Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The USA will start their South African tour on Friday with a Toyota Challenge match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. Several newcomers will get an opportunity to stake a claim for a spot in the Eagles squad for November’s World Cup Qualifiers in Dubai.
Five uncapped players have been named in the starting lineup by Gary Gold. Jack Iscaro runs out at loosehead prop, with second row Keni Nasoqeqe and flankers Vili Helu and Cory Daniel also looking to impress. Right wing Mitch Wilson lined up for the Eagles against the French Barbarians but is yet to make his test debut.
From the bench New York hooker Kaleb Geiger will wear a USA shirt for the first time. Cam Dolan will have to be patient as Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz gets the No8 shirt, while Duncan van Schalkwyk provides cover at both halfback positions behind starters Nate Augspurger and Luke Carty.
The Cheetahs feature two names familiar to Major League Rugby fans in Rugby ATL’s Marko Janse van Rensburg and San Diego Legion prop Hencus van Wyk. Four Springboks are named in the match day squad – Oupa Mohojé, Frans Steyn, and Rosko Specman start with world-renowned scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar on the bench.
Kickoff is set for 6pm local time, noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. Live broadcasts will be available on FloRugby in the USA with a YouTube stream available for viewers elsewhere.
CHEETAHS
1 Schalk Ferreira, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 4 Rynier Bernardo, 5 Victor Sekekete (capt.), 6 Marnus van der Merwe, 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 8 Oupa Mohojé, 9 Branden de Kock, 10 George Lourens, 11 Rosko Specman, 12 Frans Steyn, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 14 Munier Hartzenburg, 15 Cohen Jasper
Replacements: 16 Janus Venter, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Jean Droste, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Robert Ebersohn
USA FALCONS
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Keni Nasoqeqe, 5 Nick Civetta, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 9 Nate Augspurger, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Christian Dyer, 12 Paul Lasike, 13 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 14 Mitch Wilson, 15 Marcel Brache
Replacements: 16 Kaleb Geiger, 17 Chance Wenglewski, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Siaosi Mahoni, 20 Cam Dolan, 21 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 22 Tavite Lopeti, 23 Chris Mattina
Date: Friday October 14
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kickoff: 18:00 local (09:00 Pacific, 12:00 Eastern)
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
Assistants: Paul Mente (South Africa) & Christopher Alison (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Crouse (South Africa)
Broadcasts: FloRugby, YouTube
