November Internationals – Portugal vs USA – ARN Guide

The USA begin their tour in Coimbra on Saturday, when they take on Portugal, the team that ultimately knocked the Eagles out of the RWC 2023 qualifiers two years ago. Os Lobos enjoyed their experience in France last fall but both sides are now in the process of rebuilding with new coaches at the helm.

FORM GUIDE

Current World Ranking: 15 (70.61 points)
2024-07-20 – South Africa 64, Portugal 21 (Bloemfontein)
2024-07-13 – Namibia 22, Portugal 37 (Windhoek)
2024-03-17 – Georgia 36, Portugal 10 (Paris)
2024-03-03 – Portugal 33, Spain 30 (Lisbon)
2024-02-17 – Romania 24, Portugal 49 (Bucharest)

Current World Ranking: 19 (65.70 points)
2024-09-21 – Samoa 18, USA 13 (Osaka)
2024-09-14 – Fiji 22, USA 3 (Tokyo)
2024-09-07 – Japan 41, USA 24 (Kumagaya)
2024-08-31 – USA 28, Canada 15 (Carson)
2024-07-12 – USA 7, Scotland 42 (Washington DC)

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

1 David Costa replaces Francisco Fernandes
3 Cody Thomas replaces Diogo Ferreira
4 Steevy Cerqueira replaces Nicolas Fernandes
5 António Rebelo de Andrade replaces Duarte Torgal
7 Nicolas Martins replaces Diego Pinheiro Ruiz
8 João Granate replaces Vasco Baptista
10 Hugo Aubry replaces Joris Moura
11 José Paiva dos Santos replaces Rodrigo Marta
14 Raffaele Storti replaces Manuel Cardoso Pinto

1 Jack Iscaro replaces Jake Turnbull
2 Shilo Klein replaces Kapeli Pifeleti
6 Vili Helu replaces Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (No8 vs Samoa)
9 Ruben de Haas replaces JP Smith
10 AJ MacGinty replaces Luke Carty
11 Nate Augspurger replaces Toby Fricker (No15 vs Samoa)
12 Tavite Lopeti replaces Tommaso Boni

NOTES

• Portugal are perhaps best remembered for being the side that won the RWC 2023 Repechage qualifier, but on that occasion the match against the USA was a draw… it wasn’t until last year in Algarve that Os Lobos recorded their first-ever win over the Eagles
• this year’s Rugby Europe Championship began with calamity for Portugal as they lost 10-6 to Belgium in Mons… the Lobos recovered to finish 2nd, losing out in the final to Georgia
• it’s been largely a year of transition for the Lobos as ex-Pumas coach Daniel Hourcade stepped in for the REC as a placeholder before former All Blacks flyhalf Simon Mannix formally took over the Head Coach job from Patrice Lagisquet, who stepped down after the World Cup
• Portugal’s lineup is one of mixed strength… the first choice midfield is present, including long-time captain Tomás Appleton, along with star flankers José Madeira and Nicolas Martins… but among the unavailable this week are hooker Lucas Da Silva, scrumhalf Samuel Marques, and winger Lucas Martins
• the Eagles are also in transition as Scott Lawrence continues to phase in some of the younger talents that are emerging in Major League Rugby… this week will see former New Zealand u20 hooker Shilo Klein making his test debut… versatile outside back Erich Storti and Miami Sharks back row Tomás Casares are uncapped inclusions on the bench… the latter is a late call-up to the squad… born and raised in Argentina, Casares qualifies through his US-born father
• Bristol Bears star AJ MacGinty lines up at No10, but the USA are without Toulouse prop David Ainu’u, injured Brive lock Renger an Eerten, and Biarritz lock or back row Nafi Ma’afu among others
• Eagles skipper Greg Peterson is the only specialist second row in the match day 23… Jason Damm, Vili Helu, and Casares can fill in but all typically play in the back row for their clubs

QUOTES

Scott Lawrence (Head Coach)

“Our goal this tour remains the same from the Pacific Nations Cup, to compete and get better each week. This Saturday is our first opportunity to do that. What we’ll take into consideration is who we’re playing and what they’re going to bring, but as always focus on our own performance objectives. Portugal is coming off an extensive Rugby World Cup campaign, so we’ll face a cohesive team that will be a good test of our focus as a young team, looking to stay switched on for all 80 minutes.”

PREDICTION

Ideal conditions look to be on the forecast which should allow for some exciting rugby. The speed of the Lobos attack was too much for the Eagles last year and could be a problem again. Set piece accuracy will be critical for the Eagles, who are lacking a top-class game-breaker out wide to match Raffaele Storti. It should be a competitive contest but Portugal are favorites at home.

TEAMS

PORTUGAL
1 David Costa, 2 Luka Begic, 3 Cody Thomas, 4 Steevy Cerqueira, 5 António Rebelo de Andrade, 6 José Madeira, 7 Nicolas Martins, 8 João Granate, 9 Hugo Camacho, 10 Hugo Aubry, 11 José Paiva dos Santos, 12 Tomás Appleton (capt.), 13 José Lima, 14 Raffaele Storti, 15 Simão Bento

Replacements: 16 António Machado Santos, 17 Santiago Lopes, 18 Diogo Ferreira, 19 José Rebelo de Andrade, 20 Diego Pinheiro Ruiz, 21 António Campos, 22 Manuel Vareiro, 23 Gabriel Aviragnet

USA
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Shilo Klein, 3 Alex Maughan, 4 Jason Damm, 5 Greg Peterson (capt.), 6 Vili Helu, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Paddy Ryan, 9 Ruben de Haas, 10 AJ MacGinty, 11 Nate Augspurger, 12 Tavite Lopeti, 13 Dom Besag, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Mitch Wilson

Replacements: 16 Kapeli Pifeleti, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 Pono Davis, 19 Tomás Casares, 20 Moni Tonga’uiha, 21 Ethan McVeigh, 22 Erich Storti, 23 Luke Carty

MATCH INFO

Date: Saturday, November 9
Venue: Estadio Cidade, Coimbra
Kickoff: 16:00 local (08:00 Pacific, 11:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 64°F (18°C), wind NW 7-10mph (11-16km/h)
Broadcasts: A Bola TV, FloRugby

OFFICIALS

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistants: Takehito Namekawa (Japan) & Ruairidh Campbell (Scotland)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (4): USA 2, Portugal 1, Draw 1
2023-08-12 – Portugal 46, USA 20 (Algarve)
2022-11-18 – Portugal 16, USA 16 (Dubai)
2010-11-13 – Portugal 17, USA 22 (Lisbon)
1998-04-08 – Portugal 5, USA 61 (Lisbon)