O’Sullivan names strong USA squad

USA head coach Eddie O’Sullivan last night said he believed he had picked his strongest available squad for the World Cup.

Former Ireland boss O’Sullivan, whose side have lost three warm-up matches out of three this month, will face Ireland in their last World Cup Pool C game on September 11 in New Plymouth.

“I think there is a sense of relief that we are now in a position to name the final squad of 30 for the RWC,” O’Sullivan said. “It has been a thorough process and I believe we have the best 30 players available to us heading into the RWC. As expected we have had to make some very tough decisions to get to the final squad, but that is just reflection on the talent available to us.”

O’Sullivan selected 16 forwards and 14 backs, with Japan-based back-rower Todd Clever captaining the side and scrum-half Mike Petri as vice-captain. Biarritz wing Taku Ngwenya was included as expected, with Saracens’ Chris Wyles and Mike MacDonald of Leeds Carnegie also named.

The Eagles squad will assemble in Santa Barbara on August 28 for their final preparations before flying to New Zealand next Wednesday.

USA SQUAD Backs: P Emerick (Life University), T Enosa (Belmont Shore), C Hawley (Olympic Club), N Malifa (Glendale), T Ngwenya (Biarritz), J Paterson (Otago), M Petri (New York Athletic Club), B Scully (Unattached), J Sifa (Nottingham RFC), A Suniula (Chicago Griffins), R Suniula (Boston Rugby), K Swiryn (Agen), T Usasz (Nottingham RFC), C Wyles (Saracens)

Forwards: I Basauri (Perigueux), C Biller (San Francisco Golden Gate), T Clever (Suntory Sungoliath), P Danahy (Life University), E Fry (Las Vegas Blackjacks), JJ Gagiano (Univ. of Cape Town), N Johnson (Unattached), S LaValla (Stade Francais), M MacDonald (Leeds Carnegie), B McClenahan (Olympic Club), M Moeakiola (Bobigny 93), S Pittman (London Welsh), H Smith (Saracens), L Stanfill (Unattached), P Thiel (Life University), J van der Giessen (Unattached).