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John Mitchell has included a few surprises in his USA team to face Italy at Avaya Stadium in San Jose on Saturday. Five uncapped players have been named, four on the bench, with sevens specialist Nate Augspurger set to make his test debut at scrumhalf.
Waratahs extended squad member James Hilterbrand has beat out incumbent Joe Taufete’e for the starting hooker role, and Nate Brakeley makes his first appearance as a lock after featuring on the blindside flank during the Americas Rugby Championship. Brakeley is one of only two fully amateur players in the match day squad, the other being reserve flanker Harry Higgins. Both are based in New York and are not involved in the inaugural PRO Rugby season.
Todd Clever captains the side after making a successful return to the Eagles in the ARC. He will win his 67th cap on Saturday, drawing level with former teammate Mike MacDonald as the USA’s most capped player of all-time. Clever is joined by Sunwolves standout Andrew Durutalo and Cam Dolan of Cardiff Blues in an experienced back row.
Leading the charge in the backline is Guinness Pro 12 champion AJ MacGinty, who has the inexperienced Augspurger inside and another sevens specialist in Shalom Suniula on his outside. Suniula’s selection in the midfield is a major point of interest given that he has been used exclusively as a halfback in his 16 previous caps.
Heavyweight center Thretton Palamo and the versatile Will Holder also join the squad from Mike Friday’s 7s program. Holder is selected at fullback having won three caps as a flyhalf in 2012. Vice-captain Blaine Scully, a teammate of Dolan’s at Cardiff, has recovered from a thumb injury to line up on the left wing.
Three other new names join Higgins on the bench. Ohio Aviators prop Angus MacLellan, Hawke’s Bay flanker Tony Lamborn, and another 7s expert Stephen Tomasin are all set to make their debuts. Lamborn has been training with the Hurricanes and has made two Super Rugby appearances this season while Tomasin, formerly of OMBAC, could be employed as a halfback or in the midfield. San Diego Breakers star Mike Te’o offers similar versatility with the ability to cover a number of back positions.
This will be the fifth meeting between the two nations since the first in 1991. The Eagles have never beaten Italy, with all previous encounters ending with points differentials of 17-21 in favor of the Azzurri. Italy last played the USA in June 2012 at Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium, with the visitors coming away with a 30-10 result.
The match kicks off at 6pm local time, 9pm Eastern, and will be broadcast live on The Rugby Channel. A full replay will be shown on CBS on Sunday, June 19, at 6pm Pacific, 9pm Eastern.
USA EAGLES
1 Titi Lamositele 2 James Hilterbrand 3 Chris Baumann 4 Nate Brakeley 5 Greg Peterson 6 Andrew Durutalo 7 Todd Clever (capt.) 8 Cam Dolan 9 Nate Augspurger 10 AJ MacGinty 11 Blaine Scully 12 Shalom Suniula 13 Thretton Palamo 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya 15 Will Holder
16 Joe Taufete’e 17 Ben Tarr 18 Angus MacLellan 19 Harry Higgins 20 Tony Lamborn 21 Stephen Tomasin 22 Chad London 23 Mike Te’o
