Halfback Andre Bachelet, a San Francisco resident, captains a side that includes 10 of the Eagle 15 which just missed upsetting powerful Ireland last January in Marietta, Georgia. Other stalwarts include flankers Dan Lyle and Richard Tardits, hooker Tom Billups, and wing Vaea Anitoni.
Lock Cliff Vogl appears in his first international game, while prop Ray Lehner and wing Joe Santos, both contributors to the USA's 15-14 victory over Canada in September 1995 in Toronto, each return for their second "caps." Recovering from injury, number eight Rob Lumkong and center Tom Takau also join the starting lineup for the 20th Can-Am, an annual rivalry match between the two neighboring countries.