Interim USA coach Peter Thorburn has included five new caps in his side for Saturday’s Barclays Churchill Cup Pool B opener against Ireland ‘A’ in Santa Clara (kick-off 10.00pm Irish time).
…The US Eagles line up before the November 2004 Test match against Ireland at Lansdowne Road…
Interim USA coach Peter Thorburn has included five new caps in his side for Saturday’s Barclays Churchill Cup Pool B opener against Ireland ‘A’ in Santa Clara, California (kick-off 10.00pm Irish time).
Washington hooker Owen Lentz, half-backs Alipate Tuilevuka (BYU) and Tyson Meek (Denver Barbarians), centre Vahafalau Esikia (Blackjacks) and winger Jeff Hullinger (BYU) will all make their debuts for the Eagles.
Hooker Patrick Bell (Life), back row Mark Aylor of Austin and winger Brian Barnard of Golden Gate are also uncapped and expected to make their bows off the replacements’ bench.
There are two UK-based players in Thorburn’s selection – Cardiff Blues back row Kort Schubert, a native of California, captains the Eagles from number eight on the occasion of his 44th cap, while Leeds Tykes prop Mike MacDonald will be earning his 36th cap.
New Zealander Thorburn said: “These players have proven themselves all the way through the trial system and they are being given the chance to prove themselves yet again.”
The scheduling of the American Super League semi-finals means that Thorburn has released full-back Jeremy Nash back to his club the Chicago Lions. The semi-finals between the Lions and OMBAC, and Belmont Shore and Old Blue take place on Saturday.
The Super League final will be played after the Ireland ‘A’ v New Zealand Maori Churchill Cup game – for which Nash will be available for selection – in Santa Clara on June 10. The US Eagles also have a midweek clash with the Maori at the same venue (June 7).
Tickets for the Ireland ‘A’ team’s meeting with the Eagles are still available – you call call 00 1 408 554 4660 for further details or visit www.santaclarabroncos.com.
USA TEAM (v IRELAND ‘A’):
15 – Francois Viljoen (Belmont Shore); 14 – Mike Palefau (Haggis), 13 – Salesi Sika (BYU), 12 – Vahafalau Esikia (Blackjacks), 11 – Jeff Hullinger (BYU); 10 – Alipate Tuilevuka (BYU), 9 – Tyson Meek (Denver Broncos); 1 – Mike MacDonald (Leeds Tykes, England), 2 – Owen Lentz (Washington), 3 – John Tarpoff (St. Louis), 4 – Carl Hansen (Olympic Club), 5 – Mike Mangan (Chicago Griffins), 6 – Todd Clever (Mahurangi, New Zealand), 7 – Tony Petruzzella (Olympic Club), 8 – Kort Schubert (Cardiff Blues, Wales) (capt).
Replacements: 16 – Patrick Bell (Life), 17 – Chris Osentowski (Belmont Shore), 18 – Mike French (OMBAC), 19 – Brian Schoener (OPSB), 20 – Mark Aylor (Austin), 21 – Brian Barnard (Golden Gate), 22 – Mose Timoteo (Hayward).
Referee: Phil Smith (Canada)
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