New captain leads revamped USA team

Brisbane-born Tim Usasz will captain a new-look USA team for the first time when they play Australia in their Pool C match at Wellington Regional Stadium on Friday.

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan has made 14 changes from the starting XV that beat Russia 13-6 in New Plymouth last Thursday.

The Eagles will take the field without leading players such as regular captain and flanker Todd Clever, prop Mike MacDonald, wing Takudzwa Ngwenya, centre Paul Emerick and scrum half Mike Petri, although the latter is on the bench.

O'Sullivan, whose side have only four days between the Wallabies match and their final pool fixture against Italy on 27 September, described his line-up as "a fairly mixed bag" but insisted the squad is strong enough to justify the changes.

"What we’re bringing to this game is a lot of guys with a lot of energy who haven’t suited up yet in the World Cup and there’s a chance to let them go in this one to see what happens."
The only player to retain his spot in the starting line-up is second row Hayden Smith.

Striking distance

Six players omitted from the 22-man squads for USA's matches with Ireland and Russia are promoted to the first XV, while another, Brian McClenahan, is named as a replacement.
Usasz, the 28-year-old son of former Australian Rugby Union director David Usasz, made his Eagles debut in 2009 against Ireland and has played 17 Tests for his adopted country.

“I was very honoured to be named captain," said Usasz. "I’m looking forward to getting out there and getting among it.”

O'Sullivan expects Australia to come out strongly after their 15-6 loss to Ireland and said the Eagles would aim to remain in the game as long as possible, “particularly staying within striking distance over the last 20 minutes ".

“When Australia come at us, they’ll want to create that landscape where they can move the ball around in space and it will be up to us to try to take that away from them." he added.

"Sometimes you don’t and then you’ve got to go into scramble and fight for your life to stem the flow.

"They'll run it a lot off their half back, they’ll run it off their 10, and if you break down too much they go out the back door and get you in the corner. There’s no mystery to what they’ll do."