(Reuters) – The United States have named three uncapped players to start against England at Twickenham on Sunday, including former Ireland junior international flyhalf Luke Carty and South African-born flanker Riekert Hattingh.
Winger Mika Kruse is the third new cap as the visitors chase victory on U.S. Independence Day when the teams meet for the first time since a 45-7 win for England two years ago at the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
“We’ve had a good few days in England getting the guys back together with a number of productive training sessions under our belt,” coach Gary Gold said in a media release from USA Rugby.
“For us, the important thing is to ensure our younger players are exposed to this quality of competition early and often in their playing career.
“As we look ahead to World Cup qualification against Canada and now two test matches against Ireland, we are confident we will see the experience of these games pay dividends heading into the next two World Cup cycles.”
The squad features 351 test caps with the 23 players predominantly based at home with Major League Rugby sides.
The United States are playing their first international at Twickenham since 1999 and come up against a depleted England side without their British and Irish Lions tourists in South Africa.
United States team:
1. David Ainu’u – Toulouse (FRA) – 9 caps
2. Mikey Sosene-Feagai – Old Glory DC – 5 caps
3. Paul Mullen – Utah Warriors – 18 caps
4. Gregory Peterson – Newcastle Falcons (ENG) – 30 caps
5. Nick Civetta – Rugby United New York – 26 caps
6. Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz – Old Glory DC – 2 caps
7. Riekert Hattingh – Seattle Seawolves – Uncapped
8. Cam Dolan – NOLA Gold – 51 caps
9. Ruben de Haas – Austin Gilgronis – 17 caps
10. Luke Carty – LA Giltinis – Uncapped
11. Mika Kruse – Utah Warriors – Uncapped
12. Bryce Campbell – Austin Gilgronis – 32 caps
13. Marcel Brache – Western Force (AUS) – 23 caps
14. Mikey Te’o – Utah Warriors – 28 caps
15. Will Hooley – Saracens (ENG) – 15 caps
16. Joe Taufete’e – Lyon (FRA) – 27 caps
17. Matt Harmon – NOLA Gold – Uncapped
18. Dino Waldren – NOLA Gold – 19 caps
19. Nate Brakeley – Rugby United New York – 23 caps
20. Psalm Wooching – San Diego Legion – 4 caps
21. Hanco Germishuys – Rugby United New York – 21 caps
22. Michael Baska – Utah Warriors – Uncapped
23. Calvin Whiting – Utah Warriors – 1 cap
(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
