United States scrum-half Tim Usasz tackles Uruguay's Juan Campomar during last weekend's clash in Montevideo © Getty Images

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News: Eagles take narrow lead in World Cup play-off

Matches: United States of America 27 - 6 Uruguay

Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup

Teams: United States of America | Uruguay

Sites: Other countries

The United States and Uruguay will go head-to-head in Lauderhill on Saturday with a much-prized place at Rugby World Cup 2011 at stake.

The Eagles hold a narrow advantage following their 27-22 victory over Los Teros in last weekend's first leg clash in Montevideo. Scrum-half Tim Usasz, wing Kevin Swiryn and centres Junior Sifa and Alipate Tuilevuka all crossed for tries but the home side conjured a late fightback and 13 points in the last six minutes from 21-year-old fullback Jerónimo Etcheverry kept the tie alive.

The aggregate winner over the two legs will qualify for the sport's next showpiece event in New Zealand and will line up alongside Australia, Ireland, Italy and another European qualifier in Pool C.

The United States, who have qualified for all but one of the previous six World Cups, will be favourites to progress having won 10 of their 11 meetings with their South American rivals but Eagles coach Eddie O'Sullivan will not be taking anything for granted ahead of their latest clash at Broward County Regional Park having seen his side lose a similar advantage to Canada in the last round of qualifying that saw the Canucks book their place in New Zealand.

The former Ireland coach has kept faith with the starting line-up that claimed a deserved victory last weekend but has issued a stern warning to his players that the job is far from done. "With just a five- point spread between the teams we have to approach this game as a one-off final," said O'Sullivan. "As far as we are concerned the score is 0-0 with 80 minutes remaining. It's all to play for."

Oxford University prop Will Johnson, who has taken time out from his preparations for next month's Varsity Match, will once again pack down in the front row alongside Tongan-born Mate Moeakiola while hooker Phil Thiel will win his second cap. John Van der Giessen and Hayden Smith will pack down in the second row while experienced skipper Todd Clever will be joined by Louis Stanfill and Nic Johnson in the backrow.

Usasz will once again partner veteran fly-half Mike Hercus with Sifa reuniting with the strong-running Paul Emerick in the centres. Wingers Kevin Swiryn and Takudzwa Ngwenya bring speed and power to the wings with Saracens' Chris Wyles adding further experience at fullback.

Etcheverry, a member of their IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy winning side of 2008, unsurprisingly retains his place in Florida this weekend as his side look to overturn a five point deficit and exact revenge for defeat at this stage in the build up to the RWC'07. His side are also bidding to return to erase the agony of a subsequent one-point loss to Portugal in the final qualifying round in 2007.

For the losing side, there will be one more chance to progress via the play-off to decide the 20th qualifying team for the tournament. That process would include the loser of this tie versus the runners-up in the 2010 Asian Five Nations, with the winner playing the winner of a second 'semi-final' between Europe 3 and Africa 2.

USA: Chris Wyles (Saracens), Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz Olympic), Paul Emerick (Parma FC), Junior Sifa (Middleton RFC), Kevin Swiryn (Old Puget Sound Beach RFC), Mike Hercus (Sunshine Coast Stingrays), Tim Usasz (Nottingham RFC), Mate Moeakiola (Pearl City RFC), Phil Thiel (Life University), Will Johnson (Oxford University), John Van der Giessen (Sporting Club Albigeois), Hayden Smith (Saracens), Louis Stanfill (New York Athletic Club), Todd Clever (Golden Lions), Nic Johnson (Denver Barbarians)

Replacements: Brian McClenahan (Olympic Club), Jacob Sprague (Mystic River RFC), Alec Parker (Gentlemen of Aspen), Jonathan 'JJ' Gagiano (FC Roma), Mike Petri (New York Athletic Club), Nese Malifa (Belmont Shore RFC), Pate Tuilevuka (Provo Steelers)

Uruguay: Jeronimo Etcheverry, Alejandro Silveira, Joaquin Pastore, Juan Martin Llovet, Tomas Jolivet, Nicolas Morales, Juan Campomar, Rodrigo Sanchez, Martin Espiga, Mario Sagrario, Nicolas Brignoni, Matias Fonseca, Carlos Protasi, Alfredo Giuria, Rodrigo Capo

Replacements: Alejo Corral, Carlos Arboleya, Juan Rombys, Juan Pablo Horta, Manuel Martinez, Juan de Freitas, Santiago Gibernau

Referee: Dale Smortchevsky (Can)

Assistant referees: Bryan Arciero (Can), Derek Stoltz (Can)