The USA Under 20 men’s team is safely ensconced on Vancouver Island preparing for their all-important two-game series with Canada.

The majority of the players arrived on March 18, with some more trickling in over the next day. But even on the 18th it was a case of players coming in at various times. Rugby Canada was most gracious in providing several shuttles to get all the USA players together.

Then came the difficult task of ensuring that the team is on the same page. To get there Head Coach Michael Engelbrecht and his staff spent a lot of pre-assembly time giving players game plan and terminology information. 

“We had the playbook sorted out before we got here,” said captain and lock Christian Wiessing, who plays for the Glendale Raptors men’s team. “We came into camp understanding our roles and we’ve been working with the coaches - I’ve been working a lot with Luke Gross. It’s been good.”

Engelbrecht said the coaches weren’t sure what they would get in their first session, but the initial run-out for the squad was, he said, “superb. They really started well and we’ve had good, productive meetings, and really good team chemistry.”

“It helps that a lot of the guys came through the HS All American program,” added vice-captain and flyhalf Ben Cima. “That and a bunch of the guys were in Hong Kong last year, so they all understand what’s required and the pattern of play.”

That approach will mean the USA expects to be consistent and steadfast on the pitch. Weissing said there’s a lot of talk about going 100% for 80 minute.

“We all know our jobs and how to do them,” he said. “We need to have that consistency and I think we will.”

Cima also praised the team’s depth.

“We’ve got a situation where we’ve got a god mix of speed and power in the backs, and we’ve got real impact subs, buys who can raise the level when they come on.”

The team has been through five training sessions and will go through a captain’s run on Sunday before Monday’s opening game.

Notes: Two players were injured during training and will miss the opening game, although Engelbrecht is waiting until a doctor evaluation before releasing their names. HS All American Brian Nault, who players for (relatively) nearby Shelton in Washington state, has been brought in as cover at loose forward as a result.

The game will be held at Shawnigan Lake school, one of the most prominent rugby high schools in Canada, and a venue for many international games over the years. The school is in the southern end of Vancouver Island, and is actually further South than Bellingham, Wash., home of Western Washington University.

Canada’s U20s are coming off a 36-13 victory over Romania’s U19s March 14 in Langford, BC. Tony Pomroy, Karsten Leitner, and Paul Cuilini scored a try apiece, while wing Brandon Waeyen scored two. Dylan Horgan has been kicking well and converted four tries and also kicked a penalty.

The USA U20s will play Canada U20s Monday, March 23 at 3:30pm PT, 6:30pm ET. The game will be streamed live at www.rugbycanada.tv.