The USA Selects faced the Seattle Saracens Monday night in a shortened game at Seattle's Magnuson Park.

The game was a test for the USA team before the Americas Rugby Championship in Langford, BC, and was played before a nice crowd on a very pleasant fall evening in the Emerald City. The crowd was all the more impressive seeing as the rest of the city was in a shutdown to watch the NFL Monday Night Football game between Seattle and Washington DC.

As for the rugby game, the USA Selects dominated the match in many areas, especially in tight with the forwards. The Selects scrum was overpowering.

"We are working on a better hip drive that is more explosive," said lock Brian Doyle, who has been out of the USA circle for a while due to injury, and enjoyed his return to the field. "We are working together better, and it's working out really well."

The Selects got some impressive performances from several players. Colorado State lock/flanker Ben Pinkelman, who didn't look like the biggest forward out there, but somehow made plays and scored two tries, had a good night. John Cullen, who normally plays with Seattle, also showed off some athletic moves. Zach Fenoglio scored the USA Selects' first try, and Cullen and Kyle Sumsion made powerful runs to set up Justin Hundley for another. Andrew Suniula, who has not played much rugby since being injured, looked spry and scored a classic inside center's try.

In the end the USA Selects won five tries to one. In the backs, Lemoto Filikitonga got a run, playing wing and center, and that was valuable time for him. Troy Hall looked very comfortable at fullback, while Adam Siddall operated the offense at flyhalf. Both Shalom Suniula, Nate Augspurger, and Chris Saint saw time at scrumhalf.

Filikitonga, Tim Stanfill, and Tim Maupin all saw time at wing. Matt Trouville and Mike Shepherd played for both teams on the night.

Prop Nick Wallace did not dress for the game due to an injury that has him day-to-day. Davenport University prop Angus MacLellan started and played very well. The USA Selects scrum shoved back the Seattle eight on numerous occasions, although, in fairness, the USA pack had at least three Saracens on their side at any one time.

On the Seattle side, scrumhalf Jope Motokana was electric and scored his team's only try.

"I thought it was good," said Head Coach Mike Tolkin. "I think we got a lot of what we wanted out of it. We still need to do better at seeing when we have a chance to use momentum and use the ball as opposed to kicking it away, but overall it was good."

Overall, this looked to be a more cohesive USA Selects team than even last year's, which went 2-1 in the ARC.

"I think that's because just about every player in this team has been in a national team setup somewhere," said Cullen, the former Utah All American. "They know what to expect and what's expected of them. And newer guys can learn from the guys who have a lot of caps. That kind of experience makes a big difference."

The Selects have a tough start to the ARC as they face Argentina Jaguars on October 11. Then they take on Canada Oct. 15, followed by Uruguay on Oct. 19.