Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
John Mitchell has made just three changes to his Eagles team to face the Argentina XV in a winner-take-all final match to decide the Americas Rugby Championship on Saturday. With both sides undefeated, the winner of the match will be crowned champions for 2017. Should the sides come to a draw as they did a year ago, Argentina would take the title on points differential.
Unable to play in the match in Comodoro Rivadavia is Todd Clever. The veteran flanker pulled up with a hamstring injury while scoring a try against Chile in Santiago. Answering the SOS is John Quill who returns to the squad after playing for Glendale Raptors last weekend. The only other chance in the pack sees Anthony Purpura return at loosehead prop with Ben Tarr swapped to a reserve role.
The selection of Will Magie at flyhalf has required a reshuffle in the outside backs. Ben Cima moves to fullback with Mike Te’o shifting to the right wing. Spike Davis is named among the replacements along with Ryan Matyas, who has recovered from the injury suffered against Canada in Round 3.
USA EAGLES
1 Anthony Purpura, 2 James Hilterbrand, 3 Chris Baumann, 4 Matt Jensen, 5 Siaosi Mahoni, 6 John Quill, 7 Tony Lamborn, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Shaun Davies, 10 Will Magie, 11 Nate Augspurger (capt.), 12 JP Eloff, 13 Bryce Campbell, 14 Mike Te’o, 15 Ben Cima
Replacements: 16 Peter Malcolm, 17 Ben Tarr, 18 Olive Kilifi, 19 Hanco Germishuys, 20 David Tameilau, 21 Calvin Whiting, 22 Ryan Matyas, 23 Spike Davis
