eagles’ camp of the possibility of a big defeat. Instead, the focus has been on staying competitive for all 80 minutes and not abandoning the game plan.