Hooker, lock, and flyhalf look to be particularly competitive when the national team's domestic pool assembles for a May 8-10 training camp in Denver.
None of 2008's test rakes will be present, while last year's principal second rows are overseas or unavailable. At the year's first assembly, flyhalf too is essentially open.
Eddie O'Sullivan's initial substantive look deliberately omits a swath of professional performers such as Mike McDonald who are still overseas, but includes several unwanted by his predecessor, notably 7s captain Kevin Swiryn and Dan La Prevotte. 19-year-old Zach Test is another domestic product to get his first chance; Colin Hawley's, it seems, is not far away.
Presuming most of the pros work their way into the Churchill Cup squads, and are joined by those presently injured and unavailable, not much more than half of the 30-man crew will remain in contention come July's World Cup qualifiers. But the Denver hopefuls are familiar, not alien, to our domestic game and so will know what they are playing for.
It is notable that the first-year head coach spoke directly to building espirit de corps. 'I’m looking for personalities that I want on my team going forward,' O'Sullivan said in a prepared statement.
United States training squad, May 2009
Forwards: Chris Biller (Univ. of California), Peter Dahl (Belmont Shore), Pat Danahy (Dublin Univ.), Nic Johnson (Denver Barbarians), Brian Lemay (Boston Irish Wolfhounds), Dan La Prevotte (San Francisco Golden Gate), Mate Moeakiola (Park City Haggis), Samuela Manoa (San Francisco Golden Gate), Shawn Pittman (Bayside), Pat Quinn (Denver Barbarians), Kort Schubert (Olympic Club), James Sklar-Chik (Palmer), Jacob Sprague (Boston Irish Wolfhounds), Louis Stanfill (New York Athletic Club), Justin Stencel (Denver Barbarians), Matt Wyatt (New York Athletic Club)
Backs: Corey Blair (Belmont Shore [disputed]), Justin Boyd (Dallas Harlequins), Taivalu Enosa (Tempe), Chad Erskine (Chicago Lions), Troy Hall (Old Blue), Ata Malifa (Belmont Shore), Mike Palefau (Las Vegas), Zach Pangelinan (OMBAC), Mike Petri (New York Athletic Club), Thretton Palamo (San Francisco Golden Gate), Dan Power (New York Athletic Club), Kevin Swiryn (Old Puget Sound Beach), Zack Test (San Francisco Golden Gate), Alipate Tuilevuka (Provo Steelers)
Is Joe Welch injured, playing overseas or just not playing? I haven't seen his name mentioned recently.
Posted by: M.O. | 23 April 2009 at 10:29
The Corey Blair situation is a great example of the exploitation of the lack of regulation, when you have two governing bodies in the same sport. Either USARFU is the enforcer of our sport or chaos ensues. I was tempted to use the word anarchy, but that overstates the argument.
While I'm in favour of players playing at the highest level possible, it doesn't seem to be right for a player to change clubs, especially ones in the same competition, during a season. This would seem to be a pathway to administrative anarchy, a situation US rugby is not too unfamiliar with.
Posted by: Noel Rogers | 23 April 2009 at 10:57
I hope there will be a min. standard going forward. No reason to play small ball when you don't have to. I expect to see taller props that don't punch people, a higher degree of physicality from our wings, flankers who can tackle, and somebody that can kick the ball over 40 meters with both feet during a match.
Posted by: SL fan | 23 April 2009 at 11:17
This pool should be playing the CC matches and other A matches, except for one poiseless fella I've seen enough of.
Posted by: who am i to judge | 23 April 2009 at 11:29
Though it is not the highest of hurdles to achieve it is good to see that EOS is making announcements when he says he is going to. A little different from SJ's way of doing things!
Posted by: Doug Lyons | 23 April 2009 at 13:00
Just don't care that much about the Eagles any more. Can't get it out of my mind how screwed up USAR is. We continue to waste our future on today. Wasting millions of dollars chasing test victory does nothing to build US rugby. It does nothing to build the next generation of elite players, or the sport in general. It does nothing to bring in commercial partners or media. This whole exercise is a fu*king commonwealth wet-dream. When the fools play is over and the well paid go home, we can get to work investing in the future of American rugby.
Posted by: I've lost that lovin feeling | 23 April 2009 at 13:39
Who's the "prop that punches people?" Macdonald? Who's the "poiseless fella"?
Joe Welch was on Belmont's roster last week as the starting hooker.
Posted by: Uninformed | 24 April 2009 at 09:09
I see they have the Cal racist in the side. I want to see him drop some N-bombs on the international stage. Pure class.
Where is Henry "Hamburger" Bloomfield?
Posted by: Beagles | 24 April 2009 at 11:34
Easy on Biller, he is serving his suspension.
Go back to world of warcraft you tool, I doubt you would say anything to Biller's face.
Posted by: Back up.. Snoopy | 24 April 2009 at 11:51
...or Henry for that matter.
Posted by: Back up.. Snoopy | 24 April 2009 at 11:52
I want to see that clown drop some N-bombs in west Oakland.
Posted by: Undercover Brother | 24 April 2009 at 13:19
Oh, joy. I think we've exhausted Chris Biller n-word happy fun time, can we talk about something else?
Congrats to Samu. The guy is an incredible athlete. The most amazing act I've ever seen on a rugby field was performed by him. SFGG U19s went on a tour to Canada in 2003 and played two Canadian sides - to this day I'm not totally clear who we played, but I'm pretty sure they were select sides. SFGG pulls out a tough come from behind win in the Fraser Valley, and Samu scores a try which I believe put SFGG ahead. After a long run to the corner flag, he takes the ball, jogs back to the 22, and in one motion turns around and drops a beauty through the posts for the conversion. I still chuckle thinking about it.
Posted by: Flynn Hagerty | 24 April 2009 at 15:40
Flynn Loves Racists
Posted by: Beagles | 24 April 2009 at 16:53
I am informed.
Joe Welsh is a fine rugby player, but I would hope that the Eagles are aspiring to bigger things. The prop who punches people is certainly an impact player. The poiseless fella is also a fine rugby player, but maybe we could see who else is out there?
We already know that we can't beat Canada with poise and skill. If the goal is to beat Uruguay, then fine, no problem, play the "best skilled" we have. If the goal is to beat Canada, you better start coaching a better system and getting some better (bigger) athletes out there. But hey
Posted by: who am i to judge | 24 April 2009 at 17:48
Anyone know why Thretton Palamo's brother, Seta, was not on the list? From what I can tell, he is one of the top try scorers in the 2009 Super League comp.
Posted by: steve | 27 April 2009 at 14:10