US coach Jack Clark has opted to field his best available line-up for tomorrow evening's Pool E game against Ireland at Lansdowne Road.
Captained by the brilliant Dan Lyle, the team contains the United States' three other foreign-based professionals. Although it's a very similar side to that which was slaughtered by England, it also contains the nucleus of the team which beat Tonga, Fiji and Canada, and lost by just seven points to a full-strength Samoa in Apia when finishing a creditable third in the Epson Cup.
"It's the best team we can put on the field," admitted Clark matter-offactly, although he played down Warren Gatland's stated belief that the US have targeted this game, reiterating that even if they "turned the world upside down" against Ireland, their match against Romania "is our most important game because of where it's situated. But that said, we believe that if we get things right on Saturday, we can give these pros a go."
The 27-times capped number eight, Rob Lumkong, is the only doubtful starter. He had knee surgery a year ago and "it does flare up from time to time", according to Clark. "We're not 100 per cent happy with it so we'll fitness test it tomorrow."
The only first-rank player ruled out for this game is centre cum winger Alatini Saulala (strained hamstring). Significantly though, right-winger Vaea Anitoni (who holds two American records with 41 caps and 25 tries to his name) has recovered from the sprained ankle which curtailed his involvement against England. All told there are four changes from the side which started against England last month - and was beaten 8-106.
Up front Dave Hodges moves from flanker to the second row, so as to accomodate the return of openside Richard Tardits, while Lumkong has been picked ahead of Fifita Mo'unga. The 39-year-old Mark Williams returns at out-half in place of David Niu, while Brian Hightower comes in at left-wing in place of Saulala.
Far from wearing the heavy defeat by England like a monkey on their backs, Clark's Eagles clearly endeavour to draw positive lessons from it.
It is mentioned early in their press conference, but Clarke replies by saying that while it was "an embarrassing 60 minutes" he thinks they "emerged as a pretty battle-hardened outfit after that. I would not have wanted to come to Lansdowne Road to play Ireland without that experience under our belt. We learnt some lessons that day and we plan to not let that happen to us again, I'll tell you that."
Clark admitted that he, and his assistant Eddie O'Sullivan, have analysed Ireland in depth. "They are a very precise team. They know exactly what they want to do from every square inch of that field. They are a very good team in primary phase and they're well organised. So, y'know, we're impressed with them."
Ireland, meanwhile, continued their match preparations by enacting a replica of Saturday, i.e.: a lie-in and normal daily routines, culminating in a closed training session at Donnybrook last night at tomorrow's kick-off time of 7.00.
