photo credit: Víctor Montalva / Chile Rugby

2018 ARC Preview – USA

The USA enters the 2018 Americas Rugby Championship as defending champions for the first time. Their campaign begins on Saturday in Los Angeles against their most difficult opponent of the past two seasons – the Argentina XV.

 

2017 FORM

Last year was, for the most part, very good for the Eagles. They started the season with a wonderful ARC tournament that saw them score 50 points in three matches and secure a last-gasp draw with the Argentina XV to snatch away the title on bonus points.

The June tests weren’t as sharp. Dull matches against Ireland and Georgia and a draw against Canada in the first leg of the Americas 1 World Cup Qualifiers threatened to derail their progress but they redeemed themselves in San Diego with a wonderful performance to qualify for Japan 2019 in style.

Disappointingly they only had two tests on their year-end tour to Europe. The first against Germany went well, the second against Georgia much better than their June encounter but they still came up short.

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

The Eagles have a new Head Coach in Gary Gold to impress, and there are 13 newcomers who aim to do so. The most notable of those are flyhalf Will Hooley, center Paul Lasike, and winger Josh Whippy. All three have the ability to make a difference for a full-strength USA test side.

Back in the squad after several months on the sidelines is loosehead prop Titi Lamositele. He appears to be healed from his neck problems and should be fired up to represent his country for the first time since November 2016. It’s not clear how long he’ll be with the squad but hopefully Saracens will see value in letting him get game time before returning to England.

Nate Augspurger captained the side in last year’s ARC but now finds himself a reserve halfback. He’ll be looking to make an impact at every opportunity, as will fellow San Diego Legion signing Ryan Matyas. With several options available to Gold on the wing, the hard-working Matyas will have to be at his very best to retain a starting position.

 

 

VERDICT

The USA enter as champions but the favorites tag arguably remains with the Argentina XV. Certainly the biggest test will be at the StubHub Center this weekend but the trip to South America to end the tournament will not be a walk in the park, particularly in Montevideo. Given the strength of the squad top-two finish looks probable with the championship on the line straight out of the gate.

 

FIXTURES

DATE OPPONENT VENUE KICK_OFF TIME
Feb 3 Argentina XV StubHub Center, Los Angeles 5pm local, 8pm Eastern
Feb 10 Canada Papa Murphy’s Park, Sacramento 3pm local, 6pm Eastern
Feb 17 Chile Titan Stadium, Fullerton 2pm local, 5pm Eastern
Feb 24 Brazil Estádio Pereira, São José dos Campos 5:30pm local, 3:30pm Eastern
Mar 3 Uruguay Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo 3:30pm local, 1:30pm Eastern

 

SQUAD

NAME POS HGT WGT DOB CAPS CLUB
Lamositele, Titi LH 1.80
5-11
127
280
Feb 11
1995
20 Saracens (UK)
Mo’ungaloa, Huluholo LH 1.88
6-2
120
265
Dec 13
1989
2 Life West
Purpura, Tony LH 1.90
6-3
118
260
Nov 11
1986
8 San Diego Legion
Wenglewski, Chance LH 1.89
6-2
113
250
Sep 4
1997
Lindenwood
Fawsitt, Dylan HO 1.83
6-0
102
225
1990 Old Blue
Hilterbrand, James HO 1.84
6-0
108
240
May 21
1989
13 Sydney Rays (AU)
Malcolm, Peter HO 1.85
6-1
108
240
Mar 4
1994
9 Austin Elite
Taufete’e, Joe HO 1.84
6-0
125
275
Apr 10
1992
13 Worcester Warriors (UK)
MacLellan, Angus TH 1.85
6-1
116
255
Aug 24
1992
2 Chicago Lions
Ryan, Paddy TH 1.86
6-1
125
275
Dec 11
1990
4 Austin Elite
Waldren, Dino TH 1.82
6-0
113
250
Jul 11
1991
9 London Scottish (UK)
Brakeley, Nate LO 1.96
6-5
118
260
Aug 31
1989
13 NYAC
Civetta, Nick LO 2.03
6-8
115
255
Nov 5
1989
10 Newcastle Falcons (UK)
Daly, Brendan LO 1.93
6-4
110
240
Dec 20
1990
SFGG
Jensen, Matt LO 2.03
6-8
118
260
Apr 21
1992
5 Utah Warriors
Landry, Ben LO 1.98
6-6
123
270
Mar 26
1991
8 Glendale Raptors
Al-Jiboori, Malon FL 1.91
6-3
102
225
Aug 1
1997
USA 7s
Durutalo, Andrew FL 1.86
6-1
110
240
Oct 25
1987
21 Worcester Warriors (UK)
Germishuys, Hanco FL 1.86
6-1
105
230
Aug 24
1996
2 Austin Elite
Lamborn, Tony FL 1.87
6-2
105
230
Jul 31
1991
12 Hawke’s Bay (NZ)
Wooching, Psalm FL 1.93
6-4
105
230
Jan 16
1994
Seattle Saracens
Dolan, Cam N8 1.98
6-6
114
250
Mar 7
1990
30 San Diego Legion
Schirmer, Aladdin N8 1.90
6-3
102
225
Dec 31
1992
2 Seattle Seawolves
Augspurger, Nate SH 1.71
5-7
75
165
Jan 31
1990
14 San Diego Legion
Davies, Shaun SH 1.75
5-9
83
180
Jun 20
1989
11 Glendale Raptors
de Haas, Ruben SH 1.83
6-0
84
185
Oct 9
1998
Free State (SA)
Ferris, Devereaux SH 1.72
5-8
82
180
Oct 24
1994
Life West
Cima, Ben FH 1.85
6-1
89
195
Mar 20
1996
7 San Diego Legion
Hooley, Will FH 1.85
6-1
89
195
Nov 28
1993
Bedford Blues (UK)
Magie, Will FH 1.85
6-1
87
190
Feb 23
1992
9 Glendale Raptors
Audsley, Dylan CE 1.80
5-11
89
195
Jan 15
1994
San Diego Legion
Brache, Marcel CE 1.90
6-3
92
200
Oct 15
1987
7 Perth Spirit (AU)
Campbell, Bryce CE 1.85
6-1
104
230
Sep 21
1994
11 Glendale Raptors
Lasike, Paul CE 1.80
5-11
113
250
Jun 18
1990
Utah Warriors
Elkins, Alex WI 1.93
6-4
108
240
Aug 27
1990
USA 7s
Matyas, Ryan WI 1.83
6-0
89
195
Dec 24
1990
8 San Diego Legion
Tagive, Peni WI 1.91
6-3
102
220
Oct 3
1988
USA 7s
Whippy, Josh WI 1.87
6-2
99
220
Oct 30
1990
Utah Warriors
Scully, Blaine FB 1.90
6-3
100
220
Feb 29
1988
36 Cardiff Blues (UK)
Te’o, Mike FB 1.75
5-9
93
205
Jul 23
1993
17 San Diego Legion

 

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