Eagles set for Teros Test
The U.S. Men’s National Rugby team has named its starting lineup for its Rugby World Cup Qualifier match against Uruguay Teros in Montevideo on Saturday.
The U.S. National side assembled in Florida on Sunday, November 8, before traveling to Uruguay on Tuesday. Following the match on Saturday, the teams will travel back up to Lauderhill, Fla., for their home match of the two-game series at Broward County Regional Park on November 21.
The U.S. Eagles set to face the Teros includes loosehead Mate Moekiola and tighthead Will Johnson propping hooker Phil Thiel. In the second row John Van der Giessen joins Hayden Smith, while Louis Stanfill and captain Todd Clever will flank the U.S. pack. Nic Johnson rounds out the starting forwards in the No. 8 position.
The U.S. back line includes scrumhalf Tim Usasz in the starting position and Mike Hercus at flyhalf. At center, Junior Sifa and Paul Emerick fill the inside and outside positions, respectively, while Kevin Swiryn and Takudzwa Ngwenya bring speed and power to the wings. Chris Wyles will again start at fullback for the U.S., just adding to the experience of this Eagles lineup.
The U.S. also have a strong bench as Brian McClenahan, Jacob Sprague, Alec Parker and J.J. Gagiano look to go in as forward replacements, while Mike Petri, Nese Malifa and Pate Tuilevuka will most likely see time as backs.
"We’ve got a very solid pool of players selected for these matches. Almost all of the players have been involved through the summer schedule, which will make it easier to for the team to gel given the limited preparation time before the first Test," Eagles coach Eddie O’Sullivan said.
"Uruguay had some very solid performances throughout the summer against tough opposition in Russia, Romania and Scotland. They will be very keen to throw down a marker on home soil.”"
Recently promoted to an 18th global ranking by the International Rugby Board (IRB), the U.S. Eagles have a 9-1 win-loss record over Uruguay over the past 20 years, and had to challenge the South American side for their last qualification into the Rugby World Cup four years ago, winning that series by a two-game point total of 75-20.
Teams
USA Eagles: 15 Chris Wyles (Saracens), 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz Olympic), 13 Paul Emerick (Parma FC), 12 Junior Sifa (Middleton RFC), 11 Kevin Swiryn (Old Puget Sound Beach RFC), 10 Mike Hercus (Gold Coast Stingrays), 9 Tim Usasz (Nottingham RFC), 8 Nic Johnson (Denver Barbarians), 7 Todd Clever (Golden Lions), 6 Louis Stanfill (New York Athletic Club), 5 Hayden Smith (Saracens), 4 John Van der Giessen (Sporting Club Albigeois), 3 Will Johnson (Oxford University), 2 Phil Thiel (Life University), 1 Mate Moeakiola (Pearl City RFC),
Replacements: 16 Brian McClenahan (Olympic Club), 17 Jacob Sprague (Mystic River RFC), 18 Alec Parker (Gentlemen of Aspen), 19 Jonathan ‘JJ’ Gagiano (FC Roma), 20 Mike Petri (New York Athletic Club), 21 Nese Malifa (Belmont Shore RFC), 22 Pate Tuilevuka (Provo Steelers)
Uruguay Teros: 15 Nicolás Morales (Trébol), 14 Manuel Martinez (Old Christian's), 13 Juan Campomar (Old Boys), 12 Nicolás Brignioni (Oyonnax - Francia), 11 Rodrigo Capo (Castres - Francia), 10 Alfredo Giuria (Los Cuervos), 9 Juan Alzueta (Trébol), 8 Carlos Protasi (Carrasco Polo), 7 Matías Fonseca (Los Cuervos),6 Mario Sagario (Dax - Francia), 5 Juan Rombys (Trébol), 4 Alejo Corral (SIC), 3 Carlos Arboleya (Trébol), 2 Martín Espiga (Old Christian's), 1 Rodrigo Sanchez (Carrasco Polo),
Replacements: 16 Jerónimo Etcheverry (Carrasco Polo),17 Martín Crosa (Old Boys), 18 Joaquín Pastore (Old Boys - Capitán), 19 Juan Llovet (Old Christian's), 20 Leandro Leiva (Old Christian's), 21 Alejandro Silveira (Los Cuervos), 22 Tomás Jolivet (Old Boys)
Date: Saturday, November 14
Venue: Charrúa Stadium, Montevideo
Kick-off: 16.00
Referee: Federico Pastrana (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Javier Mancuso (Argentina), Federico Cuesta (Argentina)