Eddie O’Sullivan lists USA Eagles 22-man match day squad for 2011 Rugby World Cup Opener
The United States of America national Rugby Union team, commonly known as the USA Eagles, has announced their match day squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) opener against Ireland. USA
Eagles head coach, Eddie O’Sullivan, revealed the roster on Friday, September 9.
USA Eagles are ranked 18th in the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) latest world rankings and will take on the challenge from Ireland, which is currently ranked 8th on the rankings
table. Both teams will play their first match of the tournament as they lock their horns at Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth on Sunday, September 11.
O’Sullivan added that the squad is fresh and in the right set of mind for Sunday’s game. He has praised the facilities provided by the organizers. He said, “Our stay in Wanganui has been hugely
enjoyable. The facilities were world class, and the welcome by the locals was extra-ordinary. The team really felt at home there.”
O’Sullivan confirmed that Saracens’ Chris Wyles has been left out of the squad due to injury.
The rest of the match squad consists of both local players and the foreign players. Eagles’ backs line is strengthened with the presence of the winger duo of Biarritz’s Takudzwa Ngwenya and
Highlanders’ James Paterson.
The reserves bench includes a split of four forwards and three backs. Chris Biller, Mate Moeakiola, Pat Danahy, and Scott LaValla are forwards replacements. Meanwhile, Nese Malifa, Tim Usasz
, and Colin Hawley are the backs replacements.
Leeds Carnegie back row forward Mike MacDonald will make his record 63rd international appearance for the Eagles. Sunday’s game will make him the most capped USA player.
Commenting on this achievement, O’Sullivan said, “Congratulations to Mike MacDonald for becoming the most capped Eagle of all time. And achieving that honor while playing in a RWC match makes
that even more special.”
The USA Eagles squad for their 2011 RWC opener against the Ireland consists of,
Starting XV: 15 Blaine Scully (Unattached), 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz), 13 Paul Emerick (Life University), 12 Andrew Suniula (Chicago Griffins), 11 James Paterson (Highlanders),
10 Roland Suniula (Boston Rugby), 9 Mike Petri (New York Athletic Club), 1 Mike MacDonald (Leeds Carnegie), 2 Phil Thiel (Life University), 3 Shawn Pittman (London Welsh), 4 John van der Giessen (Unattached), 5 Hayden Smith (Saracens), 6 Louis Stanfill (Unattached),
7 Todd Clever (Suntory Sungoliath) *Captain, 8 Nic Johnson (Unattached).
Replacements:
16 Chris Biller (San Francisco Golden Gate), 17 Mate Moeakiola (Bobigny 93), 18 Scott LaValla (Stade Francais), 19 Pat Danahy (Life University), 20 Tim Usasz (Nottingham RFC), 21 Nese Malifa (Glendale), 22 Colin Hawley (Olympic Club).
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