Rugby World Cup – USA profile: Full squad, head coach, key player, prediction and odds

A closer look at Gary Gold’s team ahead of Japan 2019

Despite finding themselves in a particularly tough Pool C, the USA possess an extremely talented squad and will hope to cause a shock at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Winless four years ago, rugby in the USA has developed considerably since, spearheaded by the creation of Major League Rugby (MLR), and building on the strength of a Sevens side that finished second in the World Rugby Sevens Series this year.

There are plenty in the squad with high-level European experience, not least Saracens’ Titi Lamositele, who continues to develop into one of the world’s better tightheads, and vasty experienced wing Blaine Scully - a familiar face to both Leicester Tigers and Cardiff Blues fans.

American football convert Paul Lasike provides a genuine first-rate carrying threat at inside centre and AJ MacGinty is a shrewd operator at fly-half. Complemented by outstanding athletes like Marcel Brache (a stalwart at the Western Force in Australia) and dynamic sevens convert Martin Iosefo, there is potency aplenty in the backs.

MLR has attracted a higher calibre of forward to American rugby and allowed those in the pack not plying their trade elsewhere to develop, and the USA are a real threat if any of the big three in Pool D have an off-day, and will certainly challenge Tonga for fourth in the group.

Squad

Forwards: David Ainu’u, Malon Al-Jiboori, Nate Brakeley, Nick Civetta, Cam Dolan, Dylan Fawsitt, Eric Fry, Hanco Germishuys, James Hilterbrand, Olive Kilifi, Tony Lamborn, Titi Lamositele, Ben Landry, Paul Mullen, Gregor Peterson, Ben Pinkelman, John Quill, Joseph Taufeteâe

Backs: Blaine Scully, Nate Augspurger, Marcel Brache, Bryce Campbell, Shaun Davies, Ruben De Haas, Will Hooley, Martin Iosefo, Paul Lasike, AJ MacGinty, Will Magie, Thretton Palamo, Mike Teâo

Head coach

Gary Gold. A vastly experienced coach with a varied career, Gold had stints in his native South Africa, Japan and at three English clubs before taking the USA job last year. Since then, the Americans have recorded their first ever victories over Scotland and Samoa and pushed Japan close.

Axed as an assistant after South Africa’s disappointing 2011 World Cup campaign, Gold gets a chance for redemption in Japan, and the USA find themselves in a tough pool, their coach has plenty of experience from which to draw if they are to secure an underdog victory.

Key Player

Joe Taufete’e has more tries than any other international front row (Getty)

Joe Taufete’e. Few players, let alone hookers, manage to maintain a try-scoring rate of one per game, but Taufete’e does exactly that at international level as an all-action front rower. Indeed, the Worcester Warrior has more tries than any other front-rower in international rugby.

Intelligent at the back for a maul and a thumping carrier, he is less known for set piece solidity, but if the USA are to cause a shock they will need to build from their scrum and lineout. Taufete’e needs to get the nitty-gritty right at the World Cup.

Past Record

Australia/New Zealand 1987 – eliminated in the pool stage (one win)
Europe 1991 – eliminated in the pool stage (no wins)
Wales 1999 – eliminated in the pool stage (no wins)
Australia 2003 – eliminated in the pool stage (one win)
France 2007 – eliminated in the pool stage (no wins)
New Zealand 2011 – eliminated in the pool stage (one win)
England 2015 – eliminated in the pool stage (no wins)

Prediction

Four defeats and bottom of Pool C, though USA give Tonga a scare in their final fixture

Fixtures

• Thursday 26 September – England vs USA (11.45am), Kobe
• Wednesday 2 October – France vs USA (8.45am), Fukuoka
• Wednesday 9 October – Argentina vs USA (5.45am), Kumagaya
• Sunday 13 October – USA vs Tonga (6.45am), Higashiosaka

Odds

USA to win the World Cup: 2000/1