During the next three weeks the Eagles Men will play Canada twice and Japan, all important games in preparation for the Rugby World Cup, Eddie O'Sullivan and his squad are in camp and preparations have been going well.

by Nigel Melville
Nigel Melville Direct

During the next three weeks the Eagles Men will play Canada twice and Japan, all important games in preparation for the Rugby World Cup, Eddie O'Sullivan and his squad are in camp and preparations have been going well. There will only be one domestic international during the preparation phase when the Eagles play Canada in Denver on Saturday 13th August (7pm Kick-off). The Classic Eagles are playing Canada in a curtain raiser, the USA Rugby Board and Congress will be holding their meetings, over 150 coaches will be joining me for a coach development course, the State based Youth Organizations will be in town - hope you can join us for a great weekend's rugby.

Here's Eddie's first team of the warm up phase, I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the team.

Eagles Head Coach, Eddie O’Sullivan, has named his best possible squad for the Canada encounter set to take place at BMO Field in Toronto on Saturday.

“It’s important that we get a solid start to this August tour, with the Rugby World Cup (RWC) only weeks away. The squad has switched on right from the start, and realize that their RWC campaign is in their hands,” said O’Sullivan.

The 35-man Eagles squad arrived in Glendale on Sunday, July 31, hitting the ground running with two-a-day sessions on both Monday and Tuesday.

“Some players were not available during the Churchill Cup, so this is our first real opportunity to work those combinations that will allow us to achieve our goals,” explained the Head Coach.

The 22-man traveling squad will depart for Toronto on Thursday morning, looking to start their RWC campaign on a high note.

Canada are currently ranked 16th on the IRB World Rankings, one place ahead of the United States. Next week the Eagles will host Canada at Infinity Park on Saturday, August 13, after which the squad will travel to Tokyo to take on Japan on Sunday, August 21.

Two players that are not available for this upcoming match include veteran fullback Chris Wyles and Highlanders winger James Paterson. Wyles is nursing an ankle problem, and Paterson is continuing his rehabilitation.

“We need to give both Chris and James time to get back to full health,” added O’Sullivan.

The Eagles are led by the outstanding Todd Clever, with hard working Louis Stanfill (flank) and Nic Johnson (8th man) completing the loose forwards. In the tight five, the experienced props Mate Moeakiola and Shawn Pittman will look to dominate up front. Phillip Thiel – one of Life University’s standouts - starts at hooker.

Hayden Smith returns at lock for the USA after helping Sacarens win the Premiership title in London earlier this year. He will be partnered by John van der Giessen who secures the other lock position.

In the backline, Mike Petri starts in the number 9 jersey alongside veteran flyhalf Nese Malifa. The powerful duo of Andrew Suniula and Paul Emerick are at center, and this midfield will be key in creating space on offense and halting the Canadian attack. Fresh from Biarritz is the exciting right wing Takudzwa Ngwenya. On the other wing – also playing professional rugby in France – is Kevin Swiryn. All American captain Blaine Scully gets his second start in an Eagles jersey, at fullback.

The forward reserves include: San Francisco Golden Gate hooker Chris Biller, Las Vegas Blackjack’s prop Eric Fry, flanker Inaki Basauri (who is now with French club, Perigueux) and the University of Cape Town’s JJ Gagiano. Covering in the backs are scrumhalf Tim Usasz, and utility players Roland Suniula and Tai Enosa.

“The rivalry we have with Canada is extremely fierce and we are very excited to face them in Toronto and get our RWC campaign underway,” said Eagles captain Clever.

The USA will kick-off against Canada at 2.00 P.M on Saturday, August 6, with the United States time zones, and broadcast information below.

USA EAGLES TO FACE CANADA

15 Blaine Scully (Unattached)
14 Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz)
13 Paul Emerick (Life University)
12 Andrew Suniula (Chicago Griffins)
11 Kevin Swiryn (Agen)
10 Nese Malifa (Glendale)
9 Mike Petri (New York Athletic Club)
1 Mate Moeakiola (Bobigny 93)
2 Phillip Thiel (Life University)
3 Shawn Pittman (London Welsh)
4 John van der Giessen (Unattached)
5 Hayden Smith (Saracens)
6 Louis Stanfill (Unattached)
7 Todd Clever (Suntory Sungoliath) *Captain
8 Nic Johnson (Unattached)

Reserves:

16 Chris Biller (San Francisco Golden Gate)
17 Eric Fry (Las Vegas Blackjacks)
18 Inaki Basauri (Perigueux)
19 Jonathan ‘JJ’ Gagiano (Univ. of Cape Town)
20 Tim Usasz (Nottingham RFC)
21 Roland Suniula (Boston Rugby)
22 Tai Enosa (Belmont Shore)

Unavailable through injury: James Paterson (Highlanders), Chris Wyles (Saracens)
 

With an impressive resume as player, coach and administrator, Nigel David Melville took over as CEO and President of Rugby Operations of USA Rugby, the National Governing Body of the sport in America, in 2006.  In addition to his full time job promoting the sport in the U.S., Melville has launched his own blog, Nigel Melville Direct, to further the discussion and his passion for what it will take to make the U.S. a great rugby playing nation.

CLICK HERE to read more on Nigel Melville