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Former candidate for the best rugby player in the world Joe Taufete did not play for USA The Eagles for three years, but the front-rower is just days away from returning to the Test arena after being named to come off the bench against Japan.
Taufete’e has been nominated for the best individual accolade in Men’s Under-15 Rugby after 2019. Rugby World Cup in Japan, where the whore performed four times. Springboks winger Pieter-Steph du Toit received the award after becoming the first World Cup winner.
Taufete’e, 33, has not worn the red, white and blue of the Eagles since August 2023, but will feature from the bench in the US Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup opener against the Brave Blossoms on Saturday night.
Shilo Klein started all three July Nations Cup Tests on the hook, and again wore the No. 2 jersey for the USA XV against Argentina XV, and the former Canterbury and Crusaders representative retained that role for the PNC semifinals.
“I think Joe has had a huge impact since he’s been here. (His) experience just can’t be had, so you have to live in the trenches a little bit, so Joe’s experience is welcome in the environment,” Lawrence told reporters when asked about Taufete.
“He knows how to play in these big moments and that’s why you trust him to do it.”
Taufete’e will come off the bench alongside replacement front rowers Fakaosifoula Pifeleti and Alex Maughan, who will be looking to make their mark off the crease. On the home side, Payton Telea-Ilalio has been declared a loosehead, packing alongside Klein and Tonga Coffee.
It will be the first time Telea-Ilalio has started on the loose for the national team, but the prop gained some experience in that role for the USA XV last month. Telea-Ilalio made three appearances off the bench for the USA last November, including a 34-minute shift away to Scotland.
“We want to have five capable loose ends next year. If you think about the overall build-up to the World Cup, this period is now about developing depth and creating a group of players who can all play to the identity of the team,” Lawrence said.
“That’s where his opportunity came from. We want to see him, we also wanted to see (Faka’osi Pifeleti), another loose guy who is here and Ma’ake Muti. We will continue to find those players who we think can play.
“That doesn’t just come from training. You have to put them in high-pressure games and matches and see how they go, and give them learning experiences for themselves and for us to learn about them as players.”
The Pacific Nations Cup looms as another important indicator for the USA, Canada, Fiji and hosts Japan, with two games to be played on consecutive weekends. It starts in Osaka this weekend, before a play-off for third place and the final a week later in Tokyo.
With the 2027 Rugby World Cup for men Australia in less than 13 months, it presents another opportunity for these sides to test themselves against high-level opposition. The USA were drawn in Group E along with Japan, France and Samoa.
“We’re a year away from being where we want to be. We’ve got work to do, but we’re three months ahead of where we were three months ago.”
“There’s a plan to go towards the World Cup. I think we’re ahead in some areas, I think we’re behind in some areas. All in all, relatively on track.”
The USA Eagles will take on Japan
- Payton Telea-Ilialio
- Shiloh Klein
- South Coffee
- Jason Damm (c)
- Nathan Den Hoedt
- Marno Redelinghuys
- Paddy Ryan
- Makeen Alikhan
- Ruben de Haas
- Chris Hilsenbeck
- Noah Brown
- Dominic Besag
- David Lobet
- Mark O’Keeffe
- Mitch Wilson
Substitutions
- Run Joe
- Philatelic navigator
- Alex Maughan
- Sam Golla
- Benjamin Bonasso
- Michael Baska
- Luke Carty
- Julian Roberts
