Wallabies prepare for US battle at Soldier Field

Australia step up their Rugby World Cup preparations against the United States at Soldier Field on Saturday in their first international on American soil in nearly 40 years.

The Wallabies take on the US Eagles at the iconic home of the Chicago Bears NFL team in what will be their final match before they open their World Cup campaign against Fiji on September 23.

Australia coach Michael Cheika is using the occasion to run the rule over his squad depth, with several first choice players rested from the starting XV that will line-up against the Americans.

The Wallabies will be captained by prop James Slipper, deputising for regular captain Stephen Moore who is being rested alongside senior players such as Michael Hooper and Adam Ashley-Cooper.

The Australian starting XV also includes a call-up for veteran center Matt Giteau, a survivor of Australia's 2003 and 2007 World Cup campaigns.

The 32-year-old Toulon star has been welcomed back into the fold after Australia tweaked their selection rules regarding overseas players.

Cheika has also handed a starting berth to fullback Kurtley Beale for the first time this season, offering the 26-year-old a chance to force his way into the reckoning for the World Cup.

Beale is one of seven Wallabies who lined up for Australia in their last meeting against the United States at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, when they eventually ran out 67-5 winners.

Slipper however is wary of the physical threat posed by the Americans, who were beaten 74-6 by New Zealand in a friendly at Soldier Field last year.

"They are going to be pretty pumped for this game," Slipper told Australian media from the Wallabies training camp at Notre Dame University this week.

"I am expecting a very, very physical and quick open to the game."

Two-time World Cup winners Australia face a challenging first round draw in England, where their opponents include hosts England and Wales in what has been dubbed the "Group of Death."

The USA meanwhile have been building steadily towards the World Cup, where they face South Africa, Samoa, Japan and Scotland in Pool B.

- Eagles not intimidated -

The Americans, who have never qualified from the pool stage of a World Cup, suffered a 24-19 defeat to English side Harlequins in a friendly last weekend but US coach Mike Tolkin insists his team won't be intimidated by this Saturday's assignment.

"To play at this level and get ready to walk into a World Cup you can't be intimidated," Tolkin told reporters this week after naming the USA's 31-man World Cup squad.

"Our guys won't be, with all due respect to the Wallabies."

Tolkin also believes his team is better prepared than at the same stage last year heading into the match against the All Blacks. "We've had a full summer under our belt and it's the launch for our World Cup campaign. We feel we're going to be in a better position."

The Americans will be captained by Saracens veteran Chris Wyles, who was named this week as skipper for the World Cup in what will be his third tournament.

The Eagles are also likely to hand a start to number eight Samu Manoa, the big-hitting California-born forward of Tongan descent who is expected to be one of the linchpins of the American pack.

Manoa, who was unavailable for the 2011 World Cup because of club commitments, has starred for English side Northampton for the past four seasons but has now been signed by Toulon.

Source: AFP