USA Rugby Men’s Eagles vs. Ireland

The 13th ranked USA Rugby Men’s Eagles will face the 2nd ranked Ireland in their final Fall international match on Saturday at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. The match will kickoff at 6:30 pm local (1:30 pm ET) and will be broadcast live in the U.S. on ESPN+.

Eagles Head Coach Gary Gold has made three changes to the starters and two in the reserves. Shaun Davies has been cleared to play after his HIA protocol. Hanco Germishuys moves to a starting role with the injury to Tony Lamborn against Romania. Will Hooley will be at Fullback after a last-minute scratch against Romania.

In the reserves, Chance Wenglewski, who played against the Maori All Blacks could gain his first cap. Samoa Manoa is available for the first time at either lock or in the back row.

The Eagles last played Ireland in 2017 at Red Bull Arena losing 55-19.

“We know this weekend will present our greatest challenge yet with the Ireland side still buzzing from their historic victory over the All Blacks,” said Head Coach Gary Gold. “Ireland will be relentless as ever this weekend and our guys have spent the last week ensuring that they approach Saturday’s game with the level of intensity that will put us in the best position to meet the fight.”

The USA has had an incredible year winning nine straight internationals, only losing to the Maori All Blacks. While the Eagles are facing a monumental task of facing Ireland, who beat the New Zealand All Blacks last weekend, the team will seek to challenge and use the match to build on as they build to the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The USA forwards include a front row of Titi Lamositeli, Joe Taufete’e, and Paul Mullen with Greg Peterson and Nick Civetta the locks. In the back row is John Quill, who is from Ireland along with Hanco Germishuys and Cam Dolan.

In the backs, Shawn Davies returns and is reunited with Glendale Raptors teammate Will Magie in the halfbacks. Paul Lasike opened up gaps against Romania and fellow center Bryce Campbell was one of the beneficiaries. In the back three, Marcel Brache and captain Blaine Scully are the wings with Will Hooley at fullback.

The reserves include Dylan Fawsitt at hooker, Chance Wenglewski, who expected to earn his first cap at prop along with Dino Waldren. Both Samu Manoa and David Tameilau provide flexibility as locks or in the back row. Ruben de Haas at scrumhalf and centers or back three Gannon Moore and Ryan Matyas round out the squad.

Ireland

Head Coach Joe Schmidt Ireland team will have a different look than the team that met New Zealand last week. Rhys Ruddock will captain the side that includes one uncapped player in the reserves.

The forwards will consist of Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and Finlay Bealham in the front row, Iain Henderson with Tadhg Beirne in the second row. and captain Rhy Ruddock in the back row with Jordi Murphy and Jack Conan.

In the backs, Joey Carbery is joined in the half-backs by John Cooney. There’s a new look center combination with Stuart McCloskey coming into partner Garry Ringrose. In the back three, Will Addison will earn his third cap and is joined by Andrew Conway and Darren Sweetnam who won two caps in November 2017.

Squads

Ireland: 1. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 23 2. Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 10 3. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht) 8 4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster) 3 5. Iain Henderson (Queens University/Ulster) 41 6. Rhys Ruddock – captain (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 20 7. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Ulster) 25 8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 10 9. John Cooney (Terenure College/Ulster) 3 10. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Munster) 15 11. Darren Sweetnam (Cork Constitution/Munster) 2 12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster) 2 13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 16 14. Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 8 15. Will Addison (Enniskillen/Ulster) 2 16. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 6
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 83 18. John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 15 19. Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) 7 20. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 12 21. Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 9 22. Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster) 1 23. Sam Arnold (Garryowen/Munster) *

USA Men’s Eagles: 1 Titi Lamositeli 2 Joe Taufete’e 3 Paul Mullen 4 Greg Peterson 5 Nick Civetta 6 John Quill 7 Hanco Germishuys 8 Cam Dolan 9 Shawn Davies 10 Will Magie 11 Marcel Brache 12 Paul Lasike 13 Bryce Campbell14 Blaine Scully (Cap) 15 Will Hooley 16 Dylan Fawsitt 17 Chance Wenglewski 18 Dino Waldren 19 Samu Manoa 20 David Tameilau 21 Ruben de Haas 22 Gannon Moore 23 Ryan Matyas