Former SVNS star earns USA Test debut in Nations Cup clash with Zimbabwe

California Legion backrower Lance Williams is a couple of days away from becoming the latest debutant for the USA Men’s Eagles, named at blindside flanker ahead of the team’s first-ever Test against Zimbabwe.

Williams, who has previously played for the USA on the HSBC SVNS Series and Utah Warriors in Major League Rugby, has been brought all the way into the starting side as the Eagles look to make it two from two in the World Rugby Nations Cup.

Head Coach Scott Lawrence has made a series of changes to the First XV that overcame Portugal in a 30-29 thriller last weekend, with Makeen Alikhan and Williams packing down in the loose forwards alongside Cory Daniel.

Alex Maughan replaces Kapeli Pifeleti at hooker, and there has been a forced change out wide with Rufus McLean out injured. Conner Mooneyham, who was the first-ever number one pick in MLR Draft history, has been named on the right wing.

The rest of the team remains fairly settled, with captain Jason Damm leading a side that includes the exciting halves pairing of Ruben De Haas and Chris Hilsenbeck. Hilsenbeck kicked a long-range match-winner against Portugal last time out.

“We now know the priority areas where we need to improve, and our attention is now fully on next week’s performance against a talented team and staff from Zimbabwe,” coach Lawrence said.

Jack Iscaro is set for his 20^th appearances in a USA Eagles jumper, packing down at loosehead pro. Maughan and tighthead prop Tonga Kofe round out the front-row, while Nathan Den Hoedt joins captain Damm in the second-row.

In the backs, De Haas and Hilsenbeck will look to provide quick ball to the midfield pairing of Dominic Besag and Tavite Lopeti. Those two have the new-look wing pairing of Perry Mayo and Mooneyham outside them, with Mitch Wilson retained at fullback.

Coach Lawrence has named a bench that includes three players with no more than two appearances for the Eagles. Those players are Mason Pedersen, Brandon Harvey and Julian Roberts.

This match at Charlotte’s American Legion Memorial Stadium is set to get underway at 7:30 pm ET on July 11. It pits two qualified Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 sides against one another in the second round of the inaugural Nations Cup.

Fixture

World Rugby Nations Cup

USA

31 - 15

Full-time

Zimbabwe

All Stats and Data

USA Men’s Eagles to take on Zimbabwe

1. Jack Iscaro (19)
2. Alex Maughan (8)
3. Tonga Kofe (7)
4. Nathan Den Hoedt (1)
5. Jason Damm (c) (16)
6. Lance Williams (debut)
7. Cory Daniel (18)
8. Makeen Alikhan (7)
9. Ruben de Haas (45)
10. Chris Hilsenbeck (7)
11. Perry Mayo (1)
12. Dominic Besag (19)
13. Tavite Lopeti (27)
14. Conner Mooneyham (7)
15. Mitch Wilson (19)

Replacements

16. Shilo Klein (7)
17. Ezekiel Lindenmuth (8)
18. Mason Pedersen (1)
19. Brandon Harvey (2)
20. Nafitalai Ma’afu (3)
21. Ethan McVeigh (9)
22. Luke Carty (28)
23. Julian Roberts (1)