Star man AJ MacGinty missing from USA roster for England showdown

Former German international Chris Hilsenbeck starts in place of Bristol Bears’ AJ MacGinty at fly-half when the USA face England for the first time in a Test on home soil in 24 years in Washington, DC, this Saturday.

MacGinty, who is the Eagles’ second-highest points scorer on 415 – 50 behind Mike Hercus, started the July internationals against Belgium and Spain but sits this one out.

Hilsenbeck, 33, came on for MacGinty to win his first Eagles cap against Belgium, having previously played 22 times for Germany, and gets the nod this time around.

He is not the only player in the starting XV to have represented another country at Test level, as former Scotland international Rufus McLean has been handed an Eagles debut on the right wing.

The other Eagles debutant is loose-head prop Ezekiel Lindenmuth, who joins a front row boasting just 10 caps. 125kg former defensive lineman, Pono Davis, is at tight-head and Kaleb Geiger starts for the first time at hooker.

While the Eagles XV is dominated by MLR players, English Premiership watchers will be familiar with left winger Toby Fricker, who was previously a teammate of MacGinty’s at Bristol.

The match is being streamed live on RPTV.

USA team vs England

1. Ezekiel Lindenmuth* (Houston SaberCats)
2. Kaleb Geiger (New England Free Jacks)
3. Pono Davis (Houston SaberCats)
4. Marno Redelinghuys (Houston SaberCats)
5. Tevita Naqali (Old Glory DC)
6. Benjamin Bonasso Miami Sharks
7. Cory Daniel (Old Glory DC)
8. Jamason Fa’anana Schultz (Old Glory DC)
9. Ruben de Haas (NOLA Gold)
10. Chris Hilsenbeck (Chicago Hounds)
11. Toby Fricker (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
12. Tom Pittman (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
13. Dominic Besag (Saint Mary’s College)
14. Rufus McLean* (Houston SaberCats)
15. Erich Storti (Anthem Rugby Carolina)

Replacements:
16. Shilo Klein (San Diego Legion)
17. Jack Iscaro (Old Glory DC)
18. Tonga Kofe (Utah Warriors)
19. Viliami Helu (San Diego Legion)
20. Christian Poidevin (San Diego Legion)
21. Makeen Alikhan (Anthem Rugby Carolina)
22. JP Smith (Seattle Seawolves)
23. Lauina Futi (Seattle Seawolves)