Match Preview – USA vs Samoa

A must-see match in the November Internationals this weekend is the USA vs Samoa. In a unique setting the teams go head-to-head in San Sebastián, Spain.

The USA Eagles are playing their second match, their first having been last weekend’s uncapped game against the Maori All Blacks in Chicago. Unlike that fixture the game against Samoa will see the USA at full-strength in terms of fitness.

AJ MacGinty and Samu Manoa are notable absentees though fullback Blaine Scully, centers Bryce Campbell, and Paul Lasike, second rowers Greg Peterson and Nick Civetta, hooker Joe Taufete’e and prop Titi Lamositele all return to represent the Eagles.

There is also a place for a debutante. Earning his first cap will be New Zealand-based Gannon Moore who is to join Ryan Matyas and Blaine Scully in the back three.

Also missing is scrumhalf Shaun Davies. He suffered concussion following a dangerous tackle by Māori lock Pari Pari Parkinson. Without him Ruben de Haas will start in the 9 shirt, joining Will Hooley in a new-look halves combination.

Samoa have handed a debut to Bay of Plenty’s Kane Leaupepe. He joins London Irish’s Filo Paulo in locking the scrum. In addition to Leaupepe there are to also be first caps for replacements Ray Niuia, Ben Nee Nee, Jacob Mapu, and Stacey Ili.

There have been five prior matches between the USA and Samoa. The Pacific Islanders have won all matches but have always done so by small margins. The most recent match was in Brighton, England during RWC 2015 with Samoa winning by 9 points, the largest win on record.

With the USA comfortably qualifying for RWC 2019 as Americas 1 and defeating Scotland this past June the Eagles are deservedly ranked above Samoa. The Pacific Islanders, in contrast, have struggled, even being pushed by Germany earlier this year in RWC qualifying.

This should be a close contest on neutral territory with both teams fielding fully professional sides. With momentum behind them the Eagles should be slight favorites.

USA
1 Titi Lamositele, Joe Taufete’e, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Greg Peterson, 5 Nick Civetta, 6 John Quill, 7 Tony Lamborn, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Ruben de Haas, 10 Will Hooley, 11 Ryan Matyas, 12 Paul Lasike, 13 Bryce Campbell, 14 Gannon Moore, 15 Blaine Scully (capt.)

Replacements: 16 Dylan Fawsitt, 17 David Ainu’u, 18 Dino Waldren, 19 David Tameilau, 20 Hanco Germisuhys, 21 Devereaux Ferris, 22 Will Magie, 23 Tim Maupin

SAMOA
1 Logovi’i Mulipola, 2 Motu Matu’u, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 4 Kane Leaupepe, 5 Filo Paulo, 6 Josh Tyrell, 6 Jack Lam (capt.), 8 Faifili Levave, 9 Melani Matavao, 10 Tusi Pisi, 11 JJ Taulagi, 12 Alapati Leuia, 13 Reynold Lee-Lo, 14 Ed Fidow, 15 Ahsee Tuala

Replacements: 16 Ray Niuia, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 James Lay, 19 Ben Nee Nee, 20 Jacob Mapu, 21 Dwayne Polataivao, 22 D’Angelo Leuila, 23 Stacey Ili

Date: Saturday, November 10
Kick-Off: 18:30 local (09:30 Pacific, 12:30 Eastern)
Venue: Estadio de Aoeta, San Sebastián, Spain
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (France), Iñigo Atorrasagasti (Spain)
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Broadcasts: FloRugby