The first game of a strange miniseries of tests to take place in Colwyn Bay, buried in the north of Wales, has the 17th ranked US Eagles taking on the 19th ranked Russian Bears. Why the IRB and WRU have decided to host the games in such a remote location is anyone’s guess, but you can bet the Americans will be thankful they won’t have to brave the cold in Moscow, even if it is a bit damp in the Bay as the weather forecast suggests.

There’s something a bit special about the USA facing Russia in international competition, even if it’s only rugby. While the real world may have moved on from the Cold War remnants of it no doubt still resonate particularly with the Russian players whose parents would have lived through the thick of things. The effect is probably less so with the Eagles, many of whom lived their formative years elsewhere. Politics aside, Russia is just barely behind the US in the IRB rankings and they will be very fired up for this one.

Kingsley Jones has changed more than half of the side that faired so poorly in the Nations Cup in June. Georgian born Grigori Tsnobiladze joins his brother Valeri in the front row to try and shore up the scrum along with giant London Welsh lock Kirill Kulemin who bolsters the scrum after missing the World Cup with injury. Alexander Voytov joins him in the second row and captains the side in place of Vladislav Korshunov, who is relegated to the bench.

Alexander Shakirov has been dropped to make way for young Alexei Shcherban at scrumhalf, while Sergey Sugrobov continues to fill in for the injurd Yuri Kushnarev. Northampton Saints winger Vasili Artemiev has been selected at centre to make room for impressive youngster Denis Simplikevich out wide, while powerful runner Vladimir Ostroushko looms on the left flank. Reserve halfbacks Gleb Babkin and Ramil Gaisin are in line for first caps should they be called upon.

American coach Mike Tolkin has meanwhile retained most of the team that lost to Italy in Houston. The forward pack remains the same except for the inclusion of new cap John Quill at flank in place of the injured Taylor Mokate. In the backs Cornelius Dirksen takes the spot of tour absentee James Paterson on the wing, while Richmond’s Robbie Shaw is recalled at scrumhalf for his first test start and first cap since 2008, and paired with debutant flyhalf Toby L’Estrange. The incumbent halfback pairing of Mike Petri and Roland Suniula start on the bench.

Also in line for first caps are reserve front rowers Zach Fenoglio and Nick Wallace, and flyhalf Gearoid McDonald. Peter Dahl looks to add to his two caps won in 2009, and Tony Purpura to his first and only won in 2010. Todd Clever captains the side from number eight and vice-captain Chris Wyles provides much needed experience from fullback.

This is a tough match to predict as both sides are missing important players and neither has shown strong form of late. The scrum advantage might go to Russia, but only just and the lineout should be about even. The Russian halfbacks are inexperienced but the Americans even more so. Out wide it would appear to favour Russia but the American centres could cause problems up the middle. In the end this one will be tight and could come down to who controls field position better and takes their points when they are on offer. A slight upset could be on the cards, Russia to win by 3.

RUSSIA
Igor Kliuchnikov; Denis Simplikevich, Vasili Artemiev, Alexei Makovestskiy, Vladimir Ostroushko; Sergey Sugrobov, Alexei Shcherban; Grigori Tsnobiladze, Valeri Tsnobiladze, Evgeny Pronenko; Alexander Voytov (capt.), Kirill Kulemin; Andrei Temnov, Pavel Butenko, Viktor Gresev. RES: Vladislav Korshunov, Alexei Kolkov, Innokenty Zykov, Vladimir Boltenkov, Andrei Garbuzov, Gleb Babkin, Ramil Gaisin, Dimitri Gerasimov.

UNITED STATES
Chris Wyles; Cornelius Dirksen, Paul Emerick, Andrew Suniula, Luke Hume; Toby L’Estrange, Robbie Shaw; Shawn Pittman, Chris Biller, Eric Fry; Brian Doyle, Louis Stanfill; Scott LaValla, John Quill, Todd Clever (capt.). RES: Zach Fenoglio, Nick Wallace, Tony Purpura, Inaki Basauri, Peter Dahl, Mike Petri, Roland Suniula, Gearoid McDonald.