Men's Selects named for battle with Uruguay XV
MONTEVIDEO, URU. – The Men’s Selects are set for the second match of the Americas Pacific Challenge (APC) 2018 against Uruguay XV this Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 12:30 PM ET.
With five changes to the starting lineup and four days to regroup, Head Coach Scott Lawrence and his team are in position to build on the positives from their last performance and reduce the defensive mistakes which led to a 39-30 loss to Tonga A.
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The starting group selected will feature all three point scorers from the Selects’ aforementioned matchup with Tonga. Dylan Audsley and Tim Maupin will both return to their starting positions, while Brendan Daly shifts to lock and Vili Toluta’u takes his place at flanker. Audsley’s skillful kicking accounted for half of the Selects’ total points in Game One, with Maupin, Daly and Toluta’u tries banking in the other 15 points.
With Daly in at lock and Toluta’au in at flanker, Taylor Krumrei goes to the bench and Hanco Germishuys will wear the No. 8 jersey.
Captain Conor Kearns will slot into the fullback position, allowing JP Eloff to get the start at flyhalf and placing Mitch Wilson with the reserves. Ryan Matyas will suit up at wing for Mika Kruse and Devereaux Ferris will takeover at scrumhalf for Nick Boyer.
Alongside the five changes to starting XV, Cam Falcon, Thomas Robles and Holden Yungert will all have an opportunity to get their first taste in the Americas Pacific Challenge.
“Sometimes we need to be grateful for losses as they bring us back to focus on the simple things that can bring us results,” said Head Coach Scott Lawrence.
As a whole, the Men’s Selects showed promise in their opening game against Tonga A. The U.S. side displayed an early strength at the set piece, claimed multiple turnovers and continued to threaten until the final minutes of the game. Though penalties were an ultimate detriment, the adjustments made to the starting lineup, coupled with the four days of recuperation and focus give the United States every opportunity to make a blistering comeback against Uruguay XV.
The match kicks off at 12:30 PM ET, LIVE on FloRugby.
Men’s Selects Starting Roster | vs Uruguay XV
| Player Name | Position | Current Club | Points Scored in Americas Pacific Challenge 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Chance Wenglewski | Prop | Lindenwood University | – |
| 2. Alex Maughan | Hooker | Life University | – |
| 3. John Hayden | Prop | unattached | – |
| 4. Brendan Daly | Lock | San Francisco Golden Gate | Try vs Tonga A |
| 5. Nate Brakeley | Lock | New York Athletic /Rugby United New York | – |
| 6. Psalm Wooching | Flanker | unattached | – |
| 7. Vili Toluta’u | Flanker | Seattle Seawolves | Try vs Tonga A |
| 8. Hanco Germishuys | No. 8 | Austin Elite | – |
| 9. Devereaux Ferris | Scrumhalf | Life West Gladiators | – |
| 10. JP Eloff | Flyhalf | NOLA Gold | – |
| 11. Ryan Matyas | Wing | San Diego Legion | – |
| 12. Anthony Salaber | Center | San Diego Legion | – |
| 13. Dylan Audsley | Center | San Diego Legion | Conversions vs Tonga A (3) Penalties vs Tonga A (3) |
| 14. Tim Maupin | Wing | NOLA Gold | Try vs Tonga A |
| 15. Conor Kearns (C) | Fullback | San Diego Legion |
Men’s Selects Reserves
| Player name | Position | Current Club | Points Scored in Americas Pacific Challenge 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16. Pat O’Toole | Reserve | unattached | – |
| 17. Angus MacLellan | Reserve | Utah Warriors | – |
| 18. Cam Falcon | Reserve | NOLA Gold | – |
| 19. Taylor Krumrei | Reserve | Seattle Seawolves | – |
| 20. Matt Jensen | Reserve | Utah Warriors | – |
| 21. Thomas Robles | Reserve | unattached | – |
| 22. Holden Yungert | Reserve | NOLA Gold | – |
| 23. Mitch Wilson | Reserve | Life University | – |
USA Men’s Selects Staff
Head Coach | Scott Lawrence
Assistant Coach | David Williams
Assistant Coach | Scott Murray
Strength & Conditioning Coach | Huw Bevan
Performance Analyst | Jimmy Harrison
Team Doctor | Marc Kowalsky
Head Athletic Trainer | Kevin Ng
Assistant Athletic Trainer | Santiago Aguirre
Team Manager & Operations | Kevin McCorry II
Americas Pacific Challenge 2018 Schedule
Montevideo, Uruguay
vs Uruguay XV
Wed, Oct. 10 – 12:30 PM ET
vs Argentina XV
Sun, Oct. 14 – 12:30 PM ET
*Schedule subject to change; all matches LIVE on FloRugby.
