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There is arguably no country that interests World Rugby more than that of the USA. Terminology such as the speeding giant is commonly used to categorize and glorify the Eagles.
Unlike prior World Cup tournaments, RWC 2019 will see the USA having a team of professional players. This revolution has come following PRO and more recently Major League Rugby. With it the base is in place for the strength of the USA Eagles is to be superior to that of prior World Cups.
Standing in the way of the USA marching towards the play-off’s are Argentina, England, France and Tonga. Having been drawn into the pool of death will make for an extraordinarily complex tournament for the Eagles yet there is much more to watch out for than the mere results.
WORLD CUP HISTORY
| RWC | FINAL PLACING | RESULTS |
| 1987 | Group Stage |
Won vs Japan Lost vs Australia, England |
| 1991 | Group Stage | Lost vs England, Italy, New Zealand |
| 1995 | Did Not Qualify | – |
| 1999 | Group Stage | Lost vs Australia, Ireland, Romania |
| 2003 | Group Stage |
Won vs Japan Lost vs Fiji, France, Scotland |
| 2007 | Group Stage | Lost vs England, Samoa, South Africa, Tonga |
| 2011 | Group Stage |
Won vs Russia Lost vs Australia, Ireland, Italy |
| 2015 | Group Stage | Lost vs Japan, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa |
Overall Record: Played 25, Won 3, Lost 22
RWC 2019 SCHEDULE
The USA has not been gifted a friendly match schedule. The Eagles are to officially be the final team to begin their RWC 2019 campaign. That match will be against England in Kobe on September 26.
Game two will also be against a Tier 1 opponent and it will require travel. The Eagles will play in Fukuoka six days after opening against England. A decision will need to be taken to prioritize the top line-up for one of these matches or to rest them for game three.
With game three being against Argentina, and game four against Tonga it is probable that the wider-roster players will be used against Los Pumas. This is enforced by the dates which have the minimal of three rest days in between the Eagles’ matches against Argentina, and Tonga.
Performances from the USA over the RWC 2015-2019 cycle also point to a likely prioritizing of the Tonga fixture. That fixture is expected to be positioned as the vital match with a win being the off-record tournament objective.
| DATE | OPPONENT | VENUE |
| Thus Sep 26 | England | Misaki Stadium, Kobe |
| Wed Oct 02 | France | Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka |
| Wed Oct 09 | Argentina | Kumagaya Stadium, Kumagaya |
| Sun Oct 13 | Tonga | Hanazono Stadium, Osaka |
PREDICTED TRAVELING 31
Forwards: James Hilterbrand (Manly Marlins, AU), Kapeli Pifeleti (San Diego Legion), Joe Taufete’e (Worcester Warriors, UK), David Ainu’u (Toulouse, FR), Eric Fry (Vannes, FR), Olive Kilifi (Seattle Seawolves), Titi Lamositele (Saracens, UK), Paul Mullen (Houston SaberCats), Nate Brakeley (Rugby United New York), Nick Civetta (Doncaster Knights, UK), Ben Landry (Ealing Trailfinders, UK), Greg Peterson (Newcastle Falcons, UK), Malon Al-Jiboori (Glendale Raptors), Cam Dolan (New Orleans Gold), Hanco Germishuys (Glendale Raptors), Tony Lamborn (Melbourne Rebels, AU), John Quill (Rugby United New York), Psalm Wooching (San Diego Legion)
Backs: Nate Augspurger (San Diego Legion), Shaun Davies (Glendale Raptors), Ruben de Haas (Free State Cheetahs, SA), AJ MacGinty (Sale Sharks, UK), Will Magie (Glendale Raptors), Bryce Campbell (London Irish, UK), Paul Lasike (Harlequins, UK), Thretton Palamo (Houston SaberCats), Marcel Brache (Western Force, AU), Will Hooley (Bedford Blues, UK), Gannon Moore (Utah Warriors), Blaine Scully (Cardiff Blues, UK), Mike Te’o (San Diego Legion)
PROJECTED MATCH-DAY LINEUP
1 Eric Fry, 2 Joe Taufete’e, 3 Titi Lamositele, 4 Greg Peterson, 5 Nick Civetta, 6 John Quill, 7 Hanco Germishuys, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Shaun Davies, 10 AJ MacGinty, 11 Marcel Brache, 12 Paul Lasike, 13 Bryce Campbell, 14 Blaine Scully (capt.), 15 Will Hooley
Replacements: 16 James Hilterbrand, 17 David Ainu’u, 18 Paul Mullen, 19 Ben Landry, 20 Tony Lamborn, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Thretton Palamo, 23 Mike Te’o
Key Back: AJ MacGinty
Key Forward: Titi Lamositele
Talisman: Joe Taufete’e
RWC 2019 PREVIEW
The creation of the Americas Rugby Championship has offered the USA Eagles with expanded opportunities like never before. The return has seen two Grand Slam tournament victories but also an upset loss against Brazil.
While a loss against a Tier 3 status side was a significant low-point the overall trend was to the contrary with the Eagles proving themselves as a rising Tier 2 country. History-making wins were recorded against Samoa, and Scotland. These results in addition to the overall win-loss record place the RWC 2019 Eagles as a stronger team than that from prior World Cups.
The most likely scenario is that the USA will go 1-3 in RWC 2019. The Eagles are projected to lose against Argentina, England, and France but defeat Tonga. This would convert into a fourth place finish in the pool.
Week 1 – Italy
Week 2 – Fiji
Week 3 – Japan
Week 4 – England
Week 5 – Namibia
Week 6 – Wales
Week 7 – Samoa
Week 8 – France
Week 9 – South Africa
Week 10 – Georgia
Week 11 – Scotland
Week 12 – Tonga
Week 13 – New Zealand
Week 14 – Ireland
Week 15 – Australia
Week 16 – Russia
Week 17 – USA
Week 18 – Uruguay
