How Inexperienced are USA and Canada?
How Inexperienced are USA and Canada?
Both the USA and Canada will field markedly inexperienced national teams Saturday in Austin, although the USA team is slightly less experienced.
Canada’s starting 15 boasts 166 caps in total, with captain Hubert Buydens having the most, 40. USA’s starting 15 boasts 124 caps (which is a little skewed because last week’s games provided caps for the Canadians, but not for the Americans, even though all of the newer players still played). Even if you account for that cap discrepancy by adding a cap for everyone who played last week, you’d only get 137 for the USA starters (Nate Brakeley and Luke Hune weren’t there last week).
And even more notable, the Eagles concentrate their caps in three players. Todd Clever, Eric Fry, and Luke Hume make up for around 90% of the USA’s caps. The top three for Canada account for 58%.
On the bench it’s pretty much the same story. Most of Canada’s bench didn’t see action last week, so six players will make their Canadian debuts on Saturday if they get on the field. The only bench player with caps is Djustice Sears-Duru with 13. That’s essentially the same situation with the USA, with Olive Kilifi (15) and Niku Kruger (2) capped, and the rest not.
Playing Saturday, Canada will start eight players who weren’t capped until this year, and have seven more on the bench. The USA will start ten players in that situation, and have six more on the bench.