Men's Eagles starting roster announced for inaugural test match with Germany
FRANKFURT, GER. – USA Rugby announces roster changes and starting lineups for the first of two final test matches to close out 2017. Following their 52-16 World Cup Qualifying win against Canada, the Men’s Eagles arrived in Frankfurt early this week for a brief training camp preceding their matchup with Germany this Saturday, Nov. 18 at 11:00 a.m. ET, broadcast live on The Rugby Channel.
Prop Eric Fry (Rugby Club de Vannes) will remain out of Saturday’s matchup following a Hernia injury that has forced him to miss the entirety of the November Internationals. Huluholo Moungoloa steps in making a leap to the Eagles rotation from Life West.
Flanker Hanco Germishuys (Austin Huns) will also miss the clash against Germany to attend to personal matters, bringing in Psalm Wooching (Seattle Saracens) after an impressive showing with the Men’s Selects in Uruguay.
Moungoloa and Americas Pacific Challenge stand out Wooching will be looking for their first senior cap with the Eagles, while outside center Mose Faula’au (Clearmont) completes the squad lead by interim Head Coach Dave Hewitt.
“For the last four days we have really bonded as a group and gotten to know the character of each individual, how we work together as a team, and also how players operate from an on field and off field perspective,” describes Hewitt.
Men’s USA Eagles Starters | United States vs. Germany | November 18, 2017
| Player | Club | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Olive Kilifi | Seattle Saracens | Prop |
| 2. Joe Taufete’e | Worcester Warriors | Hooker |
| 3. Dino Waldren | London Scottish | Prop |
| 4. Greg Peterson | Glasgow Warriors | Lock |
| 5. Nick Civetta | Newcastle Falcons | Lock |
| 6. Ben Landry | Glendale Raptors | Flanker |
| 7. Tony Lamborn | Hawke’s Bay Magpies | Flanker |
| 8. Andrew Durutalo | Worcester Warriors | Number Eight |
| 9. Shaun Davies | Glendale Raptors | Scrum Half |
| 10. AJ MacGinty | Sale Sharks | Fly Half |
| 11. Ryan Matyas | Old Blue New York | Wing |
| 12. Bryce Campbell | Glendale Raptors | Center |
| 13. Marcel Brache | Perth Spirit | Center |
| 14. Blaine Scully (C) | Cardiff Blues | Wing |
| 15. Mike Te’o | Men’s USA Eagles | Full Back |
Men’s USA Eagles Reserves | United States vs. Germany | November 18, 2017
| Player | Club | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 16. Peter Malcolm | Austin Elite | |
| 17. Huluholo Moungoloa | Life West | |
| 18. Paddy Ryan | Highfield RFC | |
| 19. Cam Dolan | Old Blue New York | |
| 20. John Quill | Glendale Raptors | |
| 21. Nate Augspurger | Old Blue of New York | |
| 22. Will Magie | Glendale Raptors | |
| 23. JP Eloff | Chicago Lions |
Men’s USA Eagles Staff | United States vs Germany
Dave Hewett: Interim Head Coach/Set Piece
Greg McWilliams: Assistant Coach – Backs & Attack
David Williams: Assistant Coach – Defense
Shawn Pittman: Assistant Coach – Set Piece
Jon Hood: Strength and Conditioning
Chris Hanson: Team Manager
Jimmy Harrison: Analyst
Kevin Ng: Head ATC
Matt Lopez: Assistant ATC
Dr. Mark Sakr: Team Doctor
Dave Hodges: Men’s Eagles General Manager
Men’s USA Eagles Non-Playing Reserves | United States vs Germany
Psalm Wooching
Nate Brakeley
Tim Maupin
Mose Fuala’au
This first ever matchup against the Germans serves as part of a home and away series with the second contest to follow on U.S. soil in June ’18. Germany returns to the pitch at .500 after a win against their highest ranked opponent (No. 15 Romania) while the U.S. will look to carry a win into their final matchup of 2017 against Georgia in Tbilisi on Nov. 25, also live on The Rugby Channel. The squad will fly out from Frankfurt Sunday night, with a day off on Monday, players will resume training for the week in Tbilisi.
“The biggest thing for me is the quality of the German side,” said Hewitt. “They have improved quite a bit over the last several months. Showing them respect as an opponent will build a lot of emotion and energy into providing our fans with a match they’d like to watch.”
