World Cup Radar – USA – April 6, 2022

It’s now the mid-point of the Major League Rugby season which means it’s time to take a look at the USA’s depth chart heading towards July’s World Cup Qualifier series against Chile. With no official selections since their most recent activity in October, we’ll have to make adjustments based on club form. This makes the list a little more subjective than we would like.

Gary Gold can be expected to be reasonably consistent in his squad selection. Limited preparation time tilts the odds away from potential ‘bolters’. That doesn’t mean outsiders can’t force their way in but they will have to make a compelling argument for inclusion despite there seemingly being several unsecured positions up for grabs.

The task for Gold & Co. needs to be taken into account when considering selection. His job in July is not to prepare players for France 2023, or to introduce new names for any tests that emerge beyond the summer. It’s simply to assemble the best possible team to defeat Los Cóndores across a two-leg series in order to avoid slipping into the muddy waters of the Repechage.

Some notable changes to our list are the return of Joe Taufete’e and Paul Lasike from Europe, and in the other direction Michael Baska’s move to France. There are also a few Eagles Sevens standouts now in the mix, with the wings looking particularly unsettled. Explanations are provided for alterations from our last update in December.

 

USA EAGLES

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NAME

CLUB

POS

CAPS

FIRST XV

1	David Ainu’u	Toulouse (FR)	LH	15
2	Mike Sosene-Feagai	Toulon (FR)	HO	6
3	Titi Lamositele	Montpellier (FR)	TH	32
4	Nate Brakeley	Rugby New York	LO	30
5	Greg Peterson	Newcastle Falcons (UK)	LO	34
6	Psalm Wooching	Rouen Normandie (FR)	FL	6
7	Hanco Germishuys	LA Giltinis	FL	27
8	Cam Dolan	NOLA Gold	N8	58
9	Ruben de Haas	Saracens (UK)	SH	23
10	AJ MacGinty (c)	Sale Sharks (UK)	FH	30
11	Mika Kruse	Utah Warriors	WI	5
12	Paul Lasike	Utah Warriors	CE	19
13	Bryce Campbell	Austin Gilgronis	CE	39
14	Christian Dyer	Houston SaberCats	WI / CE	6
15	Marcel Brache	Austin Gilgronis	FB / CE	28

There are two changes to the forwards. Greg Peterson is a regular starter in the English Premiership and as such should be a nailed-on starter in July. Nick Civetta is yet to return to MLR after a spell with Oxford University so it’s New York clubmate Nate Brakeley who retains his spot.

Blindside flanker is up for debate but Psalm Wooching is playing the highest level of rugby at the moment. He is currently rehabbing a knee injury but should be fit in time for the Qualifiers. The suspension of Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz knocks him back slightly and there are others hot on his heels.

In the backs we have swapped in Christian Dyer on the wing in place of Mike Te’o. Admittedly this change should have been reflected in December. That said both wing positions should be considered up for grabs, with Te’o among several players in contention. Dyer is currently playing outside center for Houston which adds further complexity to the issue.

There might also be a question asked in the midfield. Tavite Lopeti started alongside Campbell in Lasike’s absence and the youngster has impressed for the Seawolves. His form in the second half of the season might demand inclusion, which will make for some interesting conversations at the selection table.

 

REPLACEMENTS

16	Joe Taufete’e	LA Giltinis	HO / TH	33
17	Chance Wenglewski	Rugby New York	LH	8
18	Paul Mullen	Utah Warriors	TH	25
19	Nick Civetta	Rugby New York	LO	33
20	Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz	Old Glory DC	N8 / FL	6
21	Nate Augspurger	San Diego Legion	SH / WI	31
22	Will Hooley	San Diego Legion	FH / FB	18
23	Tavite Lopeti	Seattle Seawolves	CE	5

A significant change here sees Joe Taufete’e switching back to hooker. How this ultimately affects Eagles selection remains to be seen. Paul Mullen is the next in line at tighthead prop so he is elevated to the match day 23, with Kapeli Pifeleti falling to third-choice despite playing abroad.

Nate Augspurger’s versatility and impact as a replacement puts him in the 23, but a knee injury could derail those plans. If not chosen on merit, Michael Baska would step in and that could see a change in the No23 shirt with Martin Iosefo’s ability to play both center and wing advantageous. Iosefo should also be considered a potential starter at No11.

 

TRAVELING RESERVES

24	Kapeli Pifeleti	Saracens (UK)	HO	8
25	Matt Harmon	NOLA Gold	LH	5
26	Dino Waldren	NOLA Gold	TH	22
27	Siaosi Mahoni	Houston SaberCats	LO	5
28	Moni Tonga’uiha	NOLA Gold	FL	2
29	Benjamín Bonasso	Rugby New York	FL / N8	2
30	Michael Baska	Rouen Normandie (FR)	SH	3
31	Will Magie	Austin Gilgronis	FH / FB	31
32	Martin Iosefo	Seattle Seawolves	CE / WI	9
33	Mike Te’o	Utah Warriors	WI / FB	30

Big Joe’s shift has a ripple effect with Dylan Fawsitt bumped out of our 33, and Dino Waldren called up as the 3rd choice tighthead prop. Siaosi Mahoni retains his spot though he is also under an injury cloud, and the versatility of Ben Landry may be preferable.

Will Magie and Mike Te’o are present based on their Eagles standings of last year. Both should be considered under pressure, most notably from Old Glory’s Mike Dabulas and a handful of outside backs. New England’s Mitch Wilson, for example, offers similar versatility and is in strong form.

 

NON-TRAVELING RESERVES

34	Dylan Fawsitt	Rugby New York	HO	20
35	Faka’osi Pifeleti	Austin Gilgronis	LH	1
36	Angus MacLellan	Utah Warriors	TH	5
37	Ben Landry	Seattle Seawolves	LO / FL	25
38	Malon Al-Jiboori	Houston SaberCats	FL	6
39	Riekert Hattingh	Seattle Seawolves	N8	2
40	Ryan Rees	Rugby ATL	SH	–
41	Mike Dabulas	Old Glory DC	FH / FB	2
42	Matai Leuta	Houston SaberCats	CE	3
43	Ryan James	LA Giltinis	WI	1
44	Mitch Wilson	New England Free Jacks	WI / FB	–

Chad Gough is the odd man out at hooker, while Angus MacLellan is next in line at tighthead prop. The other forwards hold their spots with Riekert Hattingh continuing to present a strong case for inclusion. Dabulas switches from fullback to flyhalf in light of Luke Carty’s long-term injury.

Matai Leuta has pushed ahead of Calvin Whiting in the midfield with the arrival of Lasike at Utah, and Ryan James pips Ryan Matyas on the wing. Uncapped players who come to mind out wide are Austin’s Conner Mooneyham, LA’s John Ryberg, and Houston’s Kisi Unufe. There are also three Argentines who could potentially enter the frame.

Potential bolters in the front row could include Austin loosehead Jake Turnbull or NOLA hooker Pat O’Toole. In the second row there is France-based Nafi Ma’afu along with San Diego’s Ben Mitchell, and what about Seattle’s Samu Manoa? He retired from international rugby in 2019 but would only be needed to play two matches as a replacement.

Free Jacks flanker Joe Johnston is a potential starter if he commits. LA’s Christian Poidevin is another interesting player who is US-eligible. Houston’s Danny Barrett has impressed on the flank, while the form of ATL eightman Jason Damm, back from a knee injury, is certain to be watched closely. NOLA flanker Andrew Guerra remains recovering from his leg break suffered in the fall.

 

An expanded player pool can be seen here.