USA Men's Eagles Face Eddie Jones & Japan in Pacific Nations Cup Showcase

0:00This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. It's Japan's new score. The key is for the Eagles of Score and the Ki is the Eagles of Show that I'm proven over the last year as a much faster team and I think I got a lot that special with that half-back pairing with Wilson Beck and the Haas. That quickness, Rubin's got a lot faster getting that ball out of it. That's going to really help. I honestly don't think they're going to beat Japan. Is it possible? Yeah, but they have put on a ship that they have never done or haven't played in a long time. I think it's right. Asking them to play the best they've ever played to exceed their ceiling is difficult. But if in each test match here on 4 we're raising the floor of our expectations of what they can do and gain confidence for that, that's what I would like to see. Raise the floor up, minimum expectation. Hey, we're going to go out and we're going to quit ourselves well in an international stage. The center sounds up for Rugby World Cup in 27. That's what I'm going to see. So each match, raising that floor up of our performance. Hello and welcome to the show.

1:21This is US rugby. Happy hour on Bill. Bigger this is John Fist Patrick. John Fist Patrick, how are you, my friend? Bill, I'm doing good. Maybe I've got some international rugby this weekend, Jim Pact. Kicking back in again, I'm excited about it and the women play the week after and in the men again, of course. And that's exactly why we are meeting today. You and our meeting, this is an official meeting to talk about, said USA International Men's Game coming up and they can't play the match without us talking about the roster. Okay. I guess that's about said once. Let's get into it, Fitsy. Readers, please like follow and breeders. Readers? Listeners, please like and follow and subscribe this podcast, whether it's on YouTube or your favorite podcast player and then share with friends around the world. We can enjoy your company. Fitsy, no music and production this week. We don't have time for that. We need to dig deep into this weekend's USA Men versus Japan match. We're going to start off by just going back a second and talk about last week.

2:23Japan easily handled Canada 57 to 12, played in front of 18,000 fans. That sounds brilliant. I hope it's that many to Saturday for USA. Now Eagles haven't played since August 15 against Argentina 15s and Canada is straight off of a high win. I didn't catch the match, which is what I read was it was pretty, you know, Japan looked good. Let's put that way. They were missing maybe about four or five of their regular starters for various reasons. Not necessarily lost to professional contracts, kind of like most of our players who were not with us. I mean, they rested their captain Warner Derns also starting fly half. But then also 12 players were Japan, Fitsy had less than 10 caps each. So I don't know, what are we up against here? Well, he may recall the last time he played Japan that was here in the US and Sacramento last year, maybe a year ago in September. It was a 47-21 loss.

3:23The men's Eagles. Yeah. This is Japan squad, you know, the wild cardinal of this, of course, is Eddie Jones, that coach who returns there right who, you know, a couple years ago, I think maybe was playing Fitsy with USA rugby about being a Ted coach. I don't know if that was ever real or not. But certainly, Eddie Jones coach squad is not going to want to drop a match against men's Eagles, particularly in Japan. I remember last year, that was a squad where Japan seemingly were able to just move the ball and really counterattack quite quickly. So we're going to be up against it. But like you said, 12 players against Canada had less than 10 caps. This is a young squad. They're trying things out and they're still pretty exciting. Drop 57 points on Canada. I guess me a little nervous. And I do remember that match. Japan, they were just so much faster. I remember that. They were just so much faster. The Eagles are faster now. And Scott Lawrence said it just today yesterday that this is a different team. This is a different USA Eagles team and more improved.

4:24Not where they want to be. He feels like they have still have another year to go to be where they want to be at this point. But it's promising. You know, we have a kind of a young squad too. We're missing a number of players to their overseas duties. But we still have some quality players. And with that said, Fitsy, let's, we're going to list off the starting or the 23 selected to go against the brave, Ross, Rossums. I'm having issues with my words today with the brave blossoms. Saturday morning. We'll be off the whiskey this early. Oh, yeah, we're more of it. That match starts at 6 a.m. ET. By the way, I'm Paramount Plus. So let's go Fitsy. The starting Fords got Peyton Telia, shallow client, Toget coffee, Jason Dom, Nathan DeHote, Marno Ringelaihise, Patty Ryan, and McKean Allicone. Pretty strong. Fitsy, who are the backs? Yeah, in the backs. Of course, nine Ruben Doss, mainstay there. We'll see the return of Chris Halsenbeck at 10 coming off a great season. The game was Chicago.

5:24How's a lot of hounds in this, including Noel Brown, who is starting for USA. Who's going to get his first start in the best? So that's exciting. Of course, Dominic B. Sag will be inside center to be the low petty. Can you meet him there in the outside center to make stuff happen? It's fun watching him ball in hand. And then on the wing, Marco Keefe, full back, Mitch Wilson, who's been setting a couple of players that were missing in the backs. But yeah, there's your nine through 15. No. And I do like that selection. I love the combination of Ruben and Chris. We'll cover more of that in a bit. Now, reserve forwards. And I'd glad you mentioned Noah getting his first start because Peyton Tilea is getting his first start. Charlotte Klein has in place over a year ago. But on the bench, there are some people who played a lot. Joe Tau Fettzi, obviously everyone knows of Big Joe is a fuck OC with Fletti. He's in there again. Alex Mon, Sam Golas back, right to send him and Ben Bonasso. So pretty strong forward reserves and Scott's clearly going five and a smaller reserve bench

6:28Fettzi. Yeah. And that's what's decided for the return of Sam Golas and Ben Bonasso coming off the bench. He's served as a captain before. So to bring that veteran leadership off the bench is fantastic. I'll go through the reserve backs real quick. And as you mentioned, just three. So Michael Baska, he'll come on at Scrum half and Spal Ruben to Haas when need be a little party there. Can cover a few positions, but probably would come on for Chris Halson back if need be. And then Julian Roberts. Julian Roberts is right because he could come on on the wing. He come in on the full back position. He's had a number of decent games where he's made stuff happen, made people miss electric with ball and hands. So we'll see what kind of minutes he gets. But there's your reserve back three or just your reserve back three. But yeah, let's go. The three back three. And like I said, some of those can start into different positions. Not just, you know, the outside position. Okay. Before we actually break down those 23 little more, let's discuss really who's missing.

7:31It's clearly a number of players are unavailable, selection, due to injury or unavailable because of professional play. And some of those professional players, obviously, Jack Ascaro, your buddy there from O'Glory. David Anu, who hasn't really been around this year much anyway. Capelli Piffiletti, you know, brother of one of us starting forwards. Nafi Maafu, who's actually starting for Matamon this weekend as first start, Charlie Abel in the ONA, a selection again this week on the bench. He didn't get off the bench last week. Aja McGinty with Bristol Bears. He finally, he's back. He played in the Premier Cup match last week, which he hasn't done for a number of years. I think the last since the last time he was returning from injury. Perry Meo, who we're all excited about with these. He's back with Nevers. And then Will Sherman's not here. I didn't think Red Hurricane is in Japan. We're near closer to the season beginning, but he is not in there also. But also, if it's I think one person who really going to miss here is Corey Dandel. He enters himself early in the year. Sad to miss him, but just from those lists, I mean, most of those players are forwards.

8:33That's like a whole other team right there. I mean, you're looking Jack David Capelli, that's, you know, our front row there. If this is a world rugby world cup match, Aja McGinty's or 10, Perry Meo will probably be a wing or full back. Yeah, missing a lot, but that's okay. It's, you know, that's clubs are going to release them. You just need to know about Will Sherman here. There, right? He's playing for the Red Hurricane. I think that's a division two team in Japan, rugby league one. Yeah. What's also taking place in Japan is that the Falcons, right? The, the, the, the Valtman squad, if you want to call it that, they are playing a couple of matches in Japan right after this. And they're playing in Japan, rugby league one teams. It'd be interesting if they're playing Will Sherman's team. I doubt that's going to happen. But, or maybe a chance for Will to skip out on for that match to, to go in Falcon. Yeah. Yeah, we see. And the other is, if it's the also that are not injured in missing, you know, Kanamuni Ham is not in, in these, in the listing for this, these games, Eric Stordy and Jama, but not a show. It's a really interesting about him. I think I'm starting to wonder if he's kind of, you know, worked his way out of Scots,

9:38you know, Grace, you know. Yeah, I don't know. He seems still to be in his prime. He's still a ball in the ball and hand. Maybe you guys are starting available for selection for this one, but I would think he's a guy who would raise his hand and want to go. But yeah, question mark there, but, you know, certainly there's depth in that back row for the men's Eagles. What's your, have you heard anything about Jake Terrible? I know he's playing with Willington Lions. He's getting a lot of playing time. He wasn't even listed on the USA chart as far as not available. He's nowhere in that list. And that's interesting to me. He's considering how much he's playing. Yeah, exactly. Because he seems to be playing quite a bit. I don't know, you know, I think Scott probably has his guys that he wants as he's looking to, we woke up 27 next year. Maybe Jake's on the way out or maybe he's playing this way back in. But I mean, until we get there next year, you know, we won't know. And interesting, they listed a couple of developmental players.

10:42One of them is Spencer Huntley, younger player. I don't just play with you 20s world rugby championships. So he's training with them. But when Vanderbeng, you know, one of the best in LLR MVP, I'm curious. And I might have missed this. Is he not qualified yet and just developing or is he actually qualified for USA and just not up there yet? God, I got to think he's not quite qualified yet. And Liz nursing certainly checked me on that. But he's got to be close for like him and like David Cutser. They're super close, maybe in time before, maybe next year when the calendar flips over. Yeah, listen to check me from wrong, but I think Vanderbeng is still just a little, tiny bit away from being fully qualified. And you mentioned Davy. I'm surprised. Again, they didn't list him under the developmental list, you know, just like Wayne Vanderbeng. But maybe Davy's like a week away or something. Who knows? Every time I listen, I read something online, it's different. It's available. Of fits, you know, the names you can think of that are just not available. These tours are now you can think of it stand out to you.

11:43Jack Walsh, maybe a Rufus McLean. Yeah, Rufus McLean is one. Maybe a Peyton Wall, a Joe Mano. You know, I wonder either just guys that are on the larger pool and the guys in the 23 have just formed a little bit better or a little bit more and not to say that those guys that, you know, there's a couple of names that we just mentioned aren't in the mix anymore. But you can only have a, you can only have 23, right? Yeah. You know, ideally, right? And I think this is the case, there's, there's competition for every single position. There's probably maybe like only one or two, three spots where you can like, in pen, put the starter in and everything else is competition, availability, health, performance. So that's what you want at least when putting the squad. Yeah, you definitely went to competition and the driver. One has personal things like Chris Helsingbeck is coming back from personal leave, let's say. So it's good to see him back too. So speaking of that, let's dive into Saturday mornings, roster deeper than we just, it's minute ago.

12:44Again, I think overall strong considering who's available. So start in the front row. We got Peyton Telia, Lou said getting his first start, and you mentioned earlier, child of Klein who hasn't started for over a year, starting at Hooker and Tonga Coffee, who it's clearly the go to tighthead right now for USA until, you know, others get back. So the front three is nice and then you got those reserves, reserves fit, if it's like I mentioned, do to Fete, big Joe, still the record holder and tries by Hooker. I'm excited about seeing him getting back out there. I'm hoping he has the legs that he used to have and to make an impact. But yeah, that's the front row. What's your impression of these guys? Yeah, I want to say we match up pretty well in against Japan's and scrum, right? But the guys that we have, the tight five that we have, love to see how we do in the scrum if we can steal a couple, if we can be dominant in there, that really set up a good platform for us to play some attacking rugby. So I mean, that's a beef. There's some big beef up there in the front row. Yeah.

13:44So yeah, when your hooker is bigger than a lot of props, or at least with Joe to Fete, and also speaking of a big beef, you know, Caleb Geiger is still rehabbing from injury. So he's not back yet. He's one of those crossover athletes that we're excited to watch see if he improves more and more. And he's been impactful with the USA Eagles. Second row loose forwards. And I list those together here. I was going to talk about second row first and then loose forward second, but these are all the same political, same positions. If you ask me as far as Scott Lawrence's forwards go or loose boards go. I'm going to start on the bench. Sam Gola and Ben Ben Asso. And so they can slot in anywhere loose or lock. And so when you look at the lock, Scott Jason Dom from the Legion, Nathan to Holt from Chicago, both of those guys have played great. The last time they were out, Marno, Patty Ryan's amazing at number seven. I like to see him at eight also. And the McKean Alcon, I think, is really getting back and getting that nod to maybe be that leader from the number eight position in second row loose boards.

14:47You want to lose forwards that are dogs, right? The guys that are going to hit hard, they're going to be aggressive, get to the rock, get to break downs, hard carries, right? I think all those guys bring that. Jason Dom's probably maybe just a, that's one of the kind of guys six four, just a 10 short, but he's probably more fat-growing, but like he's got the position versus utility and obviously leadership in droves. I think what's interesting about McKean Alcon is that, you know, he said a couple games where there's been questionable, because he plays on a niche, right? And you want that. You want guys that are aggressive. And sometimes there's like kind of a head scratcher penalty where you're just like, Kean, what are you doing in that section of the game or like right in front of the rap or the old car that's just ill advised. Love to see him clean that up a bit more, I think. He's able to do that, the ability to kind of play on that edge and not cross it too much and get penalized. I think that helped elevate his game because he's tough ball carryer and he's a hard hitter. So you want that? Yeah. You know what's quite to the half back parings?

15:47You got Ruben DeHas, Chris Hustonbeck, Chicago Hounds teammate, said, been playing really well today, so it's really nice to see Chris. And also I think this is Chris's job to lose to AJ McKinsey when AJ does come back. And I mean that the best possible way, I think the pairing between DeHas and Hustonbeck is really good and AJ is going to need to win that position from him. So Chris will lose it when AJ to win it. The bench is nice to see Michael Baskin back, haven't seen his name in a while. And then Luke Cardiacore, I think, is a great backup fly half for the Eagles and can slide in for kicking duties as well. Well, I think continuity is the word here, right familiarity, Ruben DeHas and Chris under the season for Chicago, continuing that in the international stage. Great Michael Bask, obviously part of Chicago Hounds set up. So familiar, you know, it's thrown a ball back and forth between them. So you love to see that and you hope that game translates well to the international stage as well. And it leaves it Luke Cardi. I think over the last couple of years he's really maybe rehabilitated his image in sense in that, you know, people knocked him on the international stage. But ever since that qualifying win against Samoa, where he came on and played well and he

16:53got hurt, he dove over for a try like, yeah, hell yeah Luke Cardiacore. So like, you know, he has played well and he's kind of got that head down, yo man attitude that you like. So yeah, nine and 10 familiarity continuity. Let's go. Absolutely. And that's, and that's, and that again, it's like with Cardi, I think at first, he was kind of given a hard time and I really felt like he's really grown into only now he's more respected as test level fly half. Let's jump out to the centers inside Dominic Bissag and to beat La Petta outside. St. Mary's College kid, although we've heard all kinds of rumors about him going over the sharks everywhere else. And then of course, Chicago House again in La Petta, no reserves specifically for center. But I love pairing. Biss, I love this pairing. I love it too. Bring some intensity, some defense and some playmaking ability. I think it's what you want into center, particularly because in Japan, they, as you said, they were fast.

17:54They counter-attack quickly. So man, if we can really shore up the centers there, that midfield, give our back and our back, three, some opportunity to run into space. See what happens to your path? Yeah, see what happens. I love the bruising aspect of those two guys. I can just mention the physicality. And last, let's get out to the wings and fall back. You mentioned early Noah Brown getting his first start, Chicago House, another Chicago House player, Marker Keef out there on the other wing. And then Mitch Wilson from the free jacks at fallback and then the pretty much one reserve for them. Julian Roberts, strong wings and fallbacks in that list. If he asks me, I'm not sure why Mitch Wilson gets grief from some fans. I like him out there. I think he's great in the air and he's really come a long way also. And I cannot wait. Really see what Noah Brown does if you can get more and more reps starting reps. Yeah, I think Scott knows what he gets out of Mitch Wilson. Study presence there. Maybe a little bit small, but like he can't do anything about that. Again, veteran leadership, he gives 100%.

18:55That's what you want. Anytime he straps on that jersey, he's playing for it all. I like the wings. No, and Mark, they bring a little bit of an edge. I love Marco Keef's running style. You know, he'll get up, he'll jaw. I love that. No Brown, man. Peace here. Let's get this guy, the ball. It's fine dynamic ways to get him involved all across the field. Love to see what he can do. And then yeah, like I said, Julian Roberts, past couple of test matches. He's played when he's at the ball and hand. He can make some stuff happen. And I think we kind of need that to spark some. It's far from the scores from TriZ here. Let's try and run up a number on Japan. It's best we can. Yeah, he needs to hold on to the ball though. I mean, I know it's just at one time, but it was at a crucial time in the match. But weather should be good. Hopefully, weather check. Hopefully it's good. Sunny running. Hopefully. And I'm sure with the climates like this time here in Japan. Fitsy, let's move on. Last thing, I think we need to make some predictions. Again, you mentioned earlier, USA lost Japan last year, 47-21.

19:55Scott Lawrence mentions this is a different USA team. What are your expectations for Saturday? I'd love to keep Japan under, ideally we keep them under 40 points scored. I love that. Like, don't under 40 defensively, I think that would be great. That would be great. I'd love for the Eagles to score at a minimum four tries. I think four tries would be fantastic. We can get within that. I think that's pretty. I want phases where the Eagles don't look out classed. Japan's pace is just too much for us. We're controlling moments of the match. That's what I'm hopeful for. 15-20 minutes here and there. That we keep them under 40. The score for tries. Missing a lot of our international. I feel like that's doable. What about you? You're thinking about 38-28-28-7 like that. That would be impressive. I think that would be.

20:56I would feel good if I was on the squad to keep it like that. That would be. Yeah. That's exactly what I was thinking. We're not going to Japan's going to score. The key is for the Eagles of score. The Eagles have shown that improvement over the last year as a much faster team. I think you got a lot that, especially with that half-packed pair. Half-backed pairing with Wilson Beck and DeHos. That quickness. Ruben's got a lot faster getting that ball out of the rucks. That's going to really help. I felt he was slow with that in that last game against Japan. He's grown. I think I could do it. I don't think they're going to beat Japan. Is it possible? Yeah. But they have put on a shift that they have never done or haven't played in a long time. I can see it being maybe a 10-14 point game at the end with Japan winning. Again, if I can see faster ball, less mistakes and points in the board, I'll be happy with that. I think Scott Lawrence would be happy with that too. Yeah. I think it's right. Asking them the best they've ever played to exceed their ceiling is difficult. But if in each test match here on the floor,

21:58we're raising the floor of our expectations of what they can do and the gaining confidence for that, that's what I would like to see. Raise the floor up. Minimum expectation. We're going to go out and we're going to equit ourselves well on an international stage. The center sells up for Rugby World Cup in 27. That's what I'm going to see. So each match, raising that floor up of our performance. Absolutely. Listeners, the game is on 6am, Eastern Time and Paramount Plus. Paramount Plus isn't expensive. I just reupped it for a couple of reasons. For NFL and for Rugby. But subscribe. Get a go and share with your friends. Get someone to watch it. I know it's six in the morning, but go ahead and get a pony keg in your living room and tune into the game. But and also before you do that, share this podcast with your friends. Like, follow and subscribe to this podcast or the YouTube video. And we enjoy having you. Leave comments. We appreciate that. Thanks again. Go Eagles.