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All Americans Prepare for Rematch

irish rugby tours

All Americans Prepare for Rematch

The Men’s Collegiate All Americans have named their squad to face Cambridge University Wednesday in the second game of Cambridge’s tour to the USA.

The game will be played at Pine Banks Park in Malden, Mass., the home of the Mystic River Rugby Club. This is a move from the Irish Cultural Center in Canton, where the game was originally scheduled. Kickoff is 6pm Eastern Time.

All Americans Head Coach Matt Sherman has made several changes to the team that beat Cambridge 27-15 on Saturday. Some of the changes were prompted by injury, others by a desire to rest certain players. and still others by strong performances from the 2nd side, which lost to a Canadian Collegiate Barbarians team 35-32 on Saturday.

“The second side I think had some good moments and some good performances, although I thinker we lacked the intensity we needed,” said Head Coach Matt Sherman. “With the first team, I think we started to play as a team and with a lot of attitude. We needed to play aggressively and that’s what we did.”

Sherman replaces both props, partly due to the good work by the new starters, and partly due to the fact he expected to rotate his front row, regardless. The second row combination of Mike Lawrenson and Ben Landry is unchanged, while in the back row, Aladdin Schirmer makes way for Arkansas State’s Harry Higgins.

In the backs, Madison Hughes has not played much scrumhalf except for the USA 7s team, but will be donning the #9 jersey Wednesday as the USA National Team coaches want to see him play there.

Kingley McGowan moves from center to wing, with Sam Sirrell of UCLA taking the outside center spot. Chris Turori patrols the other wing and Lucas Baistrocchi starts at fullback. Of the backs replaced, Seb Sharpe and Cooper Maloney picked up injuries. Jonny Linehan of BYU had played well enough for the ends to be considered for the 1sts, but, unfortunately, his tour is ended due to inure.

The reserves bench is yet to be announced.

Sherman said he was pleased to see how the All Americans responded in the 1st Cambridge game, overcoming a yellow card, two tries scored against, and the loss of the win advantage, to score twice late and secure the victory.

McGowan credited assistant coach Phil Eloff with some halftime adjustments for the backline.

Tactically, the All Americans might be a little more kick-happy this time around. Bastrocchi is very capable with the boot in all aspects of play, and Hughes, once he heard he was potentially going to play scrumhalf, started practicing his box kick.

“His first was way off, his second was closer, and his third was dead-on,” said Sherman. “You could see him make the progression.”

Meanwhile James Poli has solidified his place at inside center and Kale Konrad returns at flyhalf. Poli will partner with Sirrell, who is a snappy runner and passer, and also showed a flanker’s ability to poach the ball in the ruck.

Up front, Dino Waldren has played well and Ryan Pratt was an effective impact sub in both games.

Cambridge has made only three changes to their squad for Wednesday.

All Americans to Face Cambridge June 25 at 6pm
Pine Banks Park, Malden, Mass.

1. Ryan Pratt - St. Mary's College
2. Tino Paophavihanh - Bellevue College
3. Dino Waldren - St. Mary's College
4. Mike Lawrenson - Kutztown University
5. Ben Landry - University of Wisconsin- Whitewater
6. Harry Higgins - Arkansas State University
7. Vili Toluta'u - Central Washington University
8. Shaun Potgeiter - Arkansas State University
9. Madison Hughes (c) - Dartmouth College
10. Kale Konrad - San Diego State
11. Kingsley McGowan - St Mary's College
12. James Poli - Lindenwood University
13. Sam Sirrell - University of California, Los Angeles
14. Chris Turori - Palomar College
15. Lucas Baistrocchi - University of Florida 

16-23 TBD

1. Will Briggs (c) (Blue, 2011, 2012, 2013)
2. Patrick Calvert (Blue, 2013)
3. Frank Sanders (Blue, 2012, 2013)
4. Jack Baker (Blue, 2013)
5. Rob Hall
6. Charlie O'Sullivan (Blue, 2013)
7. Hugo Kelly (Blue, 2012)
8. Rob Malaney (Blue, 2011, 2012)
9. Harry Peck (Blue, 2013)
10. Fraser Gillies
11. Andrew Murdoch (Blue, 2012, 2013)
12. Danny Holmes (Blue, 2012)
13. James Boyd-Moss (Blue, 2013)
14. Paul Loudon (Blue, 2010, 2011)
15. Sam Allen

16. Nigel Conroy
17. Jacob Poulton
18. Scott Annett (Blue, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
19. Oliver Wolfe (Blue, 2011, 2012)
20. Leo Buizza
21. George Bilclough
22. Angus Strachan
23. Dave Sparkhall

Referee: Chris Mutty
Assistant Referee: Peter Watson
Assistant Referee: Emily Hsieh