The USA Rugby 17th ranked Men’s Eagles travel to South America for the 4th and 5th leg of the 2018 Americas Rugby Championship. This Saturday, Feb. 24, the Eagles will face 27th ranked Brazil at Estádio Martins Pereira, in São José dos Campos. The following Saturday, they conclude the tournament against 18th ranked Uruguay in Montevideo.
The Eagles are 3-0 after winning three consecutive matches at home and are in first place with 14 points in the standings. Brazil is 1-2 and is 5th place in the standings with 4 points. Kickoff is set for 3:40 PM ET this Saturday (Feb. 24) with the match broadcast LIVE on The Rugby Channel with updates available by following @USARugby on Twitter. A replay of the USA vs Brazil will also be broadcast on ESPN 2 at 7 AM ET the next morning (Sun, Feb. 25).
The Eagles talent depth has improved over the last two years. Many European professionals returned to their clubs after the first two rounds. Chris Baumann joins the team from the Leicester Tigers and Nick Civetta in under contract for the Newcastle Falcons while playing for Doncaster. They will start at tighthead prop and lock, respectively.
Dylan Fawcitt, the former Ohio Aviator and current Old Blue of New York player, will earn his second cap at hooker, his first as a starter. In reserve at hooker, is his former teammate at Ohio, Peter Malcolm, who plays with Austin Elite Rugby. Hanco Germishuys returns to the team at flanker.
In the backs, captain Nate Augspurger moves from scrumhalf to wing, as Ryan Matyas returns to the San Diego Legion. The Glendale Raptors Shaun Davies will start at scrumhalf.
The remaining starters placed last week in the win over Chile. The reserves include Malcolm at hooker, Purpura, and Maclellan at prop, Jensen at lock, Lamborn at the back row. In the backs, Ruben de Haas is a scrumhalf, Cima a flyhalf or fullback, and Lasike a center or a wing.
Brazil
Brazil has made a number of changes since last week’s loss in Canada. Their front row was replaced with Jardel Vettorato returning at prop and Michel Gomes getting his second start. Veteran Yan Rosetti returns at hooker. Lucas Piero is at lock with Cléber Dias switching to lock from the blindside flanker, as Gabriel Paganini was red-carded last week. Both flankers have also been replaced with Arthur Bergo returning to the starting lineup and Matheus Daniel, the other flanker.
The backs remain the staple of the team, but there are two changes with Stefano Giantorno and prospect Robert Tenório at wing. Scrumhalf Daniel Lima. could also gain his first cap as a replacement.
Squads
Brazil: 1 Michel Gomes, 2 Yan Rosetti (cap), 3 Jardel Vettorato, 4 Lucas Piero, 5 Cléber Dias, 6 Arthur Bergo, 7 Matheus Daniel, 8 André Arruda, 9 Laurent Bourda-Couhet, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Robert Tenório, 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Felipe Sancery, 14 Stefano Giantorno, 15 Lucas Tranquez 16 Angelo Marcucci, 17 Lucas Abud, 18 Matheus Rocha, 19 Diego López, 20 Michael Moraes, 21 Daniel Lima, 22 Ariel Rodrigues, 23 De Wet van Niekerk
USA: 1 Huluholo Mo’ungaloa, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Chris Baumann, 4 Ben Landry, 5 Nick Civetta, 6 Psalm Wooching, 7 Hanco Germishuys, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Shaun Davies, 10 Will Magie, 11 Josh Whippy, 12 Bryce Campbell, 13 Dylan Audsley, 14 Nate Augspurger (cap), 15 Mike Te’o 16 Peter Malcolm, 17 Tony Purpura, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Matt Jensen, 20 Tony Lamborn, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Ben Cima, 23 Paul Lasike
Gary Gold: Head Coach
Greg McWilliams: Assistant Coach – Backs & Attack
Scott Lawrence: Assistant Coach – Defense
Shawn Pittman: Assistant Coach – Set Piece
Chris Hanson: Team Manager
Dave Hodges: Men’s Eagles General Manager
Jimmy Harrison: Performance Analyst
Kevin Ng: Head ATC
Dr. Jeff Mjaanes: Team Doctor (Feb. 18 – Mar. 4)
USA MEN’S EAGLES SCHEDULE 2018 AMERICAS RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
- vs Argentina XV – 17-10 (W)
- vs Canada – 29-10 (W)
- vs Chile – 45-13 (W)
- vs Brazil Sat, Feb. 24 – 3:40 PM ET Martins Pereira Stadium, Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil
- vs Uruguay Sat, Mar. 3 – 1:40 PM ET Estadio Charrua, Montevideo, Uruguay
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