The USA XV winger former Super Rugby 10 says has ‘a lot of X-factor’

November 12, 2023, is a date that will forever hold a special place in the history of the USA Eagles. No Eagle had ever scored a hat-trick on debut, but winger Joe Mano became the first to achieve that feat in a relentless 48-3 blitz of Brazil in Spain.

Mano had been rewarded for a series of impressive Major League Rugby campaigns with the Utah Warriors, earning higher honours with appearances against Brazil and Spain. But the now 31-year-old hasn’t played at the international level since.

But after another couple of seasons with the Warriors, before helping the California Legion reach the MLR Championship game two months ago, Mano is in set to wear the red, white and blue of the USA XV in an important match against an Argentina XV in Miami.

Mano has been named on the wing for the Eagles-heavy USA side, who are set for a high-level match 14 months out from Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. Chicago Hounds flyer Mark O’Keeffee has been named on the other edge, with Julian Roberts completing the back three.

“He’s a special rugby player. He’s got a lot of X-factor. He’s got a lot of repeated efforts within his game of rugby, and that’s al we’re really asking from our wingers is big repeated efforts,” assistant coach Stephen Brett, who enjoyed playing stints with the Crusaders and Blues, told reporters this week.

“He’s come into this two week camp and has really trained really well. That’s why he gets an opportunity this weekend.

“I’m really looking forward to Joey putting the blue, white and red back on again. This will be my first time seeing him in those colours so I’m looking forward to seeing him out there.”

The USA secured an unbeaten 3-0 start to the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup in July, beating three other sides bound for next year’s Rugby World Cup. Chris Hilsenbeck was the hero in a nail-biting win over Portugal, before facing Zimbabwe and Spain.

While the upcoming match at Inter Miami FC Stadium is a non-Test match, most of the players selected have played for the Eagles. Jason Damm is the national team’s capital, and the utility forward will lead the USA XV out onto the field this weekend.

Australian-born talents Charlie Abel and Nathan Den Hoedt both debuted for the Eagles during the July international window, and both have been named in the run-on side. South African-born Marno Redelinghuys lines up at blindside flanker after missing out on the July Tests.

In the backs, Luke Carty gets a start at fly-half, having impressed off the bench in those Nations Cup matches on home soil. Dominic Besag and Tavite Lopeti form an experienced centre pairing, while Julian Roberts lines up at fullback.

“Obviously, Scott’s got a plan on how he wants to prepare the team for the World Cup and this was one of the foundation blocks for the preparation,” Brett said.

“We usually go from July and then into November so we never have this block where we can get the boys together as a group.

“Being able to have the guys consecutively over a short period of time, it just helps the player cohesion, it helps the players’ skill sets, and helps us as coaches grow these guys to be ready for a World Cup.”

USA XV to take on Argentina XV in Miami

1. Payton Telea-Ilalio – Anthem
2. Shilo Klein – Unattached
3. Charlie Abel – Chicago Hounds
4. Jason Damm (c) – California Legion
5. Nathan Den Hoedt – Chicago Hounds
6. Marno Redelinghuys – Seattle Seawolves
7. Paddy Ryan – Seattle Seawolves
8. Makeen Alikhan – Anthem
9. Ruben de Haas – Chicago Hounds
10. Luke Carty – Anthem
11. Joe Mano – California Legion
12. Dominic Besag – St Mary’s University
13. Tavite Lopeti – Chicago Hounds
14. Mark O’Keeffe – Chicago Hounds
15. Julian Roberts – Anthem

Replacements
16. Alex Maughan – Anthem
17. Fakaosifolau Pifeleti – Chicago Hounds
18. Ma’ake Muti – California Legion
19. Tevita Naqali – Old Glory DC
20. Brandon Harvey – Chicago Hounds
21. Lance Williams – California Legion
22. Ethan McVeigh – New England Free Jacks
23. David Coetzer* – Seattle Seawolves