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Titi Lamositele and Paul Lasike will not be playing for the USA in the World Cup Qualifier series against Chile. Lamositele has opted out for personal reasons, while Lasike suffered a broken hand against the French Barbarians. Angus MacLellan and Kisi Unufe have been called up as replacements.
Lamositele had been set to pack down at tighthead prop after claiming a Top 14 title with Montpellier. That role is now set to be filled by Paul Mullen. Joe Taufete’e came off the bench to replace Mullen against the Barbarians but took a knock late in the game. The 29-year-old MacLellan, who shares the No3 shirt with Mullan at Utah, won the last of his 5 test caps in February 2018.
Lasike’s injury is unfortunate after the former Harlequins center had only just returned from a long-term Achilles injury. Bryce Campbell is set to partner Tavite Lopeti in the midfield.
Unufe is something of a surprise selection after playing only a limited role with the SaberCats during his first Major League Rugby campaign. The 30-year-old starred for several years on the World Sevens Series but is uncapped in XVs. He played primarily wing for Houston, suggesting that Marcel Brache and Christian Dyer will provide cover for Campbell and Lopeti.
