http://rugbymag.com/index.php?optio...o-warmup-schedule&catid=39:usa-men&Itemid=194 USA to Add Glendale to Warmup Schedule Written by Alex Goff Wednesday, 20 July 2011 15:14 USA to Add Glendale to Warmup Schedule The USA Men’s National Team has inserted an extra warmup game along with its three test matches scheduled for August. The Eagles are already scheduled to play Canada August 6 in Toronto and August 13 in Glendale, Colo. They are then scheduled to fly to Japan to play the Cherry Blossoms on August 21 in Tokyo. But Head Coach Eddie O’Sullivan wants to squeeze one more non-test game into the schedule to see more borderline candidates. So the Eagles will play the Glendale Raptors Wednesday, August 10, in Glendale. The game will kick off at 7pm at Infinity Park, Glendale, Colo. For information about tickets go to www.glendalerugby.com . Glendale Head Coach Mark Bullock told RUGBYMag.com that he is assembling his team now, and will bring in a few players from outside the Raptors to bolster the lineup. The key, Bullock said, is to make sure any players scheduled to play train regularly with the team and understand the squad’s systems. “What we have going for us is that most of the players have played with each other, while the Eagles haven’t as much, and most of our players have been living between 5,000 and 7,000 feet above sea level for some time,” Bullock told RUGBYMag.com. “We don’t want to change that.” Bullock has received verbal commitments from current Raptor Hayden Mexted, Aspen lock Alec Parker, Spencer Scott (one of the Aspen transfers who were denied the chance to play in the national playoffs), Denver Barbarians flyhalf Max de Achaval, Raptors flyhalf/center Ata Malifa, and former Raptor and current Utah Warrior Ryan Chapman. The makeup of the Glendale team isn’t certain, but Bullock said the team is starting to train and will give the USA squad the best competition they can. Playing club teams as a World Cup warmup is nothing new. Ireland are scheduled to face Connacht this August and Russia will play Northampton during their buildup in the UK.
I emailed EOS, using the email address on USA Rugby, about these games. I wanted to know if the USA v Canada game was going to be a true runout of the starting 15 of the RWC or a chance for some periphery players to try and get on the plane to NZ. No answer yet, but EOS is a top guy and will respond to all rugby questions over time. If I was guessing, I'd say the games against Canada and Japan are going to be a test run for the starting XV and the Raptors game would be for anyone trying to play their way into the team. GO USA.