The Eagles close out the test weekend by welcoming Scotland to the searing heat of Houston, hoping to catch the visitors off-guard and score an upset. The Americans have already played two tests, qualifying for the World Cup via two unconvincing victories over a determined Uruguayan side. They’ll hope to restore some confidence against an experimental Scotland under the direction of a new coach.
Mike Tolkin’s men will have to make due without injured Toby L’Estrange and Adam Siddall, with Shalom Suniula set to wear the no10 jersey in their stead. Tolkin has bravely, to put it nicely, opted not to include a specialist reserve halfback, depending on his old chum Mike Petri to make it through unscathed, with Suniula providing emergency cover. Petri has been in poor form in recent tests and it’s a mystery to most observers why there are no alternatives being considered. Folau Niua covers the flyhalf position, despite being used mostly as a centre.
Northampton powerhouse Samu Manoa is another key absentee, the big man apparently opting out of this match due the birth of his son. It’s unclear if he’ll rejoin the squad for the Pacific Nations Cup matches. Lou Stanfill takes his spot in the second row, with Hayden Smith restored following some concentrated fitness work with Saracens. Beziers-bound prop Shawn Pittman was named in the squad but is also strangely absent, with no explanation, meaning Eric Fry must hold down the scrum from his less-favoured tighthead side. Both Danny Barrett, called in from the 7s side, and Glendale’s Chad London hope to make their debuts from the bench.
Vern Cotter’s first match in charge of Scotland features three new caps with two more among the reserves. Loosehead Gordon Reid gets a shot after a strong season with Glasgow, and will be joined by clubmate Finn Russell, whose late-season form saw him shoot above both Duncan Weir and Ruaridh Jackson in the eyes of Gregor Townsend. The flyhalf will make mistakes but has a good deal of confidence for a young man and won’t be afraid to take chances. London Irish flanker Blair Cowan wins his first cap as Cotter searches for a genuine openside to boost his pack.
The biggest second row in world rugby is once again wheeled out to drive the scrum, with Richie Gray and Big Jim Hamilton combining for some 250kg of beef in the boilerhouse. The three quarter line might not be quite that heavy but even by international standards is quite large, with 6’5” Dutch flyer Tim Visser recalled to the left wing and Lions tourist Sean Maitland on the right. Sean Lamont fills in for late withdrawal Alex Dunbar in the midfield, providing some real power alongside Saracens regular Duncan Taylor. Edinburgh pair Grayson Hart and Alex Allan look set to win their first caps as substitutes.
To put this frankly, the Eagles have a very slim chance of victory, if any. The visitors field a strong side and Russell might well prove a bonus rather than a gamble at flyhalf. The difference in class pretty well all across the park is quite apparent, and the Americans will do well to keep their scrum from going backwards. Expect Scotland to take this one relatively comfortably, in the neighbourhood of 18 points.
UNITED STATES vs SCOTLAND
Saturday, June 7, 22:00 EST, Houston
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (FFR)
Assistants: Francisco Pastrana (UAR) & Chris Assmus (RC)
TMO: Andrew Hosie (RC)
