PNC SPOTLIGHT ON: TEAM USA
USA Eagles made their 13th appearance in the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup when they took on Canada in the opening round on Saturday, July 27 at Infinity Park, Glendale.
The two times last met in March where the USA claimed the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship with the 30-25 victory over Canada.
Prior to Saturday’s PNC opener over their last 5 matches, USA have secured 3 wins over Canada, Brazil and Chile and 2 defeats to Argentina and Uruguay.
Head Coach Gary Gold’s squad includes USA Sevens players Martin Iosefo and Madison Hughe, Iosefo will be playing at 11 and will be an exciting player to watch for Fijian fans across the series.
Team USA spent a few weeks in camp in Colorado before Coach Gold selected his final squad for the PNC.
Gold explained that his team have been putting in a lot of work in the past few months as they prepare for what is a huge year of international rugby.
“We’ve had a very productive month from a training perspective and we knew that we would see a really well-coached and prepared Canadian side on Saturday.”
The 2019 Rugby World Cup remains the focal aim for USA and Gold knows they have 4 crucial matches in the PNC to play leading up to RWC.
“We are in every way focused on preparation for Rugby World Cup but, before that, we have four very important test matches and a responsibility to deliver a competitive performance in every one of them.”
He added that its absolutely critical that they remain disciplined through their games and continue to make the right decisions in tight situations.
USA will play Samoa in the second round on the third of August as curtain raiser to the Fiji Airways Flying Fijians before taking on Japan on 10th August again as the opener at ANZ Stadium, Suva.
The United States are currently ranked at No. 15 on the World Rugby official ranking.
Forwards:
David Aims’, Eric Fry, Olive Kilifi, Titi Lamositele, Paul Mullen, Paddy Ryan, Chance Wenglewski, Dylan Fawsitt, Mike Sosene-Feagai, James Hilterbrand, Kapeli Pifeleti, Joe Taufete’e, Nate Brakeley, Nick Civetta, Ben Landry, Samu Manoa, Greg Peterson, Malon Al-Jiboori, Cam Dolan, Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, Hanco Germishuys, Tony Lamborn, Ben Pinkelman, John Quill, Psalm Wooching.
Backs:
Nate Augspurger, Shaun Davies, Ruben de Haas, AJ MacGinty, Will Magie, Bryce Campbell, Martin Iosefo, Paul Lasike, Thretton Palamo, Marcel Brache, Will Hooley, Madison Hughes, Gannon Moore, Blaine Scully, Mike Te’o.