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U.S.A. vs. Canada. RWCQ 1st leg, 17/08/13

The Eagles that are currently in camp scrimmaged Life last night. Report says Niua and Dolan stood out.

The Eagles are in Charleston, S.C., preparing for their August 17 World Cup Qualifier test match with Canada. The Eagles welcomed Life University's Elite Training Squad for a scrimmage held at the Citadel Friday. Life's Elite Training Squad is a hybrid team consisting of selected players from Life's undergrad and post grad teams.Under clear skies with temperatures in the high 80s and humidity at 82%, the teams played four 20 minute periods with unlimited substitutions. The pitch was in excellent shape but the ball was greasy due to the humidity.
Life gave the Eagles a good run but the Eagles rose to the challenge giving a strong defensive game that kept Life out of the try zone despite Life getting within the USA five-meter line on a few occasions. The Eagles scored three tries, including an impressive grub kick from USA fly half Toby L'Estrange that was touched down by Seamus Kelly for the Eagles' initial score. Two of the Eagles' tries were converted. The final score was USA 19 – 0 Life University.
After the scrimmage, Mike Tolkin and Scott Lawrence provided some feedback on the performance of their respective teams:
Mike Tolkin: "Our goal was to get a game under the belts of our domestic players before they play Canada… to play under the conditions we find down here, it gets slippery real quick so it's important that we're able to adjust to that… and to see some of the new guys.
On forward play: "I think what we needed to do was to be a little more dominant in the tackle area. We weren't rucking past the ball with power. We were getting to it and not presenting a strong wall. It's something that we need to work on… holding on to the ball. I thought our lineout worked really well against a good lineout team in Life. We're really going to be working on that new scrum (cadence). So it's good to get out and have the experience."
On the play of the back line: "I want to see some better game management. This allows us to go over the film and go over those points with the team and the decision makers. I saw some good phases of play. I though the defense was good in the back line, they were real stingy.
Regarding stand out players today: "I thought that Cam Dolan really stepped up. He really stepped up and is becoming more of a senior player. So that was good to see. I thought that Folau Niua, who has been playing sevens, he made some really nice runs and showed some good footwork.
Scott Lawrence of Life University had this to say about his team's play: "We were trying to get ourselves into some pressure rugby situations where we had to play with some real pace and physicality. Which we got in the first couple of periods and I think it took us a step back.
Regarding the Life University forwards: "We were a little disappointed with our timing around the set piece. We thought we were a little more prepared for linouts. Once we got it together and we could get some sustained pressure on them, things worked out much better for us."
As to the Life back play: "They didn't see a lot of ball today. It was really kind of suffocated. I think… the slippery ball probably contributed to that. When we did get the ball, a lot of times it was in the green zone which is less about back play."
Coach Lawrence's Life stand outs: "A. J. MacGinty played well again. He got some messy ball and dealt with it… Benny Matealona was great. He gave us some go forward. I think some other guys really came in and stepped up. Zack Walker came off the bench and added some real physicality to the breakdown, which we needed."
The Eagles will play Canada on August 17th at 6:30 PM MT in a Rugby World Cup Qualifying match at Blackbaud Stadium. For more information, please visit the Event Page.
Tickets for the Qualifier can be purchased on the Charleston Battery website here. Be on the look-out for more information regarding events surrounding #USAvCAN on Twitter by following @USARugby and liking USA Rugby on Facebook.
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Adam Siddall is injured, that's why he's excluded from this lineup.
 
There are some rumours that Hume has some serious VISA problems and is not in camp right now.
 
Canada has named their starting roster, I am beyond ****** off. DTH on the wing? Blevins and Hearn as the centre pairing? Jones at FH? Why, it is like Crowley has decided to take the **** with the yanks. There is probably one of the first times that I just can't understand his selections on any level.

Edit: apparently Underwood is injured.

1- Andrew Tiedemann, (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
2- Ryan Hamilton, (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
3- Jason Marshall, (Atlantique Stade Rochelais/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
4- Jebb Sinclair, (London Irish) Fredericton, NB
5- Jamie Cudmore, (ASM Clermont Auvergne) Squamish, BC
6- Tyler Ardron, (Ospreys/Ontario Blues) Lakefield, ON
7- John Moonlight, (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Pickering, ON
8- Aaron Carpenter, Captain, (Cornish Pirates) Brantford, ON

9- Phil Mack, (Uvic Vikes/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
10- Harry Jones, (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) West Vancouver, BC
11- DTH Van Der Merwe, (Glasgow Warriors) Regina, SK
12- Nick Blevins, (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
13- Ciaran Hearn, (Castaway Wanderers/Atlantic Rock) Conception Bay, NL
14- Matt Evans, (Cornish Pirates) Maple Bay, BC
15- James Pritchard, (Bedford Blues) Parkes, NSW, Australia

16- Ray Barkwill, (Niagara Wasps RFC/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
17- Tom Dolezel, (London St. George's/Ontario Blues) London, ON
18- Doug Wooldridge, (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON
19- Tyler Hotson, (London Scottish) Vancouver, BC
20- Nanyak Dala, (Castaway Wanderers RFC/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
21- Sean White, (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
22- Nathan Hirayama, (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears) Richmond, BC
23- Phil Mackenzie, (Sale Sharks) Oakville, ON


http://www.rugbycanada.ca/leagues/newsl ... page=72007
 
WTF is Mackenzie on the bench? I'd prefer Barkwill to start as well but can live with that. Also like Jones in instead of Hirayama. Snclair at lock is OK, I guess it gets Moonlight on the field. That CT pairing isn't that great though, has Mackeznie taken a slight knock? I'm also guessing Crowley didn't think Duke had enough time with the squad to get on the side either.
 
I'm with you, Little Guy- the selections seem sketchy. I'll give Crowley the benefit of the doubt though, his choices usually work out. Not liking Mackenzie and Barkwill on the bench though!
 
Going to be a rainy one? Hope they let you take umbrellas in...

BRuOXCkCUAAiMSt.jpg
 
After thinking about it for a while, I actually don't mind Blevins starting at 12, but DTH should be at 13 with Mackenzie on the wing. Why is hearn starting is beyond me. But I guess I should be looking at the posititives, Hirayama is on the bench.
 
The only reason I can imagine Mackenzie being on the bench (other than receiving a slight knock during the week) is that Crowley is trying to avoid the "final twenty minute meltdown" that we saw during the PNC. With a guy like Mackenzie coming off the bench we will at least be upgrading the team by adding a genuine game-breaker to the pitch.
 
This seems like a very "defensive" lineup is Crowley afraid of the American backrow running down the throats of our team? Hassler's illness was apparently a viral infection according to Ospreys, and he never even boarded the plane to come over.
 
Possibly, I know Hearn had a 'better' summer, but seriously, why is he starting at 13 ahead of DTH?
 
canadafan said:
Possibly, I know Hearn had a 'better' summer, but seriously, why is he starting at 13 ahead of DTH?
Click to expand...

My guess is because Crowley thinks we will be able to stretch the American defence more effectively which will allow DTH to actually see some ball in his natural position. If we were playing England or any higher ranked country you would always want DTH at 13. But with Canada having more possession (and Hearn being very solid in defence), the risks of DTH playing on the wing (or the possibility of him not seeing any action) are pretty slim in my opinion.
 
That better the plan, but I thought using Blevins at 12 as a battering ram should be able to get DTH some space at 13. Also, Hearn is not that good in defence, IMO.
 
Yanks line up:

1. Shawn Pittman
2. Chris Biller
3. Eric Fry
4. Lou Stanfill
5. Samu Manoa
6. Scott LaValla
7. Peter Dahl
8. Todd Clever (C)

9. Mike Petri
10. Toby L'Estrange
11. Blaine Scully
12. Andrew Suniula
13. Seamus Kelly
14. Taku Ngwenya
15. Chris Wyles

16. Zach Fenoglio
17. ***i Lamositele
18. Phil Thiel
19. Brian Doyle
20. Cam Dolan
21. Robbie Shaw
22. Folau Niua
23. Roland Suniula
 
Interesting that Manoa has been moved to Lock, both North American sides have such strong back rows and weak 2nd rows that both teams have done this (Sinclair for us). Manoa vs. Cudmore could be scintillating.

Weird to see that lineup without Emerick who I think will be missed by the Eagles as to a lesser extent will be Hume. #5-8 is pretty darn impressive for the States.
 

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