United States vs. New Zealand: Storylines to Follow in Chicago International

The Windy City of Chicago plays host to a rare visit by the All Blacks to the United States when they take on the US Eagles this weekend.

Steve Hansen’s men have a month of more pressing engagements awaiting them in Europe, but the fixture is a chance for rugby’s profile in the States to grow and is a vital test for the American players ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Let’s have a look at the key talking points.

Soldier Field is a sell-out for the fixture with 61,000 fans expected to turn up.

It will be interesting to gauge how knowledgeable they’ll be, and how many of them are made up of Chicago’s large ex-pat community from the UK and other established rugby nations as opposed to American fans.

The weekend has been picked specifically because the city’s NFL team have a bye week, so their supporters have no choice but to watch the rugby if they want their fix of flesh and bone thudding into each other.

If New Zealand are approaching a cricket score way before the end, how many will be left by full–time?

Steve Hansen has picked an experimental team, with a number of players being give a rare chance to start.

Prop Joe Moody and hooker Nathan Harris get the nod, as does Victor Vito in the back row, alongside Sam Cane, while TJ Perenara has the No. 9 jersey.

Each of these men have the opportunity to press their claims for further game time when the serious stuff begins in Europe.

There are five Premiership-based players on show for the Eagles, plus inspirational captain Todd Clever who has played Super Rugby and currently plies his trade in Japan.

Outside those men, few fans in or outside America will be familiar with the home side’s team sheet.

One man aiming for the big time is centre Seamus Kelly.

According to USA Rugby (h/t Wikipedia), he was an impressive American football player before turning to rugby, and earned the moniker Famous Seamus in his high school days.

He joined Gloucester on trial in September, per thisisamericanrugby.com, and a good showing here could help make that move to England permanent.

Sonny Bill Williams makes his return to All Black colours after his second switch from rugby league.

Having been part of the 2011 World Cup-winning side, the former Sydney Rooster faces a tough task to overhaul Ma’a Nonu and Malakai Fekitoa to make it into the side for the 2015 showpiece.

His partnership this weekend with Ryan Crotty is an exciting one, however, and with the firepower of Cory Jane, Israel Dagg and Charles Piutau outside them, Williams and Crotty could cause havoc.