New faces in Eagles squad for World Cup Qualifiers

Gary Gold has named eight uncapped players in his 30-man Men’s Eagles squad for the all-important World Cup Qualification tournament in Dubai. The USA will play tests against Kenya, Hong Kong, and Portugal with the winner of the round-robin Repechage advancing to France 2023.

The newcomers are props Jack Iscaro and Nathan Sylvia, second row Keni Nasoqeqe, flankers Vili Helu and Cory Daniel, scrumhalf Ryan Rees, wing Mitch Wilson, and utility back Chris Mattina. All play in Major League Rugby and took part in the recent Toyota Challenge matches in South Africa.

Six players who traveled to Bloemfontein miss out on the Qualifiers. Hooker Kaleb Geiger, tighthead prop Angus MacLellan, back row Michael de Waal, halfback Duncan van Schalkwyk, and winger Conner Mooneyham will presumably act as non-traveling reserves however USAR have not confirmed them as such. Veteran lock Nick Civetta has been ruled out of the series through an unspecified injury.

The Eagles will have to make do without Joe Taufete’e after the star front rower suffered wrist and thumb damage while playing for Leicester Tigers. David Ainu’u, Kapeli Pifeleti, and Mike Sosene-Feagai have arrived to bolster the front row. Other European-based call-ups are Newcastle lock Greg Peterson, Saracens scrumhalf Ruben de Haas, and Bristol flyhalf AJ MacGinty.

Montpellier’s Titi Lamositele is again conspicuously absent and with Taufete’e injured and Roman Salanoa opting for an Irish jersey, it’s Paul Mullen who will shoulder the workload in the No3 shirt. The Utah scrum anchor is the only specialist tighthead prop included, with clubmate MacLellan a surprise omission. San Diego’s Sylvia will make the move across after spending the vast majority of the past four seasons playing loosehead. Ainu’u has played tighthead with Toulouse and could be a third option if required.

Other France-based professionals missing out are second rows Nafi Ma’afu and Victor Comptat, flanker Psalm Wooching, and scrumhalf Michael Baska. Ma’afu and Wooching have not seen action recently, the latter returning from a serious knee injury, while Comptat has not yet been called to a senior assembly. Baska will stay at Rouen Normandie with Ruben de Haas the starting No9 and versatile Nate Augspurger expected to fill the bench role.

With Civetta out and Nate Brakeley no longer in the picture, Cam Dolan should continue his shift from the back of the scrum to the second row. The NOLA Gold captain is the most experienced man in the squad with 60 caps and a key component of the lineout. Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz should continue at the No8 spot with Ben Bonasso and Moni Tonga’uiha poised to play on the flanks. Incumbent starter Hanco Germishuys has been left out entirely.

Also absent is Seattle Seawolves winger Martin Iosefo, who was not available for the trip to South Africa. The back three should now be comprised of Christian Dyer, Mitch Wilson, and Marcel Brache. Wilson is yet to make his full debut but was a star performer for the New England Free Jacks and impressed in three non-cap outings with the senior squad.

A notable addition to the coaching staff is John Plumtree, who was forwards coach of the New Zealand All Blacks until earlier this year. He has also previously coached with Ireland and Japan. Former Argentina head coach Mario Ledesma continues to help the set piece with Rugby ATL’s Stephen Brett assisting Gold with the attack.

The Eagles will open their Repechage series against Kenya on Sunday, November 6, followed by Hong Kong on Saturday, November 12, and finally Portugal on Friday, November 18. All matches will be broadcast live on The Rugby Network.

 

LOOSEHEAD PROP
David Ainu’u (Toulouse, FR) 17 caps
Jack Iscaro (Old Glory DC) uncapped
Faka’osi Pifeleti (Austin Gilgronis) 1 cap
Chance Wenglewski (Rugby New York) 10 caps

HOOKER
Dylan Fawsitt (Rugby New York) 20 caps
Kapeli Pifeleti (Saracens, UK) 9 caps
Mike Sosene-Feagai (Agen, FR) 7 caps

TIGHTHEAD PROP
Paul Mullen (Utah Warriors) 27 caps
Nathan Sylvia (San Diego Legion) uncapped

SECOND ROW
Cam Dolan (NOLA Gold) 60 caps
Siaosi Mahoni (Houston SaberCats) 7 caps
Keni Nasoqeqe (Houston SaberCats) uncapped
Greg Peterson (Newcastle Falcons, UK) 36 caps

BACK ROW
Benjamín Bonasso (Rugby New York) 4 caps
Cory Daniel (Old Glory DC) uncapped
Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (Old Glory DC) 6 caps
Vili Helu (Rugby ATL) uncapped
Moni Tonga’uiha (NOLA Gold) 2 caps

SCRUMHALF
Nate Augspurger (San Diego Legion) 33 caps
Ruben de Haas (Saracens, UK) 25 caps
Ryan Rees (Rugby ATL) uncapped

FLYHALF
Luke Carty (LA Giltinis) 7 caps
AJ MacGinty (capt., Bristol Bears, UK) 32 caps

MIDFIELD
Bryce Campbell (Austin Gilgronis) 41 caps
Paul Lasike (Utah Warriors) 19 caps
Tavite Lopeti (Seattle Seawolves) 7 caps

OUTSIDE BACKS
Marcel Brache (Austin Gilgronis) 30 caps
Christian Dyer (Houston SaberCats) 8 caps
Chris Mattina (Austin Gilgronis) uncapped
Mitch Wilson (New England Free Jacks) uncapped