CHULA VISTA, Calif. (Edited from USA Rugby Release) - USA Head Coach John Mitchell has named his squad to face Italy Saturday in San Jose, Calif.

USA 7s player Nate Augspurger (University of Minnesota, Southside HS), will earn his first international cap, as he gets the start at scrumhalf. Todd Clever (Nevada-Reno, College Park) returns as captain and will lead the Eagles for a record 46th time.

"The ARC was much more a development team, whereas this team has genuine experience from overseas, professional sevens players, and the players that played well in the ARC have been rewarded," Mitchell told Chad Wise at USA Rugby. "From the camp here we've eliminated some players that haven't met our standards, and some players have missed selections because of lack of conditioning and the number of penalties they've given away.

"Camp was a mixture of combining quickly as one, establishing our culture, and learning our standards as quickly as possible. Camps are critical to our growth physically and mentally, and very important to our team identity and the climate we want to create within the team."

AJ MacGinty gets his first time playing for Mitchell -  the flyhalf missed the Americas Rugby Championship, but was the first-choice #10 in 2015. Mitchell has shaken up the backline a little, slotting in Will Holder (West Point, East Palo Alto) at fullback, and thus moving Blaine Scully (UCLA and Cal) to wing. In another intriguing shift, Shalom Suniula, who has played scrumhalf and flyhalf for the Eagles, steps in at inside center, a position both of his brothers played for the USA at one time. That moves Thretton Palamo (SFGG U19s, Utah) to outside center. Taku Ngwenya (Plano, U. Dallas) returns on the right wing, as expected.

That might all be a function of the fact that USA 7s team Head Coach Mike Friday has been working with the team at the Olympic Training Center, and perhaps understands the skill set of the 7s players a bit more.

"Mike's been fantastic, a great complement," Mitchell said. "With a large number of coaches, as well, it's wonderful to have enough resources to deliver the micro within the macro of the attacking and defensive frameworks. I'm working with a competent coaching group, the team management has improved its processes in this assembly; this competency allows the program to focus on the players' strengths, culture, and more importantly mentor the player in his role clarity and his skill sets."

Clever is joined in the back row by Super Rugby Sunwolves star Andrew Durutalo (also making his first appearance for Mitchell), and Can Dolan (Naples, Life University) in what looks to be a very good set of loose forwards. In the  

In the second row, experienced Glasgow Warrior Greg Peterson partners with Nate Brakeley (St John's Prep, Dartmouth) - Brakeley has emerged as a nice addition to the team this year. Up front it's no surprise that Chris Baumann (Wyoming) and Titi Lamositele (Chuckanut U19s) are the props, but there was a three-player battle for the hooker spot, won by James Hilterbrand.

All of the players in the match-day 23, except for Brakeley and sub forward Harry Higgins (Arkansas State), are fully-professional.

On the bench, Higgins, Tony Lamborn, Angus MacLellan (Traverse Bay, Davenport), and Stephen Tomasin (Santa Rosa HS, San Diego State) could all earn their first 15s caps. Joe Taufete'e (Belmont Shore U19s) and Mike Te'o (Belmont Shore U19s), Chad London, and Ben Tarr are also among the reserves.

Men's Eagles | v. Italy
1. Titi Lamositele
2. James Hilterbrand
3. Chris Baumann
4. Nate Brakeley
5. Greg Peterson
6. Andrew Durutalo
7. Todd Clever (C)
8. Cam Dolan
9. Nate Augspurger
10. AJ MacGinty
11. Blaine Scully
12. Shalom Suniula
13. Thretton Palamo
14. Taku Ngwenya
15. Will Holder

Men's Eagles | Reserves
16. Joe Taufete'e
17. Ben Tarr
18. Angus MacLellan
19. Stephen Tomasin
20. Harry Higgins
21. Tony Lamborn
22. Chad London
23. Mike Te'o