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A transatlantic rugby rivalry will continue in Washington, D.C. on Friday. The USA Eagles play host to Scotland. The fixture is the seventh test match between the teams in history. The most recent fixture was unforgettable; the USA completed a monumental upset win over Scotland in Houston, Texas.
The newest chapter in the rivalry takes place six years on. It sees a hungry Scotland, who hammered Canada, up against an Eagles side who significantly underperformed last weekend against Romania. For Scotland it is game two of four in the Americas this month.
Scotland are full of confidence and making no secret of it. Head Coach Gregor Townsend has rotated his team entirely. No players that started against Canada has been retained. Among the changes are Canadian-born Ewan Ashman named to start at hooker.
The USA has made seven changes to the starting line-up. One is injury motivated with Christian Dyer unable to play against Scotland. The remaining changing combine to give the Eagles a stronger composition compared got that which facd Romania in Chicago.
| LINE-UP CHANGES |
1 Jack Iscaro replaces Jake Turnbull
3 David Ainu’u replaces Paul Mullen
4 Viliami Helu replaces Renger van Eerten
7 Paddy Ryan replaces Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz
8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz moves from 7; replaces Thomas Tu’avao
14 Conner Mooneyham replaces Christian Dyer
15 Luke Carty replaces Mitch Wilson
1 Pierre Schoeman replaces Rory Sutherland
2 Ewan Ashman replaces Dylan Richardson
3 Murphy Walker replaces Elliot Millar-MIlls
4 Alex Craig replaces Max Williamson
5 Scott Cummings replaces Glen Young
6 Jamie Ritchie replaces Gregor Brown
7 Rory Darge replaces Luke Crosbie
8 Matt Fagerson replaces Josh Bayliss
9 George Horne replaces Gus Warr
10 Adam Hastings replaces Ross Thompson
11 Duhan van der Merwe replaces Aaron Reed
12 Sione Tuipulotu replaces Stafford McDowell
13 Huw Jones replaces Matt Currie
14 Kyle Steyn replaces Jamie Dobie
15 Kyle Rowe replaces Harry Paterson
| NOTES |
- USA Head Coach Scott Lawrence has recalled DC local Jack Iscaro at loose head.
- French Top 14 Champion David Ainu’u is back from Glory with Toulouse to start at tight head.
- Conner Mooneyham makes his Eagles debut on the right wing. Christian Dyer is injured.
- Saia Uhila and Ethan McVeigh will debut as replacements. Uhia debuts at the age of 37.
- Center Tommaso Boni played against Scotland in Singapore in 2017. He did so for Italy.
- Gregor Townsend has selected a 100% changed starting line-up.
- The changes mean the Eagles will face a notably stronger side than did Canada in Ottawa.
- Flanker Jamie Ritchie will earn his 50th cap for Scotland.
- Flanker Rory Darge and former Australian u20s center Sione Tuipulotu will be co-captains.
- All eight Scottish replacements faced Canada last weekend.
- Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe are former South African u20’s players.
- van der Merwe is one try away from the Scotland record of 27.
- Scotland’s 73-12 win over Canada was tied for the fourth biggest Scottish victory in history. Scotland downed Russia 61-0 at RWC 2019, Romania 84–0 at RWC 2023, Cotê d’Ivoire 89–0 at RWC 1995 and Japan 92-0 at home in 2004.
| PREDICTION |
Scotland are the overwhelming favorites to win in Washington, D.C. The team is entirely new, yet notably strengthened compared to the side which did so well in Ottawa. The home side will need to be very well-organized with offensively and defensively to stand a chance against this very reputable Scotland side. The USA Eagles ought to be better in the scrum this time around, though the opposition is also tougher in this area. ARN projects a Scotland victory by 30+ points.
| LINEUPS |
USA EAGLES
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 David Ainu’u, 4 Viliami Helu, 5 Greg Peterson (capt.), 6 Sam Golla, 7 Paddy Ryan, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 9 JP Smith, 10 AJ MacGinty, 11 Nate Augspurger, 12 Tommaso Boni, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Luke Carty
Replacements: 16 Kapeli Pifeleti, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 Paul Mullen, 19 Saia Uhila, 20 Ben Bonasso, 21 Ethan McVeigh, 22 Bryce Campbell, 23 Mitch Wilson
SCOTLAND
1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 Murphy Walker, 4 Alex Craig, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 7 Rory Darge (co-capt.), 8 Matt Fagerson, 9 George Horne, 10 Adam Hastings, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (co-capt.), 13 Huw Jones, 14 Kyle Steyn, 15 Kyle Rowe
Replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Luke Crosbie, 21 Jamie Dobie, 22 Ross Thompson, 23 Matt Currie
| MATCH DETAILS |
Date: Friday, July 12
Venue: Audi Field (Washington, D.C)
Kickoff: 6:30pm (Eastern)
Weather Forecast: Scattered Thunderstorms. Wind 11 km/h NE. 28 Celsius.
Streaming: live on FloRugby
| MATCH OFFICIALS |
Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)
Assistants: Adam Leal (England); Robin Kaluzniak (Canada)
TMO: Chris Assmus (Canada)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (6): USA 1, Scotland 5, STREAK; USA +1
2018: USA 30-29 Scotland (Houston, Texas)
2015: USA 16-39 Scotland (Leeds, England)
2014: USA 06-24 Scotland (Houston, Texas)
2003: USA 15-39 Scotland (Brisbane, Australia)
2002: USA 23-65 Scotland (San Francisco, California)
2000: Scotland 53-06 USA (Edinburgh, Scotland)
