USA Men's Eagles report card: All 29 Nations Cup players rated

The USA Men’s Eagles have flown through the first block of World Rugby Nations Cup Tests with an unbeaten 3-0 record, overcoming a series of opponents all bound for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.

Chris Hilsenbeck was the hero for the USA in a 30-29 thriller against Portugal to open the team’s campaign in the all-new competition, with the fly-half slotting a long-range penalty at the death to all but secure the win.

Former HSBC SVNS Series star Lance Williams was named to debut for the Test team the next week, as the USA looked to make it two from two. The USA proved too good for Zimbabwe, producing a clinical performance to win 31-15.

Then, with just 80 minutes left in the July internationals, the USA looked ahead to a blockbuster against a Spanish side very much on the rise. Spain took the lead with about 20 minutes left, but the accurate goal-kicking boot of Luke Carty helped see the home side home.

Here’s how the 29 Eagles selected to play for the USA in July rated throughout the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup Tests.

Loosehead Props

Jack Iscaro – 7.5/10
Stade Francais prop Iscaro is an essential member of this USA side, providing expertise and stability up front. Iscaro was a reliable member of a steady Eagles scrum, and the loosehead was able to enjoy some positive moments around the park in three starts. The 29-year-old won one turnover and finished with six carries, but was especially busy in defence with 15 tackles in 175 minutes of playing time.

Ezekiel Lindenmuth – 7
Jack Iscaro was able to lay down a marker in the run-on side, before Lindenmuth came off the bench to help the USA close out tight matches. Lindenmuth averaged a carry every 6.5 minutes in three appearances as a replacement, beating a couple of defenders and recording 10 stops on the defensive side of the ball.

Hookers

Kapeli Pifeleti – 8
There was a moment to forget for Pifeleti in the USA’s first Nations Cup match, with the hooker crossing the line from a rolling maul – but failing to stop. Pifeleti seemed to lose sight of where the try line was and instead grounded the ball dead. But that shouldn’t take away from what was largely an impressive campaign for the hooker, who ran the ball 19 times and made just shy of 15 stops in defence. Remarkably, Pifeleti beat nine defenders across 119 minutes of playing time, and was fairly accurate at the set-piece.

Shilo Klein – 6.5
Klein averaged about 24 minutes of playing time, proving to be a reliable replacement hooker for the Eagles against Rugby World Cup-bound opponents. The No. 16 won a turnover, was solid when throwing into the lineout, stepped up when needed in defence, and ran the ball eight times.

Alex Maughan – 6
Maughan was named in the matchday squad to face Spain, clocking in with more than 45 minutes of playing time. Maughan carried the ball six times in that appearance and got stuck in on the other side of the ball.

Tighthead Props

Tonga Kofe – 7.5
No USA prop played more minutes during the July internationals than Kofe, who was named in the run-on side for all three Tests. The tighthead prop scrummed quite well, but was particularly impressive around the park. Kofe’s work rate was noticeable, winning a turnover, making 14 stops in defence and running the ball eight times.

Mason Pedersen – 7
Pedersen made two appearances off the bench, making a particularly impressive impact on the defensive side of the ball. The tighthead prop helped close out some tense contests, including a strong effort on debut against Portugal. Pedersen is a household name in Major League Rugby and the front-rower has now been able to bring that experience into the Test arena.

Charlie Abel – 7
Australian-born Abel got the chance to debut for the USA at 34 years of age, coming off the bench in the win over Spain. Abel became a two-time MLR champion in 2026, as the Chicago Hounds completed an unprecedented undefeated season. The front-rower made a handful of carries and tackles during a solid shift on debut.

Locks

Nathan den Hoedt – 8.5
It’s hard to believe den Hoedt hadn’t played international rugby before these Tests. Den Hoedt debuted for the USA against Portugal, in the first of three consecutive starts in the second row. The lock, who recently became an MLR champion, touched down for a try, in what was the clear highlight from a series of strong performances. The Australian-born Eagle had a commanding presence at the set-piece, and was able to carry that dominance into contact areas on both sides of the ball in general play.

Jason Damm – 9
USA captain Damm started the first two matches at lock, before shifting to the loose forwards for the clash with Spain. Damm made more tackles than any other Eagles player, secured a few turnovers, and led by example in every single minute of the three-week campaign. In attack, the forward worked relentlessly in a bid to make an impact, tucking the ball under his arm and running hard at opposition defensive line 16 times.

Brandon Harvey – 7.5
Harvey featured in the matchday squad in all three Tests, including one appearance off the bench against Zimbabwe. The second-rower was brought into that contest with about 30 minutes left, finishing with three carries and a decent number of tackles. Harvey was remarkably solid across these matches, recording a staggering 19 tackles, 10 carries and a try assist.

Backrowers

Benjamin Bonasso – 6.5
Bonasso made just the one appearance, starting at blindside flanker in the USA’s Nations Cup opener against Portugal. The loose forward played the full 80 in that one-point thriller, ending up in double digits for tackles completed. But there proved to be some turnover in that No. 6 jersey over the following weeks.

Cory Daniel – 8.5
Daniel was genuinely one of the USA’s best during the one-point win over Portugal, starring at openside flanker and carrying that form throughout the campaign. The backrower scored a try against Os Lobos and added another a week later. Daniel was one of the USA’s top tacklers across the three games with 22, and backed up those efforts with the ball-in-hand.

Paddy Ryan – 8.5
Two tries in two games for Ryan, who started in the backrow against Portugal and Spain. The loose forward recorded a team-high four turnovers in these Nations Cup fixtures despite not featuring in the win over Zimbabwe. Ryan was a general standout in attack with a stunning 21 carries, while averaging just shy of 30 running metres in each appearance.

Nafi Ma’afu – 7.5
Coach Scott Lawrence turned to Ma’afu as a reliable member of the matchday 23, with the utility forward providing impact off the bench in all three fixtures. Ma’afu is an option at both backrow and lock, showcasing that versatility in 83 minutes of playing time. The Eagle ran the ball 15 times for more than 70 metres, and was one of the many USA players who worked their way into double digits for tackles completed.

Lance Williams – 7
Lance Williams debuted in the Test arena for the USA against Zimbabwe, playing 49 minutes at blindside flanker. The former HSBC SVNS Series ace finished in double digits for tackles made but couldn’t quite have that same impact in attack, running the ball twice. But it remains a promising start to international 15 for Williams, who has long been a regular MLR standout for the Utah Warriors and now California Legion.

Makeen Alikhan – 6
Alikhan started at No. 8 against Zimbabwe, in what was his only appearance for the Eagles during the Nations Cup to date. The backrower played 51 minutes, standing out as an explosive ball-carrier and a determined tackler.

Scrum-halves

Ruben de Haas – 8.5
De Haas should be considered a certain starter for the USA, with the experienced scrum-half providing real X-factor in a team that boasts both potential and class. The No. 9 helped drive the team around the park with quick passing and clever decision-making, while also showcasing an effective kicking game. De Haas set up a few tries and played a role in some others, in what was a fairly clinical block of Tests.

Ethan McVeigh – 7.5
The Eagles have an established duo at scrum-half, with Ruben de Haas a regular starter and McVeigh a trusted member of the bench. McVeigh was the replacement No. 9 for the New England Free Jacks in MLR and continued to play that role in the Test arena, coming off the pine in all three appearances for the Eagles in July. McVeigh has an exciting combination with Luke Carty, with the pair both helping steer the team towards glory in some close matches.

Fly-halves

Chris Hilsenbeck – 8
Hilsenbeck stepped up in the clutch for the Eagles against Portugal, slotting a long-range penalty in the dying stages to put the hosts ahead in Denver. The USA still had some work to do, as they looked to close out the match, but the playmaker’s composure under pressure certainly gave the team a wealth of confidence throughout the Nations Cup. Hilsenbeck, who used to play Test rugby for Germany, was a cool operator around the park in general play – forming a game-changing one-two punch with replacement Luke Carty.

Luke Carty – 8
Carty was a game-changer for the USA against Zimbabwe, or certainly the ‘ice man’ or remained cool and calm under pressure. It was the goal-kicking boot of Chris Hilsenbeck that got the Eagles home against Zimbabwe, but Carty played the role of the hero a week later. Carty added nine points of the kicking tee inside the final 20 minutes, as the USA ran away with the result. The fly-half again helped the USA close out a win a week later against Spain, having come off the bench with 20 minutes left.

Centres

Dominic Besag – 8.5
Besag was one of just four USA Eagles who played every minute during the opening three Nations Cup rounds, starting at inside centre three times. The midfielder was a destructive weapon in attack, clocking in with a team-high 31 carries, beating five defenders and delivering the final pass for a try assist on two occasions. In defence, Besag made 20 tackles and won two turnovers – standing out as one of the team’s best during this international block.

Tavite Lopeti – 7.5
Lopeti started the first two matches at outside centre before shifting to the bench for the Spain Test, which allowed Julian Roberts to start. The midfielder made a dozen tackles and ran the ball for practically the same figure, while also winning one turnover. Spain had just taken a three-point lead when Lopeti was subbed on, but the experienced centre helped the home side claw their way back and ultimately secure the win.

Julian Roberts – 7.5
Coach Scott Lawrence named Roberts to debut in the USA’s first Nations Cup Test, before naming the midfielder to start a fortnight later. Roberts took that opportunity with both hands, scoring a try in a 60-minute shift at outside centre. The midfielder seemed to grow in confidence in each appearance for the Eagles, capped off with a strong finish to the July internationals.

Back Three

Perry Mayo – 9
Mayo hadn’t played international rugby before the Nations Cup, but quickly established himself as an automatic selection throughout the three-match campaign. The winger, who plays club rugby for USON Nevers Rugby in France’s second division, debuted against Portugal and crossed for a maiden Test try the following week in the win over Zimbabwe. Mayo was in a class of his own in attack, finishing with a team-high 140 running metres from a dozen carries, a couple of tries and beating 12 defenders, while playing every minute of these Tests.

Rufus McLean – 6.5
Stade Francais-bound winger McLean got first crack in the starting side, named as one of two wingers for the Portugal Test. But McLean didn’t take any further part in the July internationals, which follows an injury-riddled MLR campaign with Seattle. The winger played 61 minutes against Os Lobos, running the ball seven times for 24 metres.

Conner Mooneyham – 7
Mooneyham was brought straight into the starting side for the Zimbabwe match, after missing the team’s Nations Cup opener a week earlier. The winger, who was the first-ever number one pick in MLR Draft history, touched down for an early try in that return to the Test arena. But injury cut the Life University product’s campaign in July short, having logged six runs for 15 metres.

Mark O’Keeffe – 7
Injuries to Rufus McLean and Conner Mooneyham opened the door for O’Keeffe to start against Spain, wearing the No. 14 jersey in an 80-minute shift. O’Keeffe was fourth overall in that Test for total carries (7), running for more than 30 metres and beating a couple of defenders. In defence, the winger was able to make a handful of tackles.

Mitch Wilson – 8.5
Wilson has become an essential member of this USA side since debuting for the Eagles almost four years ago. The fullback is a two-time MLR champion and a consistent outside back in the Test arena, who has even started against the likes of Scotland in the past. Wilson was named in the First XV for all three Nations Cup matches in July, and was one of the four USA players who featured in every single minute. The New England Free Jacks flyer finished with 17 carries for more than 90 metres, scored a try against Spain, and stepped up when needed in defence.