World Rugby Nations Cup – USA vs Zimbabwe – ARN Guide

History will be made in Charlotte on Saturday evening as the USA takes on Zimbabwe for the first time in a full test match. The Eagles are coming off a slender but welcome victory over Portugal during the first week of Nations Cup action, while the Zables were competitive but came up short against Tonga. Both matches were played in Denver.

FORM GUIDE

Current World Ranking: 14 (69.40 points)
2026-07-04 – USA 30, Portugal 29 (Denver)
2025-11-15 – Romania 26, USA 26 (Bucharest)
2025-11-08 – Georgia 43, USA 30 (Batumi)
2025-11-01 – Scotland 85, USA 0 (Edinburgh)
2025-09-14 – USA 29, Samoa 13 (Denver)

Current World Ranking: 25 (58.59 points)
2026-07-04 – Tonga 36, Zimbabwe 26 (Denver)
2026-06-20 – South Africa ‘A’ 40, Zimbabwe 0 (Port Elizabeth)
2026-05-02 – Zimbabwe 17, Zambia 7 (Bulawayo)
2026-04-25 – Zimbabwe 43, Zambia 31 (Harare)
2025-07-19 – Namibia 28, Zimbabwe 30 (Kampala)

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

	IN	OUT
2	Alex Maughan	Kapeli Pifeleti
6	Lance Williams	Benjamín Bonasso
8	Makeen Alikhan	Paddy Ryan
14	Conner Mooneyham	Rufus McLean

	IN	OUT
2	Liam Larkan	Simba Mandioma
3	Cleopas Kundiona	Michael Kumbirai
8	Aiden Burnett	Dylan Utete
9	Keegan Joubert	Hilton Mudariki
13	Dion Khumalo	Kudzai Mashawi
14	Matthew McNab	Trevor Gurwe

NOTES

• Scott Lawrence has made four changes to his Eagles lineup, two enforced… Kapeli Pifeleti and Rufus McLean are out injured, replaced respectively by Alex Maughan at hooker and Conner Mooneyham on the right wing… Maughan was mostly used at tighthead prop by Anthem during the MLR campaign
• rotation in the back row sees former Eagles 7s man and long-time Major League Rugby standout Lance Williams getting a test debut… Harlequins academy product Makeen Alikhan comes in at the back row the scrum… Ben Bonasso and Paddy Ryan drop out
• Pieter Benade has made six changes to Zimbabwe’s run-on side… Doncaster winger Matthew McNab makes his first appearance in Sables colors this year, with Dion Khumalo starting in place of Kudzai Mashawi in the midfield… Khumalo played for Cobras in Super Rugby Americas this season
• long-time skipper Hilton Mudariki is named on the bench this week with Keegan Joubert partnering former Western Force captain Ian Prior in the halfbacks… hard-hitting Sharks flanker Tino Mavesere leads the Sables this week
• changes up front see Liam Larkan and Cleopas Kundiona starting in the front row… the latter plays for Northampton Saints in the English Premiership… Aiden Burnett returns to his favored No8 position at the expense of Dylan Utete, with Jason Fraser switching to the flank

QUOTES

Scott Lawrence (Head Coach)

“We now know the priority areas where we need to improve, and our attention is now fully on the performance against a talented team and staff from Zimbabwe.”

PREDICTION

Hot and humid conditions are on the forecast, with a risk of thunderstorms. While the Eagles got the win over Os Lobos, poor discipline from the visitors undoubtedly played a significant role. Mooneyham will be tasked with slowing the diminutive but electric Edward Sigauke, while the midfield handles hard-running Brandon Mudzekenyedzi. On paper this looks a fairly even match-up despite the disparity in world ranking. The Sables should certainly not be taken lightly. USA are favorites at home in Charlotte.

TEAMS

USA EAGLES
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Alex Maughan, 3 Tonga Kofe, 4 Nathan Den Hoedt, 5 Jason Damm (capt.), 6 Lance Williams, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Makeen Alikhan, 9 Ruben de Haas, 10 Chris Hilsenbeck, 11 Perry Mayo, 12 Dom Besag, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Mitch Wilson

Replacements: 16 Shilo Klein, 17 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18 Mason Pedersen, 19 Brandon Harvey, 20 Nafi Ma’afu, 21 Ethan McVeigh, 22 Luke Carty, 23 Julian Roberts

ZIMBABWE SABLES
1 Victor Mupunga, 2 Liam Larkan, 3 Cleopas Kundiona, 4 Gary Porter, 5 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 6 Tino Mavesere (capt.), 7 Jason Fraser, 8 Aiden Burnett, 9 Keegan Joubert, 10 Ian Prior, 11 Edward Sigauke, 12 Brandon Mudzekenyedzi, 13 Dion Khumalo, 14 Matthew McNab, 15 Tapiwa Mafura

Replacements: 16 Simba Mandioma, 17 Tijde Visser, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 Tadiwa Gwashu, 20 Simba Siraha, 21 Hilton Mudariki, 22 Bruce Houston, 23 Takudzwa Musingwini

MATCH INFO

Date: Saturday, July 11
Venue: American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte
Kickoff: 19:30 local (16:30 Pacific, Sunday 01:30 Zimbabwe)
Weather Forecast: risk of thunderstorms, 82°F (28°C), wind NW 6-10 mph (10-16 km/h)
Broadcasts: Paramount+ (USA), RugbyPass TV

OFFICIALS

Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)
Assistants: Ben Breakspear (Wales) & Robin Kaluzniak (Canada)
TMO: Dan Jones (England)

HISTORY

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