Debut hat-trick hero Joe Mano returns to USA XV for Argentina clash in Miami

Joe Mano, the winger who became the first Eagle to score a hat-trick on debut in a 48-3 demolition of Brazil in November 2023, returns to USA colours for a USA XV fixture against an Argentina XV at Inter Miami FC Stadium this weekend.

The 31-year-old Utah Warriors and California Legion winger has not featured at international level since that historic outing in Spain, but a strong run of Major League Rugby form — including helping the Legion reach the MLR Championship game two months ago — has earned him a recall. He lines up on one wing, with Chicago Hounds flyer Mark O’Keeffee on the other and Julian Roberts at fullback to complete the back three.

USA assistant coach Stephen Brett, who played for the Crusaders and Blues during his career, spoke warmly of Mano’s qualities ahead of the match. “He’s a special rugby player. He’s got a lot of X-factor. He’s got a lot of repeated efforts within his game of rugby, and that’s all we’re really asking from our wingers is big repeated efforts,” Brett told reporters. “He’s come into this two-week camp and has really trained well. That’s why he gets an opportunity this weekend.”

Although the fixture is a non-Test match, the USA XV is heavily stocked with capped Eagles. Captain Jason Damm, a utility forward, will lead the side out. Australian-born Charlie Abel and Nathan Den Hoedt, who both debuted during the July international window, retain their places in the run-on XV, while South African-born Marno Redelinghuys starts at blindside flanker after missing the July Tests. Luke Carty, impressive off the bench during those matches, gets a start at fly-half, with Dominic Besag and Tavite Lopeti forming the centre partnership.

The match carries added significance as a building block in the USA’s preparation for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, now just 14 months away. The Eagles arrived at this fixture with momentum, having gone unbeaten through the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup in July — beating three other World Cup-bound nations, with Chris Hilsenbeck the standout in a tight win over Portugal.

“Obviously, Scott’s got a plan on how he wants to prepare the team for the World Cup and this was one of the foundation blocks for the preparation,” Brett said. “We usually go from July and then into November so we never have this block where we can get the boys together as a group.”