Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
What a monumental year it has been for the Eagles. While their test winning streak came to an end against Ireland, they finished 2019 at their highest ever ranking of 12th in the world and earned a first-ever win over Samoa on the November tour.
The end-of-year schedule saw some players miss out with injury but others put their hands up in a big way. As a result some of the positions we had previously considered relatively safe are suddenly back on the table. Competition for spots has never been greater in USA rugby history.
Below we take a look at how the depth chart looks as things stand, and there is room for change in the upcoming Americas Rugby Championship. With the news that the Pacific Nations Cup is back in the picture for 2019 there will be at least eight matches for World Cup hopefuls to earn their ticket to Japan.
USA
| ## | NAME | CLUB | POS | CAPS |
FIRST CHOICE
| 1 | Titi Lamositele | Saracens (UK) | LH / TH | 26 |
| 2 | Joe Taufete’e | Worcester Warriors (UK) | HO | 19 |
| 3 | Paul Mullen | uattached | TH | 6 |
| 4 | Greg Peterson | Glasgow Warriors (UK) | LO | 20 |
| 5 | Nick Civetta | Doncaster Knights (UK) | LO | 18 |
| 6 | John Quill | unattached | FL | 29 |
| 7 | Tony Lamborn | Southland Stags (NZ) | FL | 18 |
| 8 | Cam Dolan | New Orleans Gold | N8 | 40 |
| 9 | Shaun Davies | Glendale Raptors | SH | 19 |
| 10 | AJ MacGinty | Sale Sharks (UK) | FH | 20 |
| 11 | Marcel Brache | Western Force (AU) | WI / CE | 12 |
| 12 | Paul Lasike | Harlequins (UK) | CE | 9 |
| 13 | Bryce Campbell | London Irish (UK) | CE | 21 |
| 14 | Blaine Scully (c) | Cardiff Blues (UK) | WI / FB | 43 |
| 15 | Will Hooley | Bedford Blues (UK) | FB / FH | 6 |
For the first time this year we have seen changes in the run-on side. The form of Greg Peterson combined with Samu Manoa’s lack of availability sees the big Glasgow lock jump in beside Nick Civetta. The latter’s lineout expertise marks him as a near-certainty but the No4 shirt remains up for grabs in 2019.
On the flank a return to form and fitness puts John Quill back in a starting role, with Hanco Germishuys dropping to the bench as an impact sub. We think this is likely to continue through to the World Cup but it gives the Eagles three interchangeable flankers along with Tony Lamborn, whose injury could see him miss the ARC.
Quill’s next stop is unknown having just recently left the Glendale Raptors, but an overseas club is a good bet. Paul Mullen is also a free agent but should land back in MLR with the Houston SaberCats.
REPLACEMENTS
| 16 | Dylan Fawsitt | Rugby United New York | HO | 7 |
| 17 | Eric Fry | Vannes (FR) | LH | 44 |
| 18 | Dino Waldren | London Scottish (UK) | TH | 15 |
| 19 | Samu Manoa | Cardiff Blues (UK) | LO / N8 | 22 |
| 20 | Hanco Germishuys | Glendale Raptors | FL | 11 |
| 21 | Ruben de Haas | Free State Cheetahs (SA) | SH | 7 |
| 22 | Will Magie | Glendale Raptors | FH | 19 |
| 23 | Ryan Matyas | San Diego Legion | WI | 12 |
There is dramatic change to the bench, not just with the swapping of Manoa and Germishuys. James Hilterbrand looked slim and trim in his return from injury but Dylan Fawsitt got the call for Europe. He moves into a very contentious reserve hooker spot.
At scrumhalf November saw the emergence of Ruben de Haas as not only a clear front-runner for the match day 23 but potentially a challenger for incumbent Shaun Davies. The young de Haas has a bright future ahead if RWC 2019 comes a little too soon from a starting perspective.
Dylan Audsley was left out of the traveling squad for Europe with Ryan Matyas the biggest winner. He has been in strong form this year but still can’t quite crack the starting side where Marcel Brache is preferred. We think there are others who could yet enter the conversation with star athletes like Peni Tagive and Deion Mikesell gearing up for a run in the 2019 Major League Rugby season.
TRAVELING RESERVES
| 24 | James Hilterbrand | Manly Marlins (AU) | HO | 16 |
| 25 | Olive Kilifi | Seattle Seawolves | LH / TH | 24 |
| 26 | Ben Landry | Ealing Trailfinders (UK) | LO | 15 |
| 27 | Psalm Wooching | San Diego Legion | FL | 4 |
| 28 | David Tameilau | Glasgow Warriors (UK) | N8 / LO | 12 |
| 29 | Nate Augspurger | San Diego Legion | SH / WI | 21 |
| 30 | Dylan Audsley | San Diego Legion | CE / FB | 6 |
| 31 | Mike Te’o | San Diego Legion | FB / WI | 21 |
Hilterbrand lands in the traveling reserves, as does Ben Landry who missed out on November. The latter is now in direct competition with Manoa for a bench spot with Gary Gold now leaning towards a more conventional loose forward on the bench.
There was no place for Vili Toluta’u in Europe with the athletic profile of Psalm Wooching preferred. His height makes him a useful lineout option, something that Toluta’u cannot match. David Tameilau covers both second and back row.
Audsley is joined by San Diego Legion teammates Nate Augspurger and Mike Te’o, both of whom are currently on the disabled list. Augspurger’s versatility is his greatest asset but another Legionnaire – Nick Boyer – is hot on his heels for the third string scrumhalf spot.
The return of Te’o cannot come quickly enough and he will have to prove his knee is back in working order. His stepping ability is undoubtedly a point of difference over other contenders as is his ability to cover across the outside backs.
NON-TRAVELING RESERVES
| 32 | Peter Malcolm | Austin Elite | HO | 11 |
| 33 | David Ainu’u | Toulouse (FR) | LH / TH | 2 |
| 34 | Chris Baumann | unattached | TH | 25 |
| 35 | Nate Brakeley | Rugby United New York | LO | 15 |
| 36 | Vili Toluta’u | Seattle Seawolves | FL | 1 |
| 37 | Brendan Daly | SFGG | N8 / LO | 2 |
| 38 | Nick Boyer | San Diego Legion | SH | 1 |
| 39 | JP Eloff | New Orleans Gold | FH | 9 |
| 40 | Gannon Moore | North Harbour (NZ) | CE / WI | 2 |
| 41 | Tim Maupin | New Orleans Gold | WI | 9 |
| 42 | Conor Kearns | San Diego Legion | FB | – |
Austin Elite will have Peter Malcolm back in 2019. It seems likely he will begin the season in MLR with a possible return to Eagles colors in the second half of the ARC. The likes of Hilterbrand and Mike Sosene-Feagai may need MLR deals to stay in touch with the domestic standouts.
It was a big November for young David Ainu’u. The 18-year-old has suddenly become a very real possibility for RWC 2019 and the discussion will now be whether the experience of Olive Kilifi is preferred as the fifth prop to cover both sides of the scrum. An alternative could be Huluholo Mo’ungaloa, who has revived his World Cup chances by signing on with the Utah Warriors.
Chris Baumann hangs on to his tighthead reserve spot by the skin of his teeth and it goes without saying that a pro contract somewhere – like in MLR – is imperative to his chances of making the World Cup. The return of Paddy Ryan at New York is notable particularly in the scrum, and others like John Hayden and Angus MacLellan are still in the mix.
At lock the entry of New York for the 2019 MLR season means that Nate Brakeley is back in front of the selectors with a legitimate shot at the World Cup. His rise comes at the expense of Siaosi Mahoni. Utah have two Eagles in their second row in Matt Jensen and John Cullen who will be keen to show they still have what it takes, and Christian Ostberg has been something of a forgotten man at Aurillac.
Toluta’u remains a strong contender on the flank but one does wonder if – as with others – Brendan Daly can keep up if he does not commit to MLR. The suspicion is that he may be out of luck, especially if the likes of Malon Al-Jiboori, Sebastián Kalm, or Riekert Hattingh enter the equation with strong domestic seasons. Utah’s Lance Williams is an interesting athlete who looks set for a big 2019.
The fourth-string halfbacks are certainly competitive. Boyer is set to start for the Legion while Holden Yungert is another contender at scrumhalf. Devereaux Ferris is lurking but needs to find himself an MLR side and soon.
At flyhalf it’s JP Eloff but again he is far from alone. Ben Cima could revitalise his young career at Seattle and Tadhg Leader is now eligible. New England may not be playing in MLR but at least they have quality opposition lined up in the form of the four Irish provincial development sides. Leader could also go out on loan to an MLR side at the business end of the season.
Anthony Salaber has removed himself from the conversation in the midfield while Mika Kruse’s inexperienced showed in the Americas Pacific Challenge. Gannon Moore, on the other hand, has put his hand up in a big way with a very solid November tour. He can cover the midfield or the wing, and is another who would benefit greatly from an MLR deal.
NOLA’s Tim Maupin is a veteran option out wide while Conor Kearns should get a full season in with San Diego. Utah’s Josh Whippy has the potential to jump straight up into the World Cup squad if he is mentally and physically recovered from his leg break suffered in the spring.
An updated list of the USA’s senior player pool can be seen here.
