Nearly the same 23 who ran roughshod over the Chileans will get their chance against Argentina XV this weekend. In a match likely to determine the Americas Rugby Championship winner. USA Rugby is bringing its best. To the frustration of many Americans, that is not so for Argentina. The Argentina XV is very much a select side, with only two senior caps (both for scrum half Felipe Ezcurra) in their starting 15. That compares to 295 for the USA.
In Argentina’s defense, the Eagles haven’t exactly been crushing Argentina XV in the previous ARCs. After drawing in the first two iterations of the tournament, the USA finally won 17-10 last year. But if the Eagles want Argentina to hear calls for fielding their top side, the men in the red, white, and blue may have to do better on the pitch.
That is exactly what Gary Gold is poised to do. He has another week with his first choice team, and they will look to take it to their South American rivals. The bigger the American margin of victory, if the Americans do in fact win, the more pressure on the Pumas to bring out their big guns in ARC 2020.
If It Ain’t Broke
Aside from Dylan Fawsitt, who replaces James Hilterbrand in the #16 shirt, Gary Gold has made no changes to his matchday 23. And why should he?
With the Rugby World Cup only months away, the full strength Eagles won’t have many more chances to play together. Especially given that many of Gold’s overseas professionals will be returning to their clubs sooner rather than later, without completing the ARC.
At this point, everyone who follows the team is aware of Gold’s consistency. In a sense, it begs the question of why previous lineups were so variable. Is it all Gary Gold? He has stated it as a priority and so he must be credited for the approach. But it is also true, surely, that the consistent availability of first choice players is something that was less accessible to previous coaches. And a clear impression of the players available must also have been harder to come by.
Those are improvements in circumstance, and they are in part a result of Major League Rugby. Having a stable body of professional athletes, less burdened by the demands of a full-time career, with loads more high-level tape available, certainly enables a more consistent team selection. So far, it has paid tremendous dividends.
Record Breaker?
Last week, Joe Taufete’e tied the record for tries scored by an international front row player. He now sits even with Keith Wood, having touched the egg down 15 times. As a player who may be returning to the Worcester Warriors as early as next week, he may not get chance to break the record until this summer. As this match with Argentina XV is not an official test, a try on Saturday won’t count.
In 2015, the then uncapped Taufete’e was a surprise bolt-on to the USA World Cup roster. Since then, the Californian has taken the rugby bull by the horns. He originally switched to rugby from American football in 2011 and is yet another example of the potential synergy between the sports. Following the same path a few years later, Eagle teammate Paul Lasike is also now playing in the Premiership.
In only four years of playing internationally, he is about to sit alone in the record books. It won’t happen on Saturday, but it will surely happen for the 26-year-old. And that should make both he and the USA proud.
Prediction
In three previous years of the ARC, the Eagles have struggled against Argentina XV. They’ve never won on Argentinian soil. But this is a different Eagles team. It has grown into something new and improved. This will be the perfect time to show it.
The USA needs to outplay the Argentinians in every aspect of the game. They need to be better in the scrum and in the lineout. Defense needs to be more structured and consistent. Tactical kicking needs to be more advanced. Offensive shape needs to be more polished. If a nearly 300-cap 15 can’t manage that against a two-cap select 15, even one from Argentina, then the Eagles haven’t yet gotten where they need to be to advance on the global stage.
But I’m backing the Eagles to get it done this weekend. I’m a believer in Gary Gold and what he’s done with this team. I think the Eagles make the statement they want to make and turn up the heat on Argentina to put a first 15 side into this tournament next year.
USA by 18
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