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The USA has made seven changes for Brazil. The Eagles host the South Americans in a round two Americas Rugby Championship match on Saturday.
Changes have been motivated by a variety of factors. Star backs Blaine Scully and AJ MacGinty have returned to club duty in the UK Also missing is Zack Test who, having been stretchered off against Uruguay, is recovering from injury.
Making his test debut will be Shaun Davies. The top try scorer for the the Ohio Aviators in PRO Rugby, Davies will also be the Eagles vice-captain. He will start at scrumhalf, joining Will Magie in the halves with Nate Augspurger moving to the wing.
Changes to the front row see Ben Tarr and Dino Waldren named as the starting props. They are to join James Hilterbrand up front, who will play hooker and captain the side with Todd Clever left on the bench. Tony Lamborn is instead to face the Brazilians at flanker.
The second-row sees Nate Brakeley and Nick Civetta starting. They will lock the scrum with Lamborn being joined by John Quill and Al McFarland in the back row.
With MacGinty unavailable JP Eloff comes in to partner Bryce Campbell in the mid-field. Mike Te’o and Spike Davies complete the starting lineup. They join Augspurger in the back-three.
USA
1 Ben Tarr, 2 James Hilterbrand (capt.), 3 Dino Waldren, 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Nick Civetta, 6 John Quill, 7 Tony Lamborn, 8 Al McFarland, 9 Shaun Davies, 10 Will Magie, 11 Nate Augspurger, 12 JP Eloff, 13 Bryce Campbell, 14 Spike Davis, 15 Mike Te’o
Replacements: 16 Peter Malcolm, 17 Chris Baumann, 18 Anthony Purpura, 19 Cam Dolan, 20 Todd Clever, 21 Ben Cima, 22 Peter Tiberio, 23 Deion Mikesell
