USA XV player ratings vs Argentina XV | rugby union hybrid friendlies 2026

An Eagles-heavy USA XV claimed a hard-earned 25-24 win over an Argentina XV at Inter Miami FC Stadium last weekend, which served as a valuable hit out for the playing group 14 months out from Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.

Shilo Klein, Makeen Alikhan and Marno Redelinghuys all touched down for tries, giving the home side a decent lead with about 10 minutes left on the clock. But the visitors fought their way back, making it a one-point game in the dying stages.

The USA conceded a couple of penalties late, but the Argentinians turned down difficult penalty attempts and instead set up for set-piece moves. Argentina unleashed one last attack of a scrum in the 82^nd minute, but a key tackle from Tavite Lopeti ultimately defined the match.

Here’s how the USA XV rated.

1. Payton Telea-Ilalio – 6/10
Telea-Ilalio didn’t feature during the July internationals but was brought into the starting side for this clash with an Argentina XV. The loosehead linked up well with fellow front-rower Charlie Abel to set up Makeen Alikhan for a try late in the first half, with the props showcasing some quick hands to set up the score. Telea-Ilalio was otherwise a bit quiet around the park, running the ball four times and completing six tackles from seven attempts.

2. Shilo Klein – 7.5
Klein hit every single target at lineout time, with Australian-born lock Nathan Den Hoedt and USA XV captain Jason Damm regular targets. The hooker came off the bench in all three Nations Cup Tests but took this opportunity to start with both hands. In a seesawing battle that had a little bit of everything, Klein helped the USA take an early lead, crashing over for the opening try after the USA’s pack formed an unstoppable rolling maul.

3. Charlie Abel – 7.5
The USA were fairly competitive at the set-piece, winning a free kick on Argentina’s feed with the first scrum of the match. Abel put in a monstrous 66-minute shift, finishing in double digits for tackles completed and carrying the ball with purpose a handful of times. It was the first time the Australian-born prop had started for the USA, after coming off the bench on debut for the Eagles last month, and there was a lot to like about this performance.

4. Jason Damm – 8
USA XV captain Damm started at No. 8 against Spain last month, but shifted back to the second row for this match. Damm carried the ball a few times and was a reliable target at lineout time, but the skipper was particularly effective in defence. With the USA parked deep inside their own 22, the utility forward shot out in defence to force a knock-on early in the second half.

In attack, Damm delivered an effective short ball to Marno Redelinghuys, who strolled away for a crucial five-pointer in the second-half. It’s those instinctive moments of brilliance that not only define a match, but make Damm the type of leader that others truly want to follow into battle.

5. Nathan Den Hoedt – 6.5
Australian-born lock Den Hoedt has quickly become an integral part of the USA side, having only debuted for the Eagles during the Nations Cup. Den Hoedt retained that starting role for this non-Test and was again fairly solid, looked to as a lineout target a few times and stealing the ball on Argentina’s throw once in the first half. The second-rower made one line break but was otherwise unusually quiet in both attack and defence.

6. Marno Redelinghuys – 8.5
This was a statement return to a Test-like arena for Redelinghuys, who wasn’t available for the Nations Cup matches. Redelinghuys had a real presence about him on both sides of the ball, finishing with the equal second-most tackles with 12 and an equal team-high eight carries.

Redelinghuys was looked at as an option at lineout time, but the flanker’s standout moment had to be an important runaway try in the second half. USA XV captain Jason Damm sent Redelinghuys into a gap with a superb short ball, and the loose forward had too much time and space, running in for a game-defining score.

7. Paddy Ryan – 8
Ryan continues to perform at a high-level, following a series of strong performances for the Eagles last month. The openside flanker was nothing short of prolific in defence, finishing with a game-high 17 tackles – which was five more than anyone else. Shilo Klein hit Ryan as a lineout option once, but the backrower was otherwise fairly quiet with the ball in hand.

8. Makeen Alikhan – 7.5
Alikhan started one Nations Cup Test against Zimbabwe, but the backrower wasn’t named to take on either Portugal or Spain. But the backrower earned another shot last weekend, lining up at No. 8 and capitalising on the opportunity.

Front-rowers Payton Telea-Ilalio and Charlie Abel showcased quick hands to set up the No. 8 for a try in the first half. Alikhan was shown a yellow card just before half-time for a ruck infringement, but still finished the match with an equal team-high nine carries.

9. Ruben de Haas – 8
As the most-capped player in this USA XV side, de Haas plays an incredibly important role within this team. De Haas helps set the tempo in attack, driving his teammates around the park with a rapid passing game and even quicker thinking. The scrum-half kicked well, clearing the USA out of danger more than once.

10. Luke Carty – 7.5
Chris Hilsenbeck held down the starting fly-half role during the Nations Cup, but Carty got a chance to wear the No. 10 jersey against this Argentinian side. Carty knocked over an early penalty goal to give the home side a 3-0 lead, and was fairly accurate off the kicking tee all night. The playmaker combined well with Ruben de Haas, playing a key role in the USA XV’s run to a famous win at Inter Miami FC Stadium.

11. Joe Mano – 6
It’s been a fair while since Mano played for a USA side in a Test-like area, but the flyer got an opportunity in red, white and blue in this match. Mano set the tone early with a big shot in defence which forced a knock-on, but conceded a penalty a minute later. The winger ran the ball five times for 21 metres, but wasn’t able to get the ball in space.

12. Dominic Besag  – 7
Besag made more tackles than any other back on the night, finishing equal with flanker Marno Redelinghuys on those charts. It was a fairly important defensive stand from the inside centre, as the match came right down to the wire. But Besag wasn’t able to have the same impact in attack, running the ball a handful of times. The midfielder delivered a pass to Tavite Lopeti around the 30-minute mark which drifted slightly forward.

13. Tavite Lopeti – 8
When the USA XV needed someone to step up, it was Lopeti who rose to the occasion. With the clock in the red and Argentina hot on attack, Lopeti made a game-defining tackle while stripping the ball out of the attacker’s grasp. Julian Roberts was the one who kicked the ball into touch, but it was Lopeti’s work that truly sealed the win.

Lopeti knocked the ball on about 27 minutes into the match, but was otherwise fairly solid in both attack and defence. The outside centre had the most runs out of any USA back, although the Argentinian defensive wall didn’t give him much space to work with.

14. Mark O’Keeffe – 5
It was a quiet night for O’Keeffe, who only ran the ball four times for a total of eight metres. That can just be the life of a winger sometimes, with Joe Mano and the midfield duo getting more chances to make their mark on both sides of the ball.

15. Julian Roberts – 6.5
You absolutely can’t knock Roberts’ effort from this match. Roberts was named at fullback for the first time in a USA XV jersey, and the utility back worked non-stop in a bid to make an impact – generating mixed results.

Roberts dropped the ball backwards off an Argentinian clearance kick 16 minutes in, and missed a key tackle in the lead-up to a try soon after, having been beaten by a right-footed step. But there was plenty of good from the No. 15’s performance, shovelling the ball on to set up Makeen Alikhan for a try just before the break. The fullback was able to put a couple of kicks ahead throughout the match that seemed to challenge the visitors as well.

Replacements – 7.5
Brandon Harvey was probably the best of the replacements, winning a steal on the Argentina XV lineout throw in the second half. Harvey was also one of three substitutes who were brought on before the 50-minute mark.

But make no mistake, if you consider how this match ended, the efforts of the entire bench truly do deserve praise. Ethan McVeigh was solid as a game-driver late, and Davy Coetzer showed some promising signs as an uncapped prospect for the USA Test team.