World Cup Watch – USA – May 25, 2021

The reveal of the first publicly-revealed Eagles squad since Rugby World Cup 2019 is now imminent. Initially expected in mid-June, sources indicate it could come as early as this week. What exactly it will look like remains to be seen, possibly a long-list for the season or a streamlined touring squad – or both.

England and Ireland will be the USA’s opponents in July, a daunting task given even in a Lions year when both will be short of full strength. The timing of the tour is also slightly problematic for Gary Gold in that it disrupts the Major League Rugby season, though the presence of a dozen-odd senior professionals abroad means that domestic clubs should not be left hamstrung.

As with our recent Canadian selection, adjustments since our March 23 update are based on club form and aim to be objective though in some cases speculation was required. Injuries have ruled out some while those currently preparing for the Olympics were not considered.

 

USA EAGLES

##

NAME

CLUB

POS

CAPS

FIRST XV

1	David Ainu’u	Toulouse (FR)	LH	9
2	Joe Taufete’e	Lyon (FR)	HO	27
3	Titi Lamositele	Montpellier (FR)	TH / LH	32
4	Greg Peterson	Newcastle Falcons (UK)	LO	30
5	Nick Civetta	Rugby United New York	LO	23
6	Hanco Germishuys	Rugby United New York	FL	21
7	Malon Al-Jiboori	Ealing Trailfinders (UK)	FL	6
8	Cam Dolan	NOLA Gold	N8	51
9	Ruben de Haas	Austin Gilgronis	SH	17
10	AJ MacGinty	Sale Sharks (UK)	FH	28
11	Marcel Brache	Western Force (AU)	WI / CE	23
12	Paul Lasike	Harlequins (UK)	CE	19
13	Bryce Campbell	Austin Gilgronis	CE	32
14	Mike Te’o	Utah Warriors	WI / FB	28
15	Will Hooley	Saracens (UK)	FB / FH	15

There is only one change to a potential starting list. Tony Lamborn is out with injury while Malon Al-Jiboori, who was part of the World Cup squad, has left the Sevens program to sign with Ealing Trailfinders. The entire back row should be considered fluid, however, with form suggesting others further down the list could in fact be higher up the pecking order.

 

REPLACEMENTS

16	Kapeli Pifeleti	Saracens (UK)	HO	3
17	Chance Wenglewski	Rugby ATL	LH	6
18	Paul Mullen	Utah Warriors	TH	18
19	Ben Landry	Seattle Seawolves	LO / FL	25
20	Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz	Old Glory DC	N8 / FL	2
21	Nick Boyer	Houston SaberCats	SH	1
22	Will Magie	Austin Gilgronis	FH / FB	26
23	Harry Barlow	New England Free Jacks	WI / CE	–

Hooker is a highly contested position with Kapeli Pifeleti’s overseas experience just nudging him ahead of Dylan Fawsitt. Paul Mullen keeps his place though on form Dino Waldren could be preferred. Ben Landry returns from a self-imposed hiatus to take a spot on the bench, while it would be no surprise to see Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz handed the starting No8 shirt.

Ankle injuries have ruled out both Nate Augspurger and Dylan Audsley. It opens the door for Nick Boyer to return to the senior side, while the outside backs replacement is now wide open. With neither Ryan Matyas or Tim Maupin starting consistently for their clubs the in-form Harry Barlow, explicitly noted by Gary Gold recently, jumps straight into test contention.

 

TRAVELING RESERVES

24	Dylan Fawsitt	Rugby United New York	HO	15
25	Faka’osi Pifeleti	San Diego Legion	LH	–
26	Dino Waldren	NOLA Gold	TH	19
27	Nate Brakeley	Rugby United New York	LO	23
28	Psalm Wooching	San Diego Legion	FL	4
29	Jason Damm	Rugby ATL	N8	–
30	Michael Baska	Utah Warriors	SH	–
31	Thretton Palamo	Old Glory DC	CE	19
32	Mika Kruse	Utah Warriors	CE / WI	–
33	Ryan James	LA Giltinis	WI	–

Third choice loosehead prop, as noted in March, remains a conundrum and with Valdemar Lee-Lo’s injury we’ve opted for San Diego’s Faka’osi Pifeleti. His clubmate Nathan Sylvia and NOLA’s Matt Harmon could be other uncapped options.

On form it’s not difficult to argue that Psalm Wooching could in fact be in the starting side. Similarly Jason Damm has been one of the most influential players in the first half of the MLR season though his first opportunities with the Eagles are more likely to come off the bench.

Devereaux Ferris is the only other capped scrumhalf available but Michael Baska’s first choice status with Utah vaults him up in the standings. Baska is another singled out recently by Coach Gold that suggests he is the primary contender to Boyer as the second choice scrumhalf.

Mika Kruse looks revitalised with the Warriors while Ryan James has impressed in every opportunity with LA. Both can be classified as arbitrary selections on this list.

 

NON-TRAVELING RESERVES

34	Mike Sosene-Feagai	Old Glory DC	HO	5
35	Matt Harmon	NOLA Gold	LH	–
36	Paddy Ryan	Austin Gilgronis	TH	7
37	Nafi Ma’afu	Perpignan (FR)	LO / FL	–
38	Joe Johnston	New England Free Jacks	FL	–
39	Riekert Hattingh	Seattle Seawolves	N8	–
40	Devereaux Ferris	Seattle Seawolves	SH	1
41	Luke Carty	LA Giltinis	FH	–
42	Calvin Whiting	Utah Warriors	CE	1
43	Deion Mikesell	Carcassonne (FR)	WI	2
44	Conner Mooneyham	Austin Gilgronis	FB / WI	–

Mike Sosene-Feagai is right up with Fawsitt and NOLA’s Pat O’Toole as form US-eligible hookers in MLR and it’s thus difficult to rank them until an official selection is made. Paddy Ryan has slipped below Waldren and his clubmate Mason Pedersen is also hot on his heels.

A potential bolter in the senior squad is Nafi Ma’afu, whose ranking has taken a dramatic turn for the positive in recent weeks. New York’s Charlie Hewitt, Utah’s Matt Jensen, and San Diego pair Siaosi Mahoni and Ben Mitchell are more conventional second row options.

Tevita Tameilau is the most experienced alternative in the back row and while his fitness and form are beginning to return, it seems more likely that the younger options of Damm and Riekert Hattingh are ahead in the standings at this point. New England openside Joe Johnston is another who is likely in Gold’s plans moving forward.

Ferris stays in touch as a fourth-choice halfback though New York’s Conor McManus and new San Diego addition Ethan McVeigh will be closely watched by the selectors. Ryan Rees seems to have usurped Duncan van Schalkwyk as the preferred US-eligible scrumhalf for ATL, at least for now.

At flyhalf there is a case for Luke Carty to be higher on the list with Will Magie playing mostly at fullback for Austin. Ben Cima misses out with injury while Free Jacks starter Harrison Boyle is yet to declare his availability for the USA, having previously trialed with the New Zealand u20 side.

Midfield options look thin at the moment though with Calvin Whiting the only obvious MLR contender. Deion Mikesell has been playing semi-regularly for Carcassonne this season but it’s difficult to gauge where he stands in the eyes of higher-ups.

Zinzan Elan-Puttick has been frustrated by injuries this season so clubmate Conner Mooneyham is rewarded for his fine form. New York’s Troy Lockyear likely needs more game time to force his way into contention. Free Jacks utility Mitch Wilson is another who might have been in the running but is also currently on the injured list.