Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The last time we checked in it was our ‘One Year Out‘ special, but this time it’s back to real-time selections. There haven’t been any test matches since the August 1 appraisal but the Americas Pacific Challenge has come and gone and we already have the bulk of the selections for the November tour, so there are a few adjustments to be made.
It’s fair to say the results of the APC did not go as planned. The performance of some fringe players, however, would have been pleasing for the Eagles selectors and a handful have likely put themselves in contention for a spot in the Americas Rugby Championship squad. Below is how the Eagles depth chart looks at the moment.
USA
| ## | NAME | CLUB | POS | CAPS |
FIRST CHOICE
| 1 | Titi Lamositele | Saracens (UK) | LH / TH | 23 |
| 2 | Joe Taufete’e | Worcester Warriors (UK) | HO | 16 |
| 3 | Paul Mullen | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | TH | 3 |
| 4 | Samu Manoa | Cardiff Blues (UK) | LO / N8 | 21 |
| 5 | Nick Civetta | Doncaster Knights (UK) | LO | 15 |
| 6 | Hanco Germishuys | unattached | FL | 8 |
| 7 | Tony Lamborn | Southland Stags (NZ) | FL | 16 |
| 8 | Cam Dolan | Nottingham (UK) | N8 | 37 |
| 9 | Shaun Davies | Glendale Raptors | SH | 17 |
| 10 | AJ MacGinty | Sale Sharks (UK) | FH | 20 |
| 11 | Marcel Brache | Western Force (AU) | WI / CE | 10 |
| 12 | Paul Lasike | Harlequins (UK) | CE | 6 |
| 13 | Bryce Campbell | London Irish (UK) | CE | 18 |
| 14 | Blaine Scully (c) | Cardiff Blues (UK) | WI / FB | 40 |
| 15 | Will Hooley | Bedford Blues (UK) | FB / FH | 4 |
There are no changes to the first choice side, but the team has become more UK-centric with Paul Mullen and Cam Dolan packing their bags for England at least for the short term. Hanco Germishuys has left Austin Elite and is currently without a home, leaving scrumhalf Shaun Davies as the only player currently assigned to a domestic club.
AJ MacGinty will miss the upcoming internationals after undergoing shoulder surgery and Marcel Brache could follow him having missed the last month with a knee complaint. Paul Lasike suffered a concussion in his first start with Harlequins while Blaine Scully damaged his larynx. It’s hoped that both will be fully fit for duty in time.
Of note is that Titi Lamositele has been playing tighthead prop for Saracens in the absence of injured Juan Figallo, but it’s still loosehead where he should play for the Eagles. Paul Mullen meanwhile has been dual-registered with Doncaster Knights though his chances of earning a contract extension with Newcastle remain fair following the release of Welsh international Craig Mitchell to Yorkshire Carnegie.
REPLACEMENTS
| 16 | James Hilterbrand | Manly Marlins (AU) | HO | 16 |
| 17 | Eric Fry | Vannes (FR) | LH | 44 |
| 18 | Dino Waldren | London Scottish (UK) | TH | 12 |
| 19 | Greg Peterson | Glasgow Warriors (UK) | LO | 17 |
| 20 | Ben Landry | Ealing Trailfinders (UK) | LO / FL | 15 |
| 21 | Nate Augspurger | San Diego Legion | SH / WI | 21 |
| 22 | Will Magie | Glendale Raptors | FH | 16 |
| 23 | Dylan Audsley | San Diego Legion | CE / FB | 6 |
Here we see our first changes to the match day squad. Dino Waldren has returned from a shoulder injury and his immediate recall to the Eagles squad sees him oust Chris Baumann as second choice tighthead. Inactivity due to injury pushes Mike Te’o out of the reserves with Dylan Audsley’s good form in the APC rewarded with a spot on the bench.
Ben Landry has been used exclusively as a second row by Ealing and this could prompt Gary Gold to opt for a specialist loose forward on the bench, but for the time being he retains his spot. Nate Augspurger also stays put thanks to his versatility though there is real pressure from Ruben de Haas for the reserve halfback role.
TRAVELING RESERVES
| 24 | Dylan Fawsitt | Rugby United New York | HO | 5 |
| 25 | Olive Kilifi | Seattle Seawolves | LH / TH | 24 |
| 26 | David Tameilau | Glasgow Warriors (UK) | N8 / LO | 9 |
| 27 | John Quill | Glendale Raptors | FL | 27 |
| 28 | Vili Toluta’u | Seattle Seawolves | FL / N8 | 1 |
| 29 | Ruben de Haas | Free State Cheetahs (SA) | SH | 4 |
| 30 | Ryan Matyas | San Diego Legion | WI | 10 |
| 31 | Mike Te’o | San Diego Legion | FB / WI | 21 |
Baumann drops straight out of the squad completely with Olive Kilifi promoted thanks to his ability to cover both sides of the scrum. Siaosi Mahoni is replaced by Vili Toluta’u with David Tameilau able to cover lock if required. Mike Te’o stays in the squad but may fall further if he does not return for the ARC.
NON-TRAVELING RESERVES
| 32 | Peter Malcolm | Austin Elite | HO | 11 |
| 33 | David Ainu’u | Toulouse (FR) | LH / TH | – |
| 34 | Chris Baumann | unattached | TH | 25 |
| 35 | Siaosi Mahoni | San Diego Legion | LO | 2 |
| 36 | Psalm Wooching | unattached | FL | 3 |
| 37 | Brendan Daly | SFGG | N8 / LO | 2 |
| 38 | Nick Boyer | San Diego Legion | SH | – |
| 39 | JP Eloff | New Orleans Gold | FH | 9 |
| 40 | Anthony Salaber | San Diego Legion | CE | – |
| 41 | Tim Maupin | New Orleans Gold | WI | 7 |
| 42 | Conor Kearns | San Diego Legion | FB | – |
There are dramatic changes as we move from the probables to the possibles. Peter Malcolm, as with Te’o, retains his spot as 4th choice hooker for the time being but will lose it if he does not return in time for the ARC. Alex Maughan, Pat O’Toole, and a resurgent Mike Sosene-Feagai are all making moves for that next rung on the ladder.
18-year-old David Ainu’u trained with the Eagles in June and is now seeing game time with the senior Toulouse squad. Suddenly there is a real chance he could make the plane to Tokyo, especially if Gold opts for six props instead of five. Baumann is hanging on by his coattails and needs to find a new home sooner than later or he risks becoming a forgotten man with the likes of Angus MacLellan, John Hayden, and Paddy Ryan just behind.
Matt Jensen was leapfrogged by Nate Brakeley in the second row standings but Mahoni holds his place just ahead of the New York man for now by virtue of being part of the June squad. Psalm Wooching usurped former Seattle Saracens teammate Aladdin Schirmer by returning to the pitch, and Brendan Daly impressed in a surprise run at No8. It stands to reason that both Wooching and Daly will need to find themselves in MLR teams to stay relevant.
One who caught the eye in the MLR season was Nick Boyer, and his form continued in the APC. He moves ahead of Holden Yungert in the halfback stakes and could get a shot at a first cap in the ARC. Ben Cima slips out of the picture for the moment with Conor Kearns taking his spot, JP Eloff switching back to his preferred flyhalf role.
In the midfield there is no place for Mose Fuala’au, another currently unattached, and sidelined Josh Whippy gives up his spot for now to NOLA’s Tim Maupin. Mika Kruse remains a player of interest but it was Anthony Salaber who saw more game time in the midfield during the APC.
The November test selections mean that it is unlikely to be many if any shifts in the pecking order before the end of the year. More telling will be the ARC squad, which will be the last opportunity for fringe candidates to wave their arms wildly in the hopes of getting a ticket to the big show.
A complete list of the USA’s senior player pool can be seen here.
