Will Team USA end their summer tour schedule with a winning or losing record? This is the question the Eagles will answer today when they square off with Six Nations perennial Wooden Spoon winner, Italy.
Earlier this week, USA Rugby announced the starting lineup to face off against Italy in this weekend’s match being held in Houston, Texas, made up of the same starting team that upset Georgia last weekend in Colorado, only flipping wings James Patterson and Luke Hume to opposite sides of the field.
The task ahead of the Eagles this evening is more daunting – while Italy comes into the match with a 9-55-1 record in the Six Nations, keep in mind they are still in an annual competition facing the best national teams the Northern Hemisphere has to offer!
This is the final match of the Eagles’ three-week international extravaganza, losing to Canada earlier in June before surprising the Georgians, 36-20, last week. (Well played, Eagles – taking on Georgia at altitude was a great idea!)
It’s not too late to catch this match, if you don’t have Universal Sports on your cable provider (Grrrrrr Comcast!) you can still check out Universal Sports’ web site and watch it online for $9!
TEAM USA
Starting 15
15 Chris Wyles (Saracens)
14 James Paterson (Glendale Raptors)
13 Paul Emerick (London Wasps)
12 Andrew Suniula (Cornish Pirates)
11 Luke Hume (Old Blue)
10 Roland Suniula (Chicago Griffins)
9 Mike Petri (NYAC)
1 Shawn Pittman (London Welsh)
2 Chris Biller (Northampton Saints)
3 Eric Fry (Wellington Old Boys RFC)
4 Louis Stanfill (NYAC)
5 Brian Doyle (NYAC)
6 Taylor Mokate (Wellington Old Boys RFC)
7 Scott Lavalla (Stade Francais)
8 Todd Clever* (NTT Shining Arcs)
Reserves
16 Derek Asbun (Oxford University – England)
17 Mike MacDonald (At Large)
18 Tolifili (Andre) Liufau (l’Uson Rugby)
19 Andrew Durutalo (USA Rugby Sevens/Old Puget Sound Beach)
20 Mose Timoteo (SFGG)
21 Will Holder (Army)
22 Colin Hawley (USA Rugby Sevens)
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