The competition at scrumhalf keeps heating up for the USA national team, with Shaun Davies and Nate Augspurger getting most of the time, but there are others knocking on the door.
Ruben de Haas is slated to join the squad for the Americas Rugby Championship, which the Eagles open against Argentina on Saturday in Carson, California, possibly to learn about wearing No. 9 at the next level but also likely to get a cap or two if he earns it.
Though Devereaux Ferris will miss the USA's first three games in the competition, he will travel with the Eagles to South America for their final two ARC matchups against Brazil on Feb. 24 and Uruguay on March 3.
“I am looking forward to the challenge,” said Ferris, who will play for Life West in first few weeks of the Pacific Rugby Premiership season, including its opening-weekend triple-header on Feb. 10 which is streaming live on FloRugby.
“I think I bring a lot of pace to the position,” Ferris added. “I like to get to the breakdown quickly and get the ball out quickly. These guys are all great, and hopefully we push each other. Shaun’s a really good scrumhalf, and Nate is really fit and get around the park and his playing some wing helps him, too. We’ve got a lot of guys gunning for the position.”
No matter who gets the start, the players have a common goal, said Augspurger, who has captained the USA twice.
“We work more together to make each other better players, rather than being rivals,” Augspurger said. “It makes the team better. I’m excited to take Ruben as one of the newer guys to have him involved in the process. The competition is there, but it makes us all better.”
One wonders how new head coach Gary Gold will look at the position, which is so crucial in international rugby (quick ball being at a premium).
In the last two years, Davies has been capped 10 times and Augspurger 14. The only player to get more caps is Mike Te'o (who, interestingly, can play a little scrumhalf, too).
During that time Augspurger has eight starts at scrumhalf and four on the wing. Davies has six starts as a scrumhalf and been used off the bench as a halfback four times.
“Some guys have had some conversations with Gary," Augspurger said. "But looking at the number of guys he wants to come on this tour, I am pretty excited that he will get a full look at the players in the pool and keep the team moving forward."
While Augspurger said a new coach can make players uneasy sometimes, he added the players have been together before and have a sense of core values.
“We can find strength in that and also open our minds up to what Gary brings,” Augspurger said.