Japan vs USA (RWC Warm-Up)

[Melhor Time]

Loads of changes for both sides. Japan are going to win this regardless so I´m focusing on the USA´s selections. Clever, Ngwenya and Wyles are all missing. But there is a debut for Highlanders winger, James Paterson.

http://rugbyworldcup-argentina2023.blogspot.com/2011/08/usa-team-to-face-japan.html

The final match for both Japan and the United States of America before New Zealand 2011 is to take place on Sunday at the home of Japanese rugby, the Prince Chichbu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo. Both teams are entering the match looking for a win after losing international matches last weekend so that they can take confidence with them to the Rugby World Cup. Given that it is a final hit-out for both countries, both have made a number of changes to their lineups to have a chance to settle on the lineups for the World Cup. Coaches John Kirwan (Japan) and Eddie O´Sullivan (USA) are to announce their 30-man squads for the tournament after the match.

The USA will be lead by scrumhalf and vice-captain, Mike Petri who takes over from Todd Clever who ahs been forced to sit out the match through injury. Clever, who is based in Japan, will, however, lead the team in New Zealand 2011. O´Sullivan has also given opportunities to many players with Mike MacDonald starting at loosehead prop for his 62nd international which is a tied record with former USA international secondrower, Luke Gross. Should MacDonald play matches in the World Cup then he´ll be the most capped player in USA rugby history. MacDonald will be joined in the frontrow by Phillip Thiel who returns at hooker and Eric Fry, who is to start at tighthead prop. The secondrow should be a strength for the USA with Stade Français´ Scott LaValla joining forces with Saracens´ Hayden Smith. With Clever missing, Lou Stanfill will start in the 7 shirt with Patrick Danahy thus playing 6 and JJ Gagiano gets an opportunity to start at 8.

Fullback, Chris Wyles who missed both matches vs Canada is not to face Japan either as e continues to recover from injury. In his place will be Blaine Scully for the third week running. Blaine will have anew partner in the back-three with James Paterson of the Super Rugby side, the Highlanders, starting on the wing with Taku Ngwenya being rested and Kevin Swiryn starting in the 14 shirt. Paterson is to make his test debut having previously played for the USA at age group level. His place in the World UCP squad will depend on how he performs in this match and it will not be easy as he goes up against Takehisa Usuzuki. O´Sullivan has opted to experiment in the midfield with Tai Enosa starting at outside centre and Paul Emerick moving to inside centre. Nese Malifa retains his place at flyhalf, despite making basic errors vs Canada, and will form a combination with the match-day captain, Mike Petri.


Japan

15 Taihei Ueda (Honda Heat)
14 Takehisa Usuzuki (Toshiba Brave Lupus)
13 Alisi Tupuailai (Canon Eagles)
12 Ryan Nicholas (Suntory Sungoliath)
11 Hirotoki Onozawa (Suntory Sungoliath)
10 Murray Williams (Toyota Industries Shuttles)
9 Tomoki Yoshida (Toshiba Brave Lupus)
8 Takashi Kikutani (Toyota Verblitz)
7 Tadasuke Nishihara (Panasonic Wild Knights)
6 Sione Vatuvei (Panasonic Wild Knights)
5 Luke Thompson (Kintetsu Liners)
4 Hitoshi Ono (Toshiba Brave Lupus)
3 Nozomu Fujita (Honda Heat)
2 Yusuke Aoki (Suntory Sungoliath)
1 Naoki Kawamata (Panasonic Wild Knights)

Reserves

16 Shota Horie (Panasonic Wild Knights)
17 Kensuke Hatakeyama (Suntory Sungoliath)
18 Toshizumi Kitagawa (Toyota Verblitz)
19 Itaru Tanguchi (Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers)
20 Atsushi Hiwasa (Suntory Sungoliath)
21 Koji Taira (Suntory Sungoliath)
22 Shaun Webb (Coca-Cola West Red Sparks)

United States of America
15 Blaine Scully (Unattached)
14 Kevin Swiryn (Agen, France)
13 Tai Enosa (Belmont Shore)
12 Paul Emerick (Life University)
11 James Paterson (Otago Highlanders, New Zealand)
10 Nese Malifa (Glendale)
9 Mike Petri (New York Athletic Club)
8 JJ Gagiano (University of Cape Town, South Africa)
7 Lou Stanfill (Mogliano, Italy)
6 Patrick Danahy (Life University)
5 Hayden Smith (Saracens, England)
4 Scott LaValla (Stade Français, France)
3 Eric Fry (Las Vegas Blackjacks)
2 Phillip Thiel (Life University)
1 Mike MacDonald (Leeds Carnegie, England)

Reserves

16 Chris Biller (San Francisco Golden Gate)
17 Shawn Pittman (London Welsh, England)
18 Nic Johnson (Unattached)
19 Ryan Chapman (Utah Warriors)
20 Tim Usasz (Nottingham, England)
21 Roland Suniula (Boston Rugby)
22 Andrew Suniula (Cornish Pirates, England)

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Postado

 

[Feicarsinn]

One would expect a Japan win regardless of who the US had available. As far as I can see the only thing to be learned from this match is where the Japanese stand with regard to Canada, who of course beat the States twice in the last few weeks.

Question: Eddie O'Sullivan. A positive impact on American rugby or little progress made?

 

[Melhor Time]

One would expect a Japan win regardless of who the US had available. As far as I can see the only thing to be learned from this match is where the Japanese stand with regard to Canada, who of course beat the States twice in the last few weeks.

Question: Eddie O'Sullivan. A positive impact on American rugby or little progress made?

Japan should win by 40 points to be honest. The USA are simply fielding a weak side. USA without Clever, Wyles and Ngwenya is a worry.

I think O´Sullivan has done well. He´s got balls, thats for sure. Some of his selections are way out tehre as they are players who don´t stand a chance of making the Rugby World Cup. I don´t think he was not so generous as Ireland´s coach in giving out test caps. Also some options like Paul Emerick will play inside centre vs Japan. Thats unheard of. He has, however, been unable to find a flyhalf and this will hurt the USA Eagles at the World Cup. Depth aside, the USA are good. The first XV are, as I see it, better than Canada. The bench is not good though and the worry is the first XV don´t get to play together all the time due to clubs not releasing players mainly.

 

[CDN_Rugby]

Depth aside, the USA are good. The first XV are, as I see it, better than Canada.

Yet that superior skill doesn't translate to victories does it?

June 17th 2006, vs USA, (Churchill Cup), at Edmonton, W 33-18
August 12th 2006, vs USA (RWCQ), at St. John's, W 56-7
June 2nd 2007, vs USA, (Churchill Cup), at Twickenham, W 52-10
June 21st 2008, vs USA, (Churchill Cup), at Chicago, W 26-10
July 4th 2009, vs USA (RWCQ), at Charleston, L 12-6
July 11th 2009, vs USA (RWCQ), at Edmonton, W 41-18
August 6th 2011 vs USA (Friendly) at Toronto, W 28-22
August 13th 2011 vs USA (Friendly) at Glendale, W 27-7

I really don't get how some people can actually say with a straight face that the U.S. is better than Canada. Canada routinely spanks the Yanks in a similar fashion to the drubbing Italy usually faces in the 6 Nations. If winning 7 of the past 8 tests (and most of them in convincing fashion) doesn't silence the critics, I don't know what will.

 

[Melhor Time]

Yet that superior skill doesn't translate to victories does it?

June 17th 2006, vs USA, (Churchill Cup), at Edmonton, W 33-18
August 12th 2006, vs USA (RWCQ), at St. John's, W 56-7
June 2nd 2007, vs USA, (Churchill Cup), at Twickenham, W 52-10
June 21st 2008, vs USA, (Churchill Cup), at Chicago, W 26-10
July 4th 2009, vs USA (RWCQ), at Charleston, L 12-6
July 11th 2009, vs USA (RWCQ), at Edmonton, W 41-18
August 6th 2011 vs USA (Friendly) at Toronto, W 28-22
August 13th 2011 vs USA (Friendly) at Glendale, W 27-7

I really don't get how some people can actually say with a straight face that the U.S. is better than Canada. Canada routinely spanks the Yanks in a similar fashion to the drubbing Italy usually faces in the 6 Nations. If winning 7 of the past 8 tests (and most of them in convincing fashion) doesn't silence the critics, I don't know what will.

In 2011 the USA should be beating Canada. In 2008 the other way round.

Here is why:

15 Chris Wyles vs Matt Evans
14 Taku Ngwenya vs Taylor Paris
13 Paul Emerick vs DTH van der Merwe
12 Andrew Suniula vs Mike Scholtz
11 Kevin Swiryn vs James Pritchard
10 Nese Malifa vs Ander Monro
9 Mike Petri vs Ed Fairhurst
8 Nic Johnson vs Aaron Carpender
7 Todd Clever vs Chauncey O´Toole
6 Lou Stanfill vs Jebb Sinclair
5 Hayden Smith vs Jamie Cudmore
4 Scott LaValla vs Tyler Hotson
3 Shawn Pittman vs Jason Marshall
2 Phillip Thiel vs Pat Riordan
1 Mate Moeakiola vs Hubert Buydens

Simply put, the USA is better in more positions. The issue is depth as he USA does´t have any, unlike Canada. Considering the USA has more pro players its really a question of why is Canada able to get the wins. Some of the match-ups are really close. Canada has few players sho shouldn´t be in the test team, unlike the USA. But overall the USA Eagles has a better list and I therefore consider the USA to be better. In Toronto and Glendale the USA should have won both games. The tries Canada scored were against the run of play rather than being crafted.

Now, I´d like to see an annual series for the Can-Am Trophy. At least two tests, but preferable three. It would take place after the June Tours which is going to see Canada and the United States recieve international test sides ratehr than play in the Churchill Cup.

 

[LittleGuy]

Japan over the Eagles but only by 6, 20-14. I only caught the end of the game the last half hour and it was an exciting finish. It wasn't a very good Eagles line up, perhaps many of us(including myself) have been overating the Japanese side.

 

[Melhor Time]

Japan over the Eagles but only by 6, 20-14. I only caught the end of the game the last half hour and it was an exciting finish. It wasn't a very good Eagles line up, perhaps many of us(including myself) have been overating the Japanese side.

The USA performed well, going off what I read on the Japanese site. Good news as they are to field their top side vs Ireland in the RWC opener.

Japan were not at full strength for this match either though as they gave guys a run at flyhalf, fullback and wing who would normally not make the 22.

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

I don't think USA has a better side then Canada, I think some players on the US team are better than any players on the Canadian side; however, the Canadian team has better coaching, better fitness, is more clinical in their approach to the game, and is overall a far better side then the Americans. This comes down to as I stated earlier, better coaching, more money for the national program, a stronger academy system, overall more support for the national team. I do not think Canada played well the last two tests but they were far more clinical in their approach then the Americans and the better preparation showed.

PS how do you rate Swiryn above James Pritchard, Pritchard is one of the top players in the RFU championship and could easily play premiership rugby if he wanted to, he just also run his own business on the side and cannot commit fully to an aviva premiership team.

 

[Melhor Time]

I don't think USA has a better side then Canada, I think some players on the US team are better than any players on the Canadian side; however, the Canadian team has better coaching, better fitness, is more clinical in their approach to the game, and is overall a far better side then the Americans. This comes down to as I stated earlier, better coaching, more money for the national program, a stronger academy system, overall more support for the national team. I do not think Canada played well the last two tests but they were far more clinical in their approach then the Americans and the better preparation showed.

PS how do you rate Swiryn above James Pritchard, Pritchard is one of the top players in the RFU championship and could easily play premiership rugby if he wanted to, he just also run his own business on the side and cannot commit fully to an aviva premiership team.

Your reasoning for Canada being better is good. I agree - Canada has superior rugby infrastructure across the board. But the USA, currently, does have better players. The CRC has been a great success and hopefuly the USA can get a better national comp and go pro!

Swiryn over Prichard for me is a no brainer. I´d also have James Paterson over Pritchard. While Pritchard is great for Bedford it is the English second division and goalkciking should not be the motivation for selecting a winger or a fullback. This is why Argentina´s Martin Bustos Moyano isn´t going to the World Cup.

 

[CDN_Rugby]

That's certainly a perspective. Goalkicking aside, I'd still take Pritchard over Wyles, he's dynamite in defence. And why didn't you slot in Phil Mackenzie? He's probably better than Swiryn and is more versatile too. He can play 12-15, and play all positions well.

BTW, Scholz won't be anywhere near the starting XV come the WC.

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

Pritchard is dynamite on defense and his kicking from hand is very good as well. Not too mention he is worth 12 to 15 points a game with that boot of his which IMO makes him more valuable then any player the US currently has in their backline. The US can only dream that they had the kicking choices Canada does with Pritchard, Hearn, and Monro all able to provide Canada with good boots. Hearn can nail penalty kicks from 50+ meters out, would love to see Malifa do that or ... hmmm maybe make a convert or two for once.

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

I think more Canadian players are going to be signing pro contracts after this world cup. The likes of Kleeberger, Buydens, etc will hopefully have pro contracts calling after this world cup.

 

[Melhor Time]

I think more Canadian players are going to be signing pro contracts after this world cup. The likes of Kleeberger, Buydens, etc will hopefully have pro contracts calling after this world cup.

Absolutely.

The three Americas countries really have a lot of players who are going to impress and get pro deals I feel. O´Toole and Sinclair have, of course, already secured deals in the UK. I think there could be contracts on the cards for the likes of Taylor Paris, Nathan Hirayama and Hubert Buydens too.

For the USA Lou Stanfill is off contract with Mogliano and should really go to a top French, Celtic or English club. He´s outstanding. Blaine Scully has come a long way while Paul Emerick really should be playing in Europe again. He was great vs Japan btw.

While Juan Imhoff of Argentina will definetly be at a top club soon.

 

[ThisIsAmerRugby]

Here is some analysis and video highlights of the match.