RWC - Ones to Watch Part 2

[Getofmeland]

Todd Clever

"Captain America" as he is known will be playing in just his second Rugby World Cup, but having made his International debut in 2003 Clever is one of the more experienced members of the Eagles team, with 35 caps to his name. He will also be one of the most recognisable players at the tournament with his distinctive flowing locks tied back in a pony tail. his hair is one of the few things on the field that move about more than he does.

USA captain and back rower Clever made his debut against Argentina in 2003 aged just 20, but had to wait until 2005 to earn his second cap and become a fixture in the team. He began playing rugby when he was in High School, he joined the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club RFC of San Diego. His first representative honours came when he was at the University of Nevada in Reno where he was named an All American 3 times and in 2000 he was selected for the USA under 19 side. Clever was the first USA player to play in the Super Rugby competition in 2009 when he gained a professional contract with the Lions team from the South African Province of Gauteng. Until 2009 Clever was a regular member of the USA Sevens team and represented them in 24 tournaments on the IRB circuit playing as a prop.

Clever stands an imposing 6 feet 4 inches tall, but is not one of the heaviest back row forwards playing International rugby weighing in at around 220 lb or 15 stone 9 lbs (99.7 kgs). His one spectacular attribute is his pace, as you would expect from someone with such Sevens experience and the video of his 80 metre solo try against Wales from the 2008 USA leg of the IRB series (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB5kEQC3sEg) is a frightening reminder to Australian and Irish players of just what they will have to deal with in their group come September. Other You Tube highlights of Todd Clever include an exuberant diver over not just an injured team mate but also the Team USA physio treating his team mate to score at the George leg of the 2009 IRB tour. This footage is made all the more remarkable by the fact that the injured player is laying prone 5 metres away from the try line! The video of Clever pulling a Volkswagen Beetle uphill using a harness must also particularly frightening for anybody looking to stop in the near future.

Clever is also known for his dynamic defence and the highlight of Clever's World Cup career thus far is making a vital interception 10 metres from his own try line, which not only saved his team a try but actually lead to Eagles winger Ngwenya's famous try after a 50 metre foot race with Springbok winger Brian Habana. Clever is however yet to be in the winning side in a Rugby World Cup.

Blog by @Buck_Mitchell

 

[LittleGuy]

Clever was fantastic on August 6th in Toronto, he is really the heart and soul of the Eagles lineup.