USA Rugby vs Uruguay Preview and Match Talk

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We want to welcome back RWU Friend Ray’s Rugby. The match preview comes courtesy of his blog.

USA v URU Kennesaw, Georgia –  It’s time for round 2 of the Americas 2 World Cup qualifier between Uruguay and the United States, and this one is for all the marbles after the draw in Montevideo. The Eagles could not have put themselves in a worse position. They should have been a lock on points already, but instead will have to work hard for victory against a resilient underdog filled with confidence. On top of this the weather looks like it will be messy, with thundershowers forecast all morning and rain likely during the match. American fans might get their victory, but it won’t be pretty.

Los Teros have, as expected, named the same side that confounded the Eagles at the Estadio Charrúa, with the only change coming in the reserves as uncapped hooker Carlos Pombo fills in for Nicolás Klappenbach, who has stayed home to be with his newborn child. Halfbacks Agustín Ormaechea and Felipe Berchesi impressed in the first round and should feature prominently again. Up front the scrum was in control all game, and there’s no reason to think that will change tomorrow.

USA Head Coach Mike Tolkin
USA Head Coach Mike Tolkin

Sensing a need to freshen up, Mike Tolkin has made three changes. Luke Hume replaces Tim Maupin on the left wing, Seamus Kelly comes in for Folau Niua at outside centre, and Hayden Smith is dropped completely with Louis Stanfill starting at lock and Tai Tuisamoa called up to the bench. Smith looked unfit in the first match, begging the question why he was starting in the first place, but for all Stanfill’s experience he is much smaller and not likely to shore up a creaky scrum. Starting Tuisamoa might have been a more sensible option.

Kelly’s selection is a bit mystifying, with Tolkin claiming that he was “better suited” to face Uruguay than Niua. One assumes this means that more territorial game is on the cards, given that Kelly is a traditional running and tackling centre and Niua the creator. If that is indeed the case, why was Hume preferred to Maupin, when the latter is clearly preferential under the high ball? It’s this kind of inconsistent selection that has Eagle fans scratching their heads.

This game is going to be sloppy, there’s no way around it. Of the two, Los Teros looked the more organized, if limited, and a few extra days together isn’t going to reinvent the wheel. The Eagles will no doubt take a more pragmatic approach that will inevitably lead to more set pieces, which is exactly what they should be trying to avoid. The home field advantage will be negated somewhat by the weather and keep this close. Expect Team Tolkin to win, but it’ll be a nail-biter, probably by around 5 points. It certainly won’t be a scorching advertisement for American rugby.

rwc11USA Starting Line-up – Starters 1. Olive Kilifi, 2. Phil Thiel, 3. Eric Fry, 4. Lou Stanfill, 5. Samu Manoa, 6. Todd Clever(C), 7. Scott LaValla, 8. Cameron Dolan, 9. Mike Petri, 10. Toby L’Estrange, 11. Luke Hume, 12. Andrew Suniula, 13. Seamus Kelly, 14. Blaine Scully, 15. Chris Wyles Reserves: 16. Tom Coolican 17. Nick Wallace, 18. Titi Lamositele, 19. Tai Tuisamoa, 20. Kyle Sumison 21. Shalom Suniula, 22. Folau Niua, 23. Tim Maupin

Uruguay Starting Line-up Starters: 1. Alejo Corral, 2. Arturo Avalo (c) 3. Oscar Duran, 4. Santiago Vilaseca, 5. Mathias Palomeque, 6. Juan Gaminara  7. Diego Magno, 8.  Alejandro Nieto, 9. Agustin Ormaechea, 10. Felipe Berchesi, 11. Jeronimo Etcheverry, 12. Joaquin Prada, 13. Andres Vilaseca, 14. Leandro Leivas, 15. Gaston Mieres  Reserves: 16. Carlos Pombo 17. Rodolfo de Mula, 18. Mario Sagario, 19. Cristofer Soares, 20. Franco Lammana,  21. Juan de Freitas, 22. Alejo Duran, 23. Francisco Bulanti

Saturday, March 29, 15:00 EST, Kennesaw

Live Stream: Outside USA https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/news/newsid=2070736.html

USA: https://www.vipboxus.co/rugby/218523/1/usa-vs-uruguay-live-stream-online.html

Referee: Greg Garner (RFU)
Assistants: David Smortchevsky (RC) & Andrew McMaster (RC)
TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU)

That’s it for now… feel free to comment below, look for and “Like” our Facebook Rugby Wrap Up Page. Follow me, Raysrugby on Twitter as well as the entire RWU crew on Twitter@RugbyWrapUp,Junoir BlaberDJ EberleNick HallJames HarringtonCody KuxmannJaime LoydKaren Ritter Jamie Wall and Declan Yeats, respectively.

About Rays Rugby 24 Articles
I have played rugby since 1993, and began coaching and refereeing as well in 2005. I started writing in 1998, first published on the old Rugby Canada website followed by the National Rugby Post, Goff On Rugby, and Scrum.com. I featured as a columnist for the new-defunct Canadian Rugby News before taking a long writing sabbatical while I pursued other interests. I have kept up my knowledge of the game, however, and have returned to comment and inform, only this time on all rugby matters, not just those Canadian. Thanks for reading!