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The November Internationals begin for the Americas on Saturday. The first men’s test side from the Western Hemisphere to play the end of year series is the USA. The Eagles are up against a formidable opponent in the Māori All Blacks.
USA Head Coach Gary Gold has named 13 players who featured in the historic win over Scotland in June. Of them 10 are to start in Chicago on Saturday.
The starting line-up also sees opportunities for new players. Both Chance Wenglewski and Gannon Moore are uncapped but have been named to start at loose head and outside center respectively.
Having missed out on playing in the June Internationals there are returns to the Eagles for Ryan Matyas, Psalm Wooching, Tony Lamborn, Dino Waldren and Tony Purpura. They are back after having featured in the Grand Slam title earlier this year in the Americas Rugby Championship (ARC).
Back in the side after an absence of over two years is Luke Hume. The New York player will start at fullback, joining Matyas and captain Nate Augspurger in the back-three.
Six starting players play their rugby overseas as do three replacements. Meanwhile both Wooching and Hanco Germishuys are currently unattached.
The Māori are coached by Clayton McMillan. He has named Ash Dixon as his captain. The hooker will lead an inexperienced side with a total of 10 players set to make their debuts.
Set to make their debuts are second-rowers Isaia Walker-Leawere and Pari Pari Parkinson, back-rower Mitchell Karpik, and wingers Jonah Lowe and Regan Ware. Replacements Robbie Abel, Hoani Matenga, Billy Harmon, Josh Ioane and Matt Lansdown will all debut should they receive game time.
Centers Teihorangi Walden and Rob Thompson offer experience as do the front-row of Dixon, Chris Eves and Ben May and halves Brad Weber and Otere Black.
Saturday’s fixture marks a return to Chicago for the fixture. In 2016 the Māori impressed, completing a 54-7 victory at Toyota Park. Prior outings saw the Māori winning 29-19 in Philadelphia in 2013, 74-6 in Santa Clara in 2006, and 69-31 in Calgary, Canada in 2004.
A win over the Māori on Saturday would be historic. Yet with the success of Major League Rugby (MLR) and a greatly improved record in recent years the 2018 version of the Eagles are the best placed ever to defeat the Māori. A close game is expected with the Māori favorites to win by 8 points.
USA
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Ben Landry, 5 Nick Civetta, 6 John Quill, 7 Tony Lamborn, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Shaun Davies, 10 Will Hooley, 11 Ryan Matyas, 12 Dylan Audsley, 13 Gannon Moore, 14 Nate Augspurger (capt.), 15 Luke Hume
Replacements: 16 James Hilterbrand, 17 Tony Purpura, 18 Dino Waldren, 19 Greg Peterson, 20 Hanco Germishuys, 21 Psalm Wooching, 22 Ruben de Haas, 23 Will Magie
MAORI ALL BLACKS
1 Chris Eves, 2 Ash Dixon (capt.), 3 Ben May, 4 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 5 Pari Pari Parkinson, 6 Reed Prinsep, 7 Mitchell Karpik, 8 Akira Ioane, 9 Brad Weber, 10 Otere Black, 11 Regan Ware, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 13 Rob Thompson, 14 Jonah Lowe, 15 Shaun Stevenson
Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Ross Wright, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Hoani Matenga, 20 Billy Harmon, 21 Jonathan Ruru, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Matt Lansdown
Date: Saturday, November 3
Kick-Off: 6pm (Local)
Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Alexandre Ruiz (FFR) & Chris Assmus (RC
TMO: Andrew McMaster (RC)
Broadcast: FloRugby
