USA coach Eddie O'Sullivan has selected his 30-man squad that will represent the Eagles at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
The Eagles will compete in Pool C at the RWC, taking on Australia, Ireland, Italy and Russia.
"I think there is a sense of relief that we are now in a position to name the final squad of 30 for the RWC. It has been a thorough process and I belief that we have the best 30 players available to us heading into the RWC," said O'Sullivan.
"As expected we have had to make some very tough decisions to get to the final squad, but that is just reflection on the talent available to us."
Todd Clever will captain the squad, with sixteen forwards and fourteen4 backs making up the team. Mike Petri, who led the Eagles against Japan on Sunday in Tokyo, has been named the vice-captain.
Selected in the front-row are Mike MacDonald, Mate Moeakiola, Eric Fry and Shawn Pittman. Three hookers have been selected in Chris Biller, Phil Thiel and Brian McClenahan.
The lock specialists are John van der Giessen, Hayden Smith and Scott LaValla. The loose forwards include Inaki Basauri, Pat Danahy, JJ Gagiano, Nic Johnson, Louis Stanfill, along with Clever.
In the backline, Tim Usasz is at scrum-half with Petri. Partnering them at flyhalf are Nese Malifa and Roland Suniula. The centres will be Paul Emerick, Tai Enosa, Junior Sifa and Andrew Suniula.
Out wide the wings are Colin Hawley, Taku Ngwenya, James Paterson and Kevin Swiryn. Chris Wyles and Blaine Scully complete the squad as full-backs.
"All eyes are now turned to RWC and our departure from the USA on September 1," added O'Sullivan.
The squad will assemble in Santa Barbara on August 28 for their final preparations before flying to New Zealand on September 1.
USA squad:
Forwards: Inaki Basauri, Chris Biller, Todd Clever, Pat Danahy, Eric Fry, JJ Gagiano, Nic Johnson, Scott LaValla, Mike MacDonald, Brian McClenahan, Mate Moeakiola, Shawn Pittman, Hayden Smith, Louis Stanfill, Phil Thiel, John van der Giessen.
Backs: Paul Emerick, Tai Enosa, Colin Hawley, Nese Malifa, Taku Ngwenya, James Paterson, Mike Petri, Blaine Scully, Junior Sifa, Andrew Suniula, Roland Suniula, Kevin Swiryn, Tim Usasz, Chris Wyles.
Comments
melkdave says...
@TheWinger
I can understand your frustration and i hope the IRB can come up with a way to give the USA and dare i say it Canada (sorry lol) a regular competion whitch will improve their game The Churchill cup helped i think? espically at 1st but as the game is still amatuer in north america it was ovrious they struggled against the likes of the Saxons ect who are proffesionals.They urgently need good quality competion on a regular basis and some professional sides again this raises the problem of distance both countries are vast and any league would invole a hell of alot of travaling conferances could help but would neccitate a lot of proffessional teams whitch raises the question of player numbers .LOL given just those problems both countries have done very well to be consistantly ranked in the top 20 nations Wish them well in the RWC except when playing England lol sorry but i am english so have to support em .Perhaps now 7s is an olympic sport may be the govt will invest in rugby but given the present financial mess im not holding my breath
Posted 12:10 03rd September 2011
TheWinger says...
You're dead right melkdave. Teh skill set required for first five takes years to develop. Which is what i tried to explain earlier to 5lock4ward when he suggested James Paterson for first five because he'd played super rugby. It ain't that simple. Having played & coached in Cantebrury for oevr 30 years Ive seen hwo ahrd it is for someone to be thrown into a specialist position like 10 and play it well.
The US needs to start developing players in these key positions. I'd also suggest halfback & teh frontrow & flankers as being specialised positions that need experience. Still, I'll be in Wellington on the 23rd with my Eagles jersey on hoping the lads can pull an upset off!
Posted 05:18 03rd September 2011
melkdave says...
Hercus is to old now and was never really good enough for international rugby .Hell he couldnt make it in any top league he played in .USAs problem is the same it always has been not enough people want to play it They all dream of the NFL and when that dream dies they think they can play rugby ,but the skill set for rugby is way way differant from NFL football a line backer might make a center / winger same with the SS and FS players as they actually make tackles apart from that maybe the offensive /defensive linesmen could make a front row but as to locks loosies and SHs / FHs no american sport has the skill sets you could modify.This is what holds the USA back in the international feild
Posted 20:56 01st September 2011
5Lock4ward says...
@TheWinger, I like your thought process on the re-alignment of the back-line. I've been calling for Mike Hercus on here as well. The last I'd heard he was playing 2nd tier rugby in Australia but that was some time ago. I'd truly love to be surprised by a last min. announcement of his addition to the team.
Posted 16:28 29th August 2011
TheWinger says...
Thats correct. And by using Paterson at center you get the three attacking outside backs in the side. The problem being though, is to get good clean ball to them of course.
Question though: Where is Mike Hercus? Why is he not playing still?
Posted 17:32 27th August 2011
5Lock4ward says...
@TheWinger, I see what you're saying. So is your suggestion to move Wyles to FH based on the fact that in many cases the FB and FH can interchange smoothly? Such as Leon McDonald covering at 10 in a test match a few years back, or a player like James Hook being able to play both as examples.
Posted 15:18 27th August 2011
TheWinger says...
5Lock4ward: Hes a threequarter. In NZ center is virtually the same alignment as a winger. Our inside backs are 10 & 12 , the five eights. So 13, 11, 14 15 would be outside backs.
Posted 17:01 26th August 2011
KubilaKhan says...
Also, I heard that Sculley can play 10, anyone know if thats true? Because if it is then he should get 10 and Paterson cna come on at Fullback
Posted 17:45 23rd August 2011
KubilaKhan says...
My starting 15
1-Moeakiola 2-Biller 3-Macdonald 4-Van Der Giessen 5-Smith 6-Stanfill 7-Clever (Capt) 8- Johnson 9-Petri 10- R.Suniula 11- Ngwenya 12- Emerick 13-Wyles 14- Swiryn 15-Sculley
Replacements
16-Thiel 17-Pitmann 18-Lavalla 19-Danahy 20-Paterson 21-Usasz 22-A.Suniula
Drowning in lake somewhere 666- Malifa
This is the most mobile team with a lot of experience on the pitch and on the bench. Plus Malifa is nowhere near the pitch to screw it up with girl kicks and cowardice.
Posted 17:42 23rd August 2011
5Lock4ward says...
@B6lindside, Who between Van Der Giessen and Smith would you have Lavalla replace? I'm not against the switch, just curious to know who he'd step in for. My reason for starting both of them is that they both got first time action for big time teams last year, Bath and Saracens respectfully; whereas Lavalla is not assured of first team time for Stade France when his contract begins next season. All that said he did move the ball well against Japan this past w/e.
Posted 15:16 23rd August 2011
5Lock4ward says...
Also I just want to reiterate my shame on Northampton Saints for making Samu Manoa choose between signing a pro-contract and playing for the Eagles at RWC. I know in the end it was his choice but the IRB really needs to step in and make all players available for their nation, minnow nations and top flight nations equally.
Posted 14:20 23rd August 2011
b6lindside says...
@4Lock4ward
Agree on most of your lineup. Take kicking worries from Malifa and he'll be a better attacking option. However, I would start Thiel at hooker (more consistent and always in the right spot), Pittman (solid in set piece) and Lavalla (better hands and gives more go forward than most). I like the idea of Gagiano at 8! My concern is coverage at openside.
Posted 14:17 23rd August 2011
5Lock4ward says...
@The Winger, Didn't we just have a convo about Patterson being an outside back? Are you being serious or busting my balls? haha!
Posted 13:43 23rd August 2011
milesman1 says...
Well, if you can't get the ball to the wingers, bring the wingers to the ball, a la ENG's Chris Ashton. Ngwenya may be one-dimensional, but God he's still fast - he needs the ball.
I'm a little concerned about cover at scrum-half - only 2 guys is risky. Anyone know who covers Petri and Tim U in the event of injury?
Still, as much as we do have a good backline, that could potential bring a 2nd victory (Italy - slim chance/optimistic, I know), the US are playing a ridiculous 4 games in 16 days - they maybe should have considered another forward in the mix with one less wing - like Hawley.
Posted 13:00 23rd August 2011
TheWinger says...
Easy fix. Swiryn comes onto the wing. Move Paterson to center & Wyles to first five. That sorts your problem out.
Posted 23:07 22nd August 2011
5Lock4ward says...
Was hoping to God that Malifa would be left home in favor of a surprise return from Hercus but this is what the Eagles are going to RWC with. I'm interested to see if they can correct the abysmal recent play from their fly-half and unleash their respectably potent back line. The forwards look pretty solid with some experienced & talented pros up front. My 15 looks like this: 15) Scully, 14) Paterson, 13) Wyles, 12) Emerick, 11) Ngwenya, 10) a 16 y/o girl w/ no legs, 9) Petri, 8) Gagiano, 7) Clever-capt., 6) Stanfill, 5) Smith, 4) Van Der Giessen, 3) Mac Donald, 2) Biller, 1) Moeakiola. Reserves: 16) Thiel, 17) Pittman, 18) Lavalla, 19) Danahy, 20) Usasz, 21) Suniula, 22) Swiryn.
Posted 22:00 22nd August 2011