By Rob Miech

Published Saturday, June 21, 2008 | 7:21 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008 | 10:15 a.m.

The Barclays Churchill Cup ended mercifully Saturday for the U.S. national rugby team and Las Vegas star Vahafalou “Vaha” Esikia.

They’re called the Eagles, but they did not soar over the past couple of weeks, losing two group matches to the England Saxons and Ireland A.

In Saturday’s fifth-place match in suburban Chicago, at Toyota Park, the Americans lost, 26-10, to Canada.

So the U.S. finished sixth out of six teams, just a year after making headlines with a tight defeat to England’s first team at the Rugby World Cup in France.

Esikia, an inside center who stars for the Las Vegas Blackjacks club team, did not score in the tournament.

The U.S. held Canada scoreless during the first 40 minutes, but Eagles coach Scott Johnson knew something was wrong at the half when he watched his zapped players file into the locker room.

He was appalled by his team’s lack of conditioning, and the Canadians made them pay with four tries in the second half.

The Saxons won the Churchill Cup with a 36-19 victory over Scotland A, and Ireland took third by beating Argentina Pumas, 33-8.

Esikia is scheduled to play with the Eagles on a trip to Japan later this year.