The USA Eagles have named their team that will play Ireland in the permanent tsb international in Lansdowne Road this Saturday. USA Coach Tom Billups has made four changes to his lineup, one of them positional, from the side that ran France close during the summer.

Lock Alec Parker, blindside flanker Brian Surgener, and right wing Al Lakomskis come into team, while Kort Schubert shifts to number eight from flanker.

Our boys increasingly have high-performance backgrounds, and we're here in Ireland as rugby men. We're amateur in economic fact and professional in every other respect, USA coach Tom Billups said in announcing the team.

Schubert captains for the seventh time. The 25-year-old Cardiff Blues player is the only player to remain from the two sides' last meeting in 2000.

One other player with experience of playing in Ireland is prop Jacob Waasdorp, who played for Trinity College in 2002.

The talented Mike Hercus, who earned high praise from Irish Coach Eddie O'Sullivan, is named ay No.10 and is closing in on the American points scoring record. Hercus, with 21 internationals to his name, stands at 269 and needs 18 points to set a new mark.

United States:

15 - Francois Viljoen 14 - Al Lakomskis 13 - Paul Emerick 12 - Salesi Sika 11 - David Fee 10 - Mike Hercus 9 - Mose Timoteo 1 - Mike MacDonald 2 - Matt Wyatt 3 - Jacob Waasdorp 4 - Alec Parker 5 - Gerhard Klerck 6 - Brian Surgener 7 - Tony Petruzzella 8 - Kort Schubert(captain)

Reserves:

16 - Mike Hobson 17 - Chris Osentowski 18 - Jurie Gouws 19 - Fifita Mo'unga 20 - David Williams 21 - Matt Sherman 22 - Albert Tuipulotu